Storm position and forecast

Hurricane Simon crept northwest just off Mexico's Pacific coast early on Monday, 12 October 2026. At 5 a.m. local time (1200 GMT), the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) placed it about 50 miles (80 km) west-southwest of Cabo Corrientes in Jalisco state, with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 kph), a Category 3 hurricane. It was moving northwest at just 2 mph (4 kph). Later Monday reports describe the storm as Category 2 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, and authorities said that although it is moving away from the coast, they remain on alert because of the heavy rain it can still bring. The NHC expects the hurricane to continue on that track before turning northeast and moving inland across west-central Mexico around midweek. Sources also cite an expected approach to the west-central coast between Wednesday, 14 October, and Thursday, 15 October.

Rain, floods and waves

The NHC forecast 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) of additional rain across coastal southwest and west-central Mexico, with isolated totals of 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) in parts of Jalisco and Sinaloa. The center said isolated storm totals could reach 30 inches (76 cm) in parts of Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco. Authorities warned that the storm could bring life-threatening flooding and mudslides to parts of the Pacific coast and nearby mountains. Forecasts called for waves of up to five metres in some coastal communities. Civil Protection reported floods and landslides in areas near rivers and streams in Michoacan and Colima. In Jalisco, near the Colima border, the rising Marabasco river prompted patrols by the army, Civil Protection and the Red Cross, and streets and lower-lying neighbourhoods flooded overnight. In the port city of Manzanillo, Colima, residents walked through flooded homes and streets while navy personnel helped pump water out.

One death and shoreline damage

At least one death has been attributed to Simon, in Guerrero state. Governor Evelyn Salgado said a 71-year-old man died after a wall collapsed. Rain linked to the storm had flooded streets in the resort of Acapulco in the week of 5 October 2026. Agence France-Presse reported that Simon's winds weakened as the storm moved along the coast and met mountainous terrain. In Puerto Vallarta, one of Mexico's main tourist destinations, the town woke to a clear sky and a rainbow on Monday. Residents exercised on the seafront promenade while waves were still breaking hard against the shore, and the storm had been expected to hit the city directly.

Other storms and the season

Further north, Baja California, which borders the United States, was struck by Tropical Storm Rachel, which has since weakened. Governor Marina del Pilar Avila said 10 people were currently missing and that a minor girl had been found dead in the state. Earlier in the season, Hurricane Isaias arrived on the US Gulf Coast on 9 October and has killed at least four people. Le Figaro described Simon as having weakened despite the El Nino phenomenon, which raises Pacific water temperatures and produces a more intense cyclone season in the region.

Official warnings and next steps

Laura Velazquez, national coordinator of Civil Protection, told the presidency's daily press conference that the latest official report indicates Simon will strike Mazatlan in Sinaloa as a Category 1 hurricane. Ouest-France reported that the storm could again reach land on Wednesday evening in the north of the Pacific coast. The timeline below sets out the storm's key dates so far and the expected approach window.

The forecast track is still moving, and the figures above describe the storm as of Monday, 12 October 2026, the date of the latest reports.