Hurricane Amanda remains a powerful Category 4 storm far of Mexico’s Pacific coast but is expected to begin weakening.

The hurricane’s maximum sustained winds early Monday are near 140 mph (220 kph). The U.S. National Hurricane Center says rapid weakening is expected over the next two days.

The hurricane is centered about 685 miles (1,105 kilometers) south of the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula and is moving north-northwest near 7 mph (11 kph).

While Amanda 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.

The Eastern Pacific hurricane season officially started May 15. The Atlantic hurricane season starts June 1.

(AP)