Storm Lowell weakens to depression off Mexico coast

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Lowell weakened to a depression as it neared Mexico's Pacific coast and was forecast to die out by the end of the week, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said on Wednesday.

Lowell's maximum sustained winds fell slightly to 35 miles per hour (56 km per hour) and was expected to hit the Baja California peninsula, popular with U.S. tourists, later on Wednesday, fizzling out in the agricultural states of Sonora and Sinaloa on Thursday.

The Baja California peninsula is home to Los Cabos, a beach resort and cruise ship destination. Cabo San Lucas port has been closed for much of this week but is not home to oil installations.

Tropical Storm Julio drenched Baja California in late August but did not cause major damage.

(Editing by Eric Beech)