MEXICO CITY -- Hurricane Bud grew to Category 3 force off Mexico's Pacific coast on Monday. Forecasters said it was likely to weaken before a possible brush with the resort-dotted southern tip of the Baja California peninsula late in the week.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Bud had maximum sustained winds of 120 mph at midday Monday. It was centered about 450 miles south-southeast of the tip of the Baja peninsula and was moving northwest at 7 mph.

Forecasters said Bud was expected to strengthen further before a slow weakening trend starts Tuesday.

Hurricane Bud is seen along Mexico's Pacific coast in an infrared satellite image capture at 2:30 p.m. ET on June 11, 2018. NOAA

"Significantly cooler waters around the southern tip of Baja California should reduce Bud's intensity below hurricane status before it reaches that land," the center said.

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The hurricane center said the storm could generate swells that cause life-threatening surf and rip currents over the coming days along Mexico's southwestern coast. Rainfall of 3 to 6 inches, with isolated patches of 10 inches, was possible into Tuesday afternoon.

Hurricane Bud's probable path off Mexico's Pacific coast is displayed in this graphic from the National Weather Service. National Weather Service

Tropical Storm Aletta

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Aletta weakened into a tropical depression in the Pacific Ocean far off the Mexican coast and was expected to degenerate further and become a remnant low-pressure system later in the day. The hurricane center said it had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph.

The storm peaked on Friday as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 140 mph.