Hurricane Simon projected to veer northwest, bringing heavy rain to Mexico's coast

The National Hurricane Center reported that Hurricane Simon, currently a Category 2 system with 100 mph winds, will shift toward the northwest late Monday and later turn northeast. At 8 p.m. MST the storm’s eye was situated roughly 85 miles west of Cabo Corrientes and 195 miles south of Mazatlan, moving west-northwest at 3 mph. A hurricane warning is in effect for Las Islas Marias, with a hurricane watch from north of Escuinapa to Bahia Tempehuaya and a tropical storm watch from Cabo Corrientes to Escuinapa.

Forecasts show Simon nearing the west-central Mexican coast Wednesday and Thursday, weakening over the next few days but possibly regaining strength by Wednesday, remaining a hurricane through mid-week. Heavy rainfall of 5-10 inches is expected, with isolated peaks of 15 inches in Sinaloa, and storm surge will generate large, destructive waves along the coast.