Hurricane Simon hits Mexico without making landfall – yet
Hurricane Simon, a Category 3 storm, hit Mexico’s Pacific coast on Sunday, but its eye remained offshore, allowing it to remain strong.
The heaviest rains and winds hit the Puerto Vallarta area on Sunday with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph. Some areas received up to 8 inches of rain.
Simon is moving parallel to the country’s west coast on Monday and is expected to make landfall then dissipate inland over Mexico. Winds had dropped to 185 mph early Monday, as the storm crawled northwest at 5 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Hurricane warnings are in effect for Playa Perula to El Roblito and Las Islas Marias. A hurricane watch is in place north of El Roblito to Bahia Tempehuaya.
Tropical moisture from the storm is expected to spread into the United States and bring a risk of flooding to the central part of the country later this week.
The same region could see 1 to 3 inches of rain Wednesday and Thursday, with up to 6 inches in some areas.
Remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel continue to dump rain on the Southwest
Meanwhile, residents on the West Coast are facing flooding after Tropical Storm Rachel hit over the weekend.
Videos showed Las Vegas under water and huge waves hitting homes along Southern California beaches.
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Tropical Storm Rachel causes powerful waves in California
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Las Vegas received more than an inch of rain, breaking the daily record from Oct. 11, set in 2012.
The remnants of Rachel continued to bring rain and flooding to parts of the Southwest on Monday, even reaching as far north as southeastern Idaho.
Flash flood watches and warnings are in place across most of the region, including Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Idaho. In some areas, up to 3 inches of rain is possible Monday.
A Coastal Flood Advisory is in effect for Southern California, where high tides and surf could cause problems.
Additional tropical showers are likely Monday for the Southwest, the Four Corners and the central Rockies. Some snow is also possible in higher elevation areas.
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