Hurricane Amanda: The strongest May hurricane in 50 years is weakening, say experts
| MEXICO CITY
Hurricane聽Amanda聽began weakening on Monday and was not threatening land, but it remained a powerful Category 4 storm far off Mexico's Pacific coast.
The聽hurricane's聽maximum sustained winds Monday morning were near 135 mph, down from a peak of 155 mph on Sunday, making it the most powerful May聽hurricane聽since the mid-1960s, when reliable records began to be kept.
The US National聽Hurricane聽Center said rapid weakening is expected over the next two days.
The聽hurricane聽was centered about 680 miles south of the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula and was moving north-northwest near 5 mph.
While hurricane Amanda聽was forecast to stay out to sea, Mexico's National Meteorological Service said rains associated with the storm were likely to drench much of western and central Mexico.
Mexico's national civil protection authorities urged people living near the coast to keep an eye out for swelling rivers and potential mudslides in mountainous areas, and to listen to broadcasts about the storm's location and possible effects.
The Eastern Pacific聽hurricane聽season officially started May 15. The Atlantic聽hurricane聽season starts June 1.
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