Hurricane Simón Threatens Puerto Vallarta as Flooding and Mudslides Raise Fears Along Mexico's Pacific Coast

A Mexican Army soldier stands guard along the shoreline as strong waves churn the waters off Playa Azul, in the municipality of Lazaro Cardenas, Michoacan, Mexico. (Credit: Photo by Enrique Castro / AFP via Getty Images)

A Storm Accelerating Faster Than Expected

A Category 2 hurricane is tightening its grip on Mexico's Pacific coast, with forecasters warning it could reach Category 4 intensity before striking one of the country's most visited shorelines. Hurricane Simón had strengthened to Category 2 as of Friday, October 9, carrying maximum sustained winds now above the 90 mph threshold it held overnight — and the storm is still intensifying. Life-threatening flooding and mudslides could devastate coastal Jalisco and Colima by early Sunday, forecasters said.