(Updates with position, amount of rainfall)
MEXICO CITY, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Helene made
landfall off the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday and weakened into a
tropical depression as it plowed up Mexico's east coast, the
U.S. National Hurricane Center said.
The depression was about 65 miles (105 km) west-northwest of
Tampico and had maximum sustained winds of 30 miles per hour (48
kph), the NHC said in its 4 p.m. CDT (2100 GMT) bulletin.
Tropical storm warnings were discontinued on the Mexican
coast, although Helene still was expected to produce two to four
inches (5.1 to 10.2 cm) of rain in the states of Veracruz and
Tamaulipas.
Helene was predicted to continue weakening and dissipate
within 48 hours, the NHC said.
There were no reports that Helene had affected the Gulf of
Mexico's oil installations, which are built to resist powerful
hurricanes.
Last week, Hurricane Ernesto hit Mexico, unleashing rains
and winds that caused six deaths.
(Reporting By Ioan Grillo; Editing by Paul Simao)