Hurricane Simon strengthens to Category 4 off Mexico’s Pacific coast

Hurricane Simon has strengthened into a powerful Category 4 storm off Mexico’s Pacific coast, packing winds of up to 241km/h (150mph) as it threatens to bring destructive winds, storm surges and life-threatening flooding to southwestern Mexico. The US National Hurricane Center said that Simon was expected to approach or move just inland of Mexico’s west-central coast late on Saturday or early Sunday. The storm was about 115 miles (185km) south-southwest of Manzanillo, with further strengthening possible before landfall. The hurricane could bring 10 to 20 inches (25 to 51cm) of rain to parts of southwestern Mexico through Sunday.