(August 21, 2007)--In a matter of hours, Hurricane Dean weakened from a monstrous Category 5 storm into a timid Category 1 as it crossed Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.

A diminished Dean could gain strength again as it passes over the Gulf of Mexico, but an expert says it probably won't grow back into a Category 5.

Dean roared ashore early Tuesday morning about 100 miles south of Cancun, sparing the resort from which thousands of tourists fled in advance of the approaching hurricane.

By early Tuesday afternoon, Dean was poised to emerge into the Bay of Campeche and Mexico had discontinued the hurricane warning for the east coast of the Yucatan peninsula.

A hurricane warning remains in effect along Mexico’s Gulf Coast from south of Progreso west to Tampico.

Dean is moving west at about 18 miles per hour with maximum sustained winds near 85 miles per hour.

As Dean lost steam Tuesday, Texas officials began to ease back on readiness efforts.

The southern part of the state had been on alert as Hurricane Dean moved westward.

But now, Dean is on a path that's expected to bring nothing more than some higher surf to Texas so Texas National Guard soldiers are being released from hurricane duty and a mandatory evacuation of trailers and recreational vehicles on South Padres island is being lifted,- along with a countywide voluntary evacuation.

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