Why is there damage from Hurricane Simon when it stayed offshore?

Hurricane Rachel’s remnants stirred up rough surf, eating away at the Long Beach, Calif., coastline, while Simon continues to taunt Mexico’s west coast.

Simon, the eastern Pacific’s ninth major hurricane of the season, has spent about a week just offshore, sending damaging rain, wind and surf toward coastal communities from Acapulco to Puerto Vallarta.

Simon may still be many days from a potential landfall north of Culiacán. Even as it weakens, it could bring beach erosion, heavy rain, and mudslides there and farther south to Mazatlán.