Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Oct. 8, 2026 — Hurricane Simon strengthened into a Category 1 storm Thursday night as Puerto Vallarta was upgraded from a hurricane watch to a hurricane warning.
The National Hurricane Center reported the change in its latest advisory for Simon, following a day of strengthening winds and expanding coastal alerts along western Mexico.
Puerto Vallarta had been placed under a hurricane watch Thursday morning. The upgraded warning indicates hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the designated coastal area.
Hurricane warning adds urgency to local preparations
The warning comes as Jalisco officials prepare to move people from vulnerable areas before Simon approaches the coast this weekend.
For Puerto Vallarta residents, the immediate concerns include possible flooding, dangerous coastal conditions and instructions from Civil Protection regarding temporary shelters.
People living near the Río Cuale, Río Pitillal and other waterways should monitor official flood warnings. Those planning activities around the Malecón, Playa de los Muertos and other beaches should follow posted restrictions and lifeguard instructions.
A hurricane warning does not mean hurricane-force winds have already reached Puerto Vallarta. It means officials expect those conditions somewhere within the warning area and that protective preparations should be completed.
Hotels may begin moving guests Friday
The change in storm status comes as Puerto Vallarta’s tourism industry prepares for possible guest relocations.
Jalisco Civil Protection Director Sergio Ramírez López told local officials Thursday that hotels in areas considered at risk could begin moving guests and employees to safer locations Friday afternoon.
As previously reported by PVDN, the plan does not call for evacuating every hotel in the city.
Some properties have certified shelter areas within their buildings. Others have arrangements to accommodate guests and staff at external shelters.
The decision to relocate guests will depend on the risk identified at each property, according to the state’s Civil Protection director.
During remarks Thursday, Ramírez also confirmed that officials were notifying residents in vulnerable parts of Puerto Vallarta about possible transfers to shelters.
“We have around 180 temporary shelters, and they will be opened according to people’s needs,” he said, referring to the statewide emergency shelter network.
Rain and dangerous surf remain major concerns
The National Hurricane Center has warned that Simon could bring 8 to 15 inches of rain to portions of southwestern Mexico through Sunday.
Isolated totals of 15 to 25 inches are possible across parts of Michoacán, Colima and Jalisco, according to the center’s earlier Thursday forecast. Those are regional estimates, not a specific rainfall forecast for Puerto Vallarta.
Forecasters have also warned of dangerous surf and rip currents along Mexico’s Pacific coast.
Heavy rainfall could cause flash flooding and landslides, particularly in mountainous areas. The coast around Cabo Corrientes and the roads connecting Puerto Vallarta with communities to the south are among the areas where residents should monitor local emergency advisories.
Emergency personnel and utility crews deployed
Jalisco had already deployed nearly 200 Civil Protection officers to its northern and southern coastal regions Thursday.
The state established command operations to coordinate emergency responses and support communities that could require evacuations.
The Federal Electricity Commission also began positioning personnel and equipment in Puerto Vallarta and other coastal communities Thursday afternoon, according to local reporting on the utility deployment.
The crews are intended to support electricity restoration if strong winds or falling trees damage power infrastructure.
Simon is forecast to approach southwestern and west-central Mexico during the weekend. The storm’s eventual track and intensity will determine the conditions experienced in Puerto Vallarta and neighboring Bahía de Banderas.
Residents and visitors should follow instructions from Jalisco Civil Protection, confirm travel arrangements with their airlines or hotels, and use the National Hurricane Center’s advisories for storm updates.
