Hurricane Simon lashed western Mexico with strong winds and heavy rain on Monday, causing havoc in coastal towns and resorts. The Category 2 hurricane’s center stayed off the coast, but its outer bands brought damaging winds and rain to areas near Puerto Vallarta, between the Sierra Madre and the Pacific Ocean.
After Tropical Storm Rachel led to flooding in Las Vegas over the weekend, flood advisories in the southwestern U.S. were mostly lifted. In Mexico’s Baja California state, the aftermath of post-tropical cyclone Rachel resulted in at least four fatalities and extensive damage in the coastal city of Ensenada, where floodwaters destroyed vehicles and homes.
Residents, like Johana Nuriulu, described the sudden onset of flooding during the night, following a power outage due to heavy rainfall. Nuriulu recounted the sound of rushing water as a nearby stream overflowed, inundating the neighborhood and sweeping away belongings.
Numerous communities in Baja California were isolated by landslides and overflowing rivers. The Mexican military conducted helicopter rescues, saving 32 individuals, including 22 foreigners, from a ranch in Ensenada. Governor Marina del Pilar Avila mentioned that among those rescued were missionaries, including Germans and Americans.
In Baja California, civil protection co-ordinator Ignacio Lozoya reported four confirmed fatalities in Ensenada and six individuals still missing, with ongoing search efforts. Authorities deployed around 14,000 personnel to aid affected residents and manage the crisis.
Hurricane Simon also caused destruction in Guerrero state, downing trees and power lines, obstructing roads, and flooding homes in coastal towns like Acapulco. Governor Evelyn Salgado confirmed a fatality in Chilpancingo, where a wall collapse claimed the life of a 71-year-old man.
As of late Monday, Hurricane Simon maintained maximum sustained winds of 155 km/h and was predicted to persist as a hurricane through midweek, posing risks of severe flooding and mudslides before an anticipated landfall by late Friday. In Puerto Vallarta, normalcy slowly returned as businesses reopened and preparations were made for the resumption of airport operations.
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Rachel weakened into a post-tropical cyclone as it moved towards Southern California, causing significant coastal damage with large waves that battered Long Beach, leading to evacuations and property destruction.
