Helene weakens to tropical depression

A storm tracker map shows the location of Tropical Storm Helene. Helene weakens to a tropical depressionIt pours rain on an area recovering from a recent hurricaneMexico discontinues all tropical storm warnings

(CNN) -- Helene weakened into a tropical depression Saturday after making landfall in Mexico, the National Hurricane Center said.

The storm brought more rain on an area that was recovering from Hurricane Ernesto, but it is forecast to dissipate by Monday.

The tropical depression was about 15 miles (25 km) south-southwest of Tampico, Mexico.

Helene packed winds of 35 mph and was moving toward the northwest at about 9 mph, the center said.

Mexico discontinued all tropical storm warnings.

As many as 6 inches of rain will fall across northeast Mexico, from northern Veracruz to southern Tamaulipas and eastern San Luis Potosi states, the center said.

It comes after Ernesto hit the area last week as a Category 1 hurricane before weakening.

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NOAA now predicts 12 to 17 named storms, up from the nine to 15 it predicted shortly before the June 1 start of hurricane season. Six named storms have been produced so far. People need to plan now for possible evacuations, power outages and other challenges as a new hurricane season approaches, the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency said. On the first day of the Atlantic hurricane season, forecasters at Colorado State University have increased their predictions for the number of named storms for the year but are still predicting a below-average number of storms.updated 12:42 PM EST, Sat January 28, 2012 At least 669 people died in 2011's 14 weather and climate disasters and thousands were injured. Although no two years are alike, it's important for Americans to be prepared for the worst. After Hurricane Katrina's devestation in 2005, erosion has become a way of life for people in parts of Louisiana. If severe weather is happening near you, let us know on CNN iReport. Send your photos and videos, but stay safe. Most popular stories right now

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