Tropical Storm Simon stalls off Mexico with 60 mph winds
Simon has weakened to a tropical storm, EFE and El Universal reported. Early Thursday it sat nearly still about 270 miles south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas with top winds of 60 mph, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. No coastal watches or warnings are in effect, but Simon could pass near or west of Baja California Sur this weekend.
Simon sat nearly still off Mexico's Pacific coast early Thursday as a tropical storm, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. The storm had weakened from a hurricane late Wednesday, the Spanish news agency EFE and the Mexican newspaper El Universal reported.
Top winds eased to near 60 mph (95 km/h), the center said in its 2 a.m. MST (5 a.m. ET) advisory. That is down from 65 mph late Wednesday. Central pressure rose to 996 mb. Simon was about 270 miles (435 km) south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas and about 200 miles (320 km) west-southwest of Cabo Corrientes.
No coastal watches or warnings are in effect. Because Simon is small and its track has shifted, wind watches are not needed for Baja California Sur for now, the center said. Tropical-storm-force winds reach only about 35 miles (55 km) from the center.
Simon is likely to drift slowly and erratically through Thursday night, then turn northwest by Friday, the center said. That path would bring it near or west of Baja California Sur over the weekend. Stronger wind shear and drier air should break it down. The center expects Simon to become a post-tropical remnant low by late this weekend and said that could happen sooner.
Through early Saturday, the center expects 1 to 2 inches of rain, with isolated totals of 3 inches, in parts of Baja California Sur. Swells could cause life-threatening surf and rip currents along the coasts of west-central Mexico and Baja California Sur over the next couple of days.
Mexico's National Meteorological Service said Simon no longer affects Mexican territory, EFE reported. EFE said the storm left at least one person dead in the state of Guerrero, citing the official count. EFE said Simon's earlier heavy rain in Jalisco led to the closing of the Puerto Vallarta and Colima airports.
In Baja California Sur, La Paz is closed to small boats as a precaution, BCS Noticias and Tribuna de México reported Wednesday. BCS Noticias said Los Cabos was also closed to small boats. Tribuna de México reported closures at Loreto and Santa Rosalía, with restrictions in Los Cabos. The state civil protection council plans to meet again Thursday at 8 p.m. local time, BCS Noticias said.
What we know: Simon is a nearly stationary 60 mph tropical storm, and no coastal watches or warnings are in effect.
What we don't: How close Simon will pass to Baja California Sur this weekend, or how fast it will fade.
Where outlets agree EFE and El Universal both report that Simon weakened from a hurricane to a tropical storm Wednesday night.
Where they differ The outlets cited here report the same key facts so far.