Tropical storm Don lost most of its punch and was downgraded to a tropical depression late Friday as it moved ashore into drought-stricken Texas.

Officials at the National Hurricane Center in Miami estimated that Don, which was crossing Baffin Bay, Texas, and moving inland could drop between two and four inches (5 to 10 centimeters) of rain in south Texas and northeastern Mexico, with possible isolated amounts of up to six inches (15 centimeters).

At 0300 GMT Saturday, the storm packed maximum sustained winds of only 35 miles (55 kilometers) per hour, down from 50 miles (80 kilometers) per hour just a few hours ago, according to US government forecasters.

"Don is forecast to dissipate in a day or so as it moves farther inland," the center said in a statement.

The NHC also discontinued all tropical storm warnings along the Texas coast.

Don was the fourth tropical storm in the Atlantic this season and the second to cross the Gulf of Mexico after Arlene hit east and central Mexico in June.

The Atlantic hurricane season spans six months from June to November, with the highest number of storms taking place in September and October.

Officials had predicted large and damaging waves from Don, with ocean levels expected to be as much as two feet (61 centimeters) above ground level.

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