Simon to become Category 4 hurricane, part of rare triple tropical threat

Families along Mexico's southwestern coast are bracing for days of heavy rain from Tropical Storm Simon, which formed Wednesday about 175 miles south-southeast of Lazaro Cardenas. The National Hurricane Center expects 8 to 12 inches in parts of the region through Sunday, with isolated totals of 15 to 25 inches in Colima and Michoacan. AccuWeather forecasts 18 to 24 inches along the Jalisco and Colima coasts. In that mountainous terrain, the rain could run into valleys and rivers and cause flash flooding and mudslides. Rain could begin as early as Thursday night. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Simon started with sustained winds of about 40 mph. The hurricane center said it should become a hurricane by late Thursday and possibly a major hurricane, meaning winds of 111 mph or more, by Saturday. AccuWeather expects it to reach Category 4 before landfall early Sunday. Ocean waters several degrees warmer than normal and low wind shear are helping it grow. AccuWeather's Alexander DaSilva said dry mountain air could slow that growth. He warned of gusts up to 150 mph near the eye, widespread power outages and a 10- to 15-foot storm surge, a rise in sea water pushed ashore by the storm, along parts of the Jalisco coast. [2] [3] [4]

Simon is one of three storms forecasters are watching. AccuWeather says Tropical Storm Rachel, also in the eastern Pacific, will bring heavy rain and gusty winds to Southern California and the southwestern U.S. late this weekend into early next week. In the Atlantic, Hurricane Isaias is forecast to make landfall on the central Gulf Coast late Friday night, with flooding and damaging winds possible in the western Florida Panhandle. Moisture from Simon itself may reach the southern Plains by Tuesday night. [3]