Hurricane Simon strengthens to Category 4 off Mexico coast

Oct 10 Hurricane Simon strengthened into a powerful Category 4 storm off Mexico s Pacific coast on Saturday, threatening destructive winds, storm surges and potentially deadly flooding as it approaches landfall. The US National Hurricane Center said ​Simon was located about 115 miles (185 km) south-southwest of Manzanillo on ‌Saturday morning, packing maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 kph) as it moved northward. Simon is expected to approach the west-central coast of Mexico as a major hurricane late Saturday or early Sunday, and some additional strengthening remains possible before landfall, the NHC said. A hurricane warning was in ‌effect ​for portions of Mexico s Pacific coast south of the ⁠beach resort of Puerto Vallarta, ⁠including the area around Manzanillo, Mexico s largest Pacific port. A tropical storm watch was in effect farther south toward Lazaro Cardenas. The NHC urged residents in the warning area, which also includes the Islas Marias archipelago offshore, to rush