Two Hurricanes, Two Coasts: Hurricane Isaias could strengthen to Cat 3 as category 4 Simon threatens Pacific Coast

Two major hurricanes are moving toward North America from different directions. While Hurricane Isaias is threatening the US Gulf Coast, Hurricane Simon could strengthen into a Category 4 storm as it heads toward Mexico’s Pacific coast. Hurricane Isaias has strengthened to a Category 2 storm and could become a Category 3 hurricane before making landfall somewhere between Mississippi and Florida on Friday evening. Meanwhile, Hurricane Simon is currently a Category 1 hurricane but could intensify into a Category 4 storm before reaching Mexico’s southwestern coast.

Here’s everything you need to know about the two hurricanes.

Hurricane Isaias

Hurricane Isaias strengthened to a Category 2 storm on Thursday as it headed toward the US Gulf Coast. However, according to reports, it could intensify into a Category 3 hurricane before making landfall somewhere between Mississippi and Florida on Friday evening.


Isaias, the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, is forecast to make landfall in Florida, Alabama or Mississippi on Friday night or early Saturday, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

“Isaias will be a dangerous hurricane with significant storm surge, damaging winds, and flooding rains when it reaches the northern Gulf Coast,” the NHC said.

A hurricane warning was in effect from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to the Gulf County Line in Florida. A storm surge warning, indicating the risk of “life-threatening inundation,” was in effect from the mouth of the Mississippi River to the Suwannee River, the NHC said.

The NHC urged residents in areas likely to be affected to rush preparations to protect lives and property from high winds and storm surges to completion.

Hurricane Simon

Hurricane Simon is currently a Category 1 storm but is forecast to strengthen significantly before making landfall. According to AccuWeather, Simon could intensify into a Category 4 hurricane before reaching Mexico’s southwestern coast early Sunday morning.

A Category 4 hurricane can cause catastrophic damage. According to the NHC, well-built, framed homes can sustain severe damage, including the loss of most of their roof structure and some exterior walls. Most trees may be snapped or uprooted, and power poles could be knocked down, isolating residential areas. Power outages could last for weeks or even months, while some areas could remain uninhabitable for weeks or months.

Simon is heading toward Mexico’s Pacific coast. According to the NHC, the storm is forecast to approach the coast of Jalisco state, home to the popular tourist destination of Puerto Vallarta.

“Rapid intensification is expected to continue, and Simon is expected to be a very dangerous major hurricane when it approaches the coast of Mexico,” the NHC said.

Before strengthening into a hurricane on Thursday, Simon had already brought heavy rainfall to Acapulco, another popular Mexican destination that was devastated by Hurricane Otis in 2023. Heavy rain is also expected in other coastal states, where authorities have suspended classes and evacuated people from high-risk areas.

AccuWeather has warned that Mexico’s southwestern coast could experience powerful winds on Sunday morning as Hurricane Simon makes landfall.

“Gusts of 100-120 mph are forecast along portions of coastal Jalisco, Nayarit and Sinaloa, with gusts of 120-140 mph in far western Jalisco. The strongest wind gusts, reaching 140-150 mph, are expected near the eyewall as Simon moves ashore, with an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 160 mph,” the report said.

Dangerous surf and large waves are also expected near and to the right of the storm’s center. Strong onshore winds could produce a storm surge of 10-15 feet along parts of the Jalisco coastline, AccuWeather warned.