Hurricane Erick slammed into Mexico’s Oaxaca state as a dangerous Category 3 storm Thursday morning, unleashing powerful winds at the coast while spreading heavy rain over the region.

The storm was downgraded slightly before making landfall, from a powerful Category 4 to a Category 3. While slightly reduced in power, Erick is still considered a major hurricane as a Category 3, which can carry winds of up to 129 mph (210 kph).

Hurricane Erick made landfall on the coast of Oaxaca, Mexico, authorities said, potentially bringing intense rains and life-threatening floods and mudslides. The storm made landfall around 5:30 a.