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Category 4 Hurricane Simon Hits Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco Evacuates

By Drooid · Oct 11, 2026, 6:05 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Hurricane Simon Landfall

Hurricane Simon made landfall near Puerto Vallarta as a Category 4 storm with 155 mph winds.
Simon is expected to drop 10-20 inches of rain, up to 30 inches in parts of Jalisco.
Jalisco suspended classes in 22 coastal municipalities.
Jalisco began evacuating dozens of residents.
State civil protection director Sergio Ramírez warned lives could be lost without proper action.

Summary

Marines Enforce Evacuations

El Niño’s warm Pacific waters are reducing wind shear, letting Hurricane Simon intensify rapidly.
Hotel owners in Puerto Vallarta are boarding windows and sandbagging entrances to protect property.
Marines, soldiers and National Guard units are patrolling flood-prone zones and enforcing evacuations in Jalisco.
Port closures at Manzanillo, Mexico’s largest Pacific hub threaten trade flows with Asia, risking economic losses.

History

Historical Context

In October 2015, Hurricane Patricia formed from a mid-October disturbance and intensified to Category 5 within 24 hours, achieving the highest sustained winds ever recorded. President Enrique Peña Nieto ordered evacuations and deployed thousands of troops, while unusually warm Pacific waters tied to an El Niño spurred the rapid strengthening. The event prompted discussions on civil-protection reforms in Mexico, and the World Meteorological Organization retired the name in 2016.

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Hurricane Simon Landfall

Hurricane Simon made landfall near Puerto Vallarta as a Category 4 storm with 155 mph winds.
Simon is expected to drop 10-20 inches of rain, up to 30 inches in parts of Jalisco.
Jalisco suspended classes in 22 coastal municipalities.
Jalisco began evacuating dozens of residents.
State civil protection director Sergio Ramírez warned lives could be lost without proper action.

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