Hurricane Simon continued to threaten western Mexico with flooding early on October 13 despite weaker winds. The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said heavy rain could trigger deadly floods and mudslides, especially on steep slopes. Reuters reported flooded communities and preparations for possible evacuations on October 12.
At 03:00 UTC on October 13, Simon was a Category 2 hurricane with sustained winds of 155 km/h, about 135 km west of Cabo Corrientes. It was moving west-northwest at only 6 km/h, the NHC said. Reuters noted that the storm had reached Category 4 on Saturday before weakening.
In Cihuatlan, Jalisco, patrols urged residents to prepare to leave as the Marabasco River rose, Reuters reported. Water covered streets and low-lying areas overnight. In Manzanillo, Colima, naval personnel helped remove floodwater from the city, where residents waded through inundated homes and streets.
Reuters cited civil protection chief Laura Velazquez as reporting one storm-related death in Guerrero. The NHC maintained a hurricane warning for Las Islas Marias. Mexico replaced the hurricane watch from Cabo Corrientes to Escuinapa with a tropical storm watch, while a hurricane watch remained farther north to Bahia Tempehuaya.
The NHC also warned that large swells could create dangerous surf and rip currents along southwestern and west-central Mexico over the coming days. Flooding remains a concern even while the storm's center is offshore, with the agency expecting more heavy rainfall across parts of west-central Mexico.
Forecasters stressed that confidence in Simon's track remained low because weather models differed. The NHC said the hurricane could approach western Mexico later this week, but its exact path was uncertain. Future changes in the surrounding high-pressure systems will help determine where it moves, keeping coastal communities focused on further advisories.
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