US weather watchers downgraded a storm off Mexico's Pacific coast to a tropical depression Tuesday and said it should break up into remnants as it moves through the Baja California peninsula.

Javier was still expected to dump five to 10 centimeters (two to four inches) of rain over Baja California and northern Mexico through Thursday, raising the risk of flash floods and mud slides, the National Hurricane Center said.

The storm was around 45 kilometers (30 miles) west of the port city of Santa Fe, with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 75 kph, Mexico's weather service said.

Mudslides triggered by remnants of Tropical Storm Earl have killed at least 49 people in eastern and central Mexico over the past few days.

The Miami-based National Hurricane Center said Javier was expected to continue weakening.

"Javier is forecast to become a remnant low within the next day or so," the NHC said.

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