Hurricane Simon is on track to impact Mexico’s Pacific coast, with projections indicating significant strengthening ahead. The U.S. has issued a hurricane warning for specific regions along the central and southwest coast, anticipating the arrival of hurricane-force winds within 36 hours. As of early Friday, Simon boasted maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h and a northwest movement at a pace of seven km/h, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center located in Miami.
Categorized as a Category 1 hurricane, Simon is anticipated to veer northward by early Saturday, edging closer to the coastline. Forecasts suggest a rapid intensification, potentially escalating Simon to a Category 4 storm before making landfall. Category 4 hurricanes, as per the Saffir-Simpson scale, exhibit sustained winds ranging from 210 to 250 km/h. The storm’s current position is approximately 355 kilometers south of Manzanillo and 525 kilometers south-southeast of Cabo Corrientes.
Expectations include the possibility of tropical storm conditions developing along the coast later on Friday. Simon is projected to unleash heavy rainfall, potentially leading to flooding and mudslides. Forecasts indicate that southwestern Mexico may experience rainfall between 20 to 38 centimeters, with isolated areas facing up to 63 centimeters of precipitation.
In a separate weather development, Tropical Storm Rachel is forecasted to reach Baja California, northwestern Mexico, and Southern California over the weekend with winds of 95 km/h. Although a weakening trend is expected, the storm poses a risk of heavy rainfall in the mentioned regions.
This year, the Pacific region has experienced heightened tropical storm activity, attributed to the influence of a robust El Niño phenomenon. Meanwhile, in the Atlantic, storm activity has been subdued due to this climate phenomenon. Hurricane Isaias, set to impact the U.S. Gulf Coast by late Friday or Saturday, emerged more than four months into the Atlantic hurricane season.