Hurricane Simon weakens off Mexico’s Pacific coast after veering westward

JALISCO COAST (MEXICO), PUERTO VALLARTA, SIERRA MADRE MOUNTAINS, PACIFIC OCEAN, 12 OCTOBER 2026 —

Hurricane Simon Skirts Mexico’s West Coast, Spare Coastal Towns Direct Landfall but Brings Severe Weather

Hurricane Simon, now a Category 3 storm, shifted course on Sunday and is expected to pass just 15 kilometers off Mexico’s Jalisco coast without making landfall, though it will unleash hurricane-force winds, torrential rain, and waves up to nine meters high along the region.

The storm’s slow movement and proximity to the coast—where it is brushing against the Sierra Madre Mountains—mean that even without a direct hit, coastal communities will face prolonged exposure to extreme weather, with authorities warning of significant risks from flooding and wind damage.

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Mexico’s meteorological service director, Fabian Vazquez, confirmed that while Simon will avoid a direct landfall, its outer bands will still deliver hurricane conditions. "All the cyclone’s cloud bands, or the intense part of the cyclone, will still be affecting coastal communities," he told AFP, adding that waves could reach nine meters and rainfall would be exceptionally heavy. The U.S.

National Hurricane Center (NHC) echoed this assessment, noting that the storm’s inner core is interacting with Mexico’s mountainous terrain, which may limit its intensity but not its destructive potential.

Initially, forecasts had predicted Simon would make landfall around midday local time (6 p.m. GMT), but updated data from hurricane hunter aircraft revealed a slower movement, altering the storm’s trajectory.

As of Sunday afternoon, the NHC stated that Simon "appears to be feeling the effects of the nearby high terrain of the Sierra Madre Mountains as the inner core is brushing up against the Mexican coast." The storm’s sustained winds remain at 200 kilometers per hour, though it is moving at just 7 kph, increasing the risk of prolonged exposure to hazardous conditions.

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In Puerto Vallarta, a major tourist destination in Jalisco, businesses boarded up windows and doors in preparation, with some adding lighthearted messages like "Simon says, 'Everything will be fine,'"—a reference to the children’s game—while others painted "Simon, be brief, be peaceful" alongside drawings of sharks and smiley faces. Despite the storm’s approach, some residents and visitors ventured outdoors, with troops guarding the waterfront promenade.

Cruz Castillo, a 60-year-old Vallarta resident, expressed concern despite the relatively calm conditions so far. "We’re still watching to see how this is going to approach," he said.

The Mexican government has already taken preemptive measures, including evacuating around 100 people by boat from coastal villages on Saturday, relocating them to Puerto Vallarta, where most have family or access to shelters. By Saturday, five emergency shelters in the city had already accommodated 95 people, including Elena Glumas, 63, who arrived with her dogs from the village of Yelapa.

Glumas, who lost everything in Hurricane Lidia in 2023, said, "Now, well, I say life comes first."

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Simon’s slow movement has raised additional concerns. Boris Comi, a meteorologist with Jalisco’s civil protection agency, noted that the storm has remained "nearly stationary" off the coast, increasing the risk of prolonged rainfall. "This puts the population at greater risk," he said. While overland movement typically weakens a storm, Simon’s parallel path to the coastline allows it to maintain higher intensity, Vazquez explained.

The storm is the latest in a busy Pacific hurricane season, fueled by the weakening of wind shear due to the El Niño phenomenon, which has allowed storms to strengthen. In contrast, El Niño has contributed to a relatively quiet Atlantic hurricane season.

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For Malaysia and regional markets, the immediate impact of Hurricane Simon is limited, but the broader implications of El Niño—including potential disruptions to global trade routes and agricultural output in Mexico—could have indirect effects. Mexico is a key trading partner for Malaysia, particularly in sectors like automotive manufacturing and electronics, where supply chain disruptions could ripple through regional supply networks.

Locally, Malaysian investors may monitor the storm’s aftermath for signs of economic or logistical strain in Mexico, particularly if infrastructure damage occurs. The storm’s slow weakening and prolonged exposure to coastal areas could also delay recovery efforts, potentially affecting Mexico’s economic activity in the short term.

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As of the latest updates, Simon is expected to gradually weaken over the coming hours, though its outer bands will continue to impact coastal regions. The Mexican government and local authorities remain on high alert, with emergency preparations in place to mitigate risks from flooding, wind damage, and storm surges. The NHC will continue to monitor the storm’s trajectory, with further updates expected as conditions evolve.

The story ends on the last substantive development: the Mexican government’s expectation that Simon will weaken gradually, though its outer bands will persist in affecting coastal communities.