Bud expected to weaken to tropical depression after heavy rains

June 15 (UPI) -- A weakening Tropical Storm Bud is on track to move away from Baja California and move over mainland Mexico, the National Hurricane Center said Friday.

The center of the storm -- which reached Category 4 as a hurricane earlier this week -- was about 50 miles north-northeast of La Paz, Mexico, the NHC said in a 3 a.m. update. Bud recorded 40 mph winds and is moving north at 13 mph.

The Mexican government discontinued tropical storm watches and warnings for Baja California Sur and other areas.

Forecasters said the storm should move away from Baja California Sur and move over the Gulf of California Friday or early Saturday. It's expected to weaken to a tropical depression Friday and dissipate entirely early Saturday.

Between 2 and 6 inches of rain is forecast through Saturday across southern and eastern Sonora in northwestern Mexico. An additional 1-2 inches is possible in the south of Baja California Sur.

Bud could cause life-threatening flash floods, mudslides and swells along portions of the southwestern Mexican coast and the western mainland.

Bud is the second major hurricane to develop in the eastern Pacific this year, following Hurricane Aletta.

Bud marked the third time on record the first two named Pacific storms became major hurricanes.