Key facts
- Tropical Storm Simon is forecast to become a major Category 4 hurricane.
- Simon is expected to make landfall late Saturday.
- The storm could bring 8 to 15 inches of rain to southwestern Mexico.
- Isolated rainfall totals of up to 25 inches are possible.
- Storm surge of up to 15 feet is possible in worst-hit areas.
Tropical Storm Simon is forecast to rapidly intensify into a major hurricane before making landfall on Mexico's Pacific coast this weekend, according to the US National Hurricane Center. The storm was located about 245 miles south of Manzanillo with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph and was moving west at 5 mph. It is expected to turn northward on Friday and approach southwestern and west-central Mexico late on Saturday.
The hurricane center anticipates Simon will become a hurricane later on Thursday and strengthen into a "very dangerous" Category 4 storm before reaching the coast. A hurricane watch has been issued for the area between Manzanillo and Punta Mita.
Forecasters warn of significant rainfall, with 8 to 15 inches expected across parts of southwestern Mexico through Sunday, and isolated totals potentially reaching 25 inches in Michoacan, Colima, and Jalisco. This rainfall could lead to life-threatening flooding and mudslides, particularly in mountainous regions. Dangerous storm surge and large, destructive waves are also anticipated along the coast.
Private forecaster AccuWeather predicted landfall on Sunday with wind gusts between 120 and 130 mph and a storm surge of up to 15 feet. AccuWeather also noted that tropical moisture from Simon could bring 1 to 2 inches of rain to parts of the US Southwest next week.