Hurricane Simon to strengthen as Rachel batters California coast

Summarised from 2 outlets · 7 reports · Updated 9 Oct, 21:49 · Archive

Hurricane Simon approaches Mexico's Pacific coast as a strengthening Category 1 storm, while former Hurricane Rachel batters Southern California.

Hurricane Simon advanced toward Mexico's Pacific coast on Friday as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph and was expected to intensify rapidly into a Category 4 storm before landfall. US forecasters issued a hurricane warning for parts of the central and southwest coast, with hurricane-force winds expected within 36 hours. Simon was centred about 220 miles south of Manzanillo and 325 miles south-southeast of Cabo Corrientes, moving northwest at 5 mph before turning north early Saturday.

The hurricane threatened the tourist destination Puerto Vallarta and Jalisco state. Officials there suspended classes on Friday and Monday in 22 coastal municipalities and began evacuating residents from at-risk areas. The state director of civil protection, Sergio Ramírez, warned that "if we let our guard down and try to come up with a last-minute action plan, it is highly likely that lives will be lost." Governor Pablo Lemus urged the public to stay informed given the hurricane's "highly erratic behaviour." Forecasters warned Simon could produce torrential rainfall of 8 to 15 inches, with isolated areas receiving up to 25 inches, threatening flooding and mudslides.

On the US Pacific coast, former Hurricane Rachel was battering Southern California on Friday. Powerful waves tore apart sections of the Long Beach Peninsula boardwalk, with one beachfront home red-tagged for potential collapse. Officials warned conditions could worsen Sunday night into Monday, when the National Weather Service expects Monday's storm surge to reach about 7 feet.

How it is being reported

• Beachfront home on brink of collapse as tropical storm batters Southern CaliforniaPowerful waves from former Hurricane Rachel tore apart sections of the Long Beach Peninsula boardwalk Friday morning, leaving one home on the verge of collapsing into the ocean.New York Post · 9 Oct, 18:17
• Hurricane Simon update: Storm expected to become Category 4 before landfallCategory 4 hurricanes on the Saffir-Simpson scale have maximum sustained winds of 210-250 kphIndependent World · 9 Oct, 15:12
• Hurricane Simon forecast to get much stronger as it heads to Mexico’s Pacific coastHurricane Simon is forecast to rapidly strengthen into a Category 4 storm as it heads toward Mexico's Pacific coast, bringing torrential rainfall.New York Post · 9 Oct, 09:27
• Tropical storm explodes into hurricane set to batter vacation hotspot — as US triple threat approachesRachel is expected to approach northern Baja and the northern Gulf of California at tropical-storm strength this weekend, triggering potential Tropical Storm Watches.New York Post · 8 Oct, 22:41
• Hurricane-force waves smash California coast as tempest looms — with flash flood warnings issuedAs former Hurricane Rachel barrels toward the Southern California coast, residents are already facing massive hurricane-powered waves before flash flooding from torrential rains arrives this weekend.New York Post · 8 Oct, 15:40
• Hurricane Rachel leaves forecasters stunned as it gains strength toward Pacific coast — what it means for CaliforniaRachel is increasingly likely to impact Southern California and that means a potentially badly needed soaking.New York Post · 8 Oct, 01:33
• Hurricane takes massive turn toward California as major city bracesHurricane Rachel has taken a sharp turn toward Southern California and forecasters say it could arrive early Sunday as a weaker, post-tropical storm.New York Post · 7 Oct, 21:18

In this story: Hurricane Simon · Mexico · Hurricane Rachel · Southern California · Puerto Vallarta · Jalisco · Long Beach Peninsula

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