Recap: Willa slams Mexico after making landfall as a Category 3 hurricane

Willa unleashed destructive winds and heavy rainfall on parts of western Mexico from late Tuesday into Wednesday.

The former Category 5 hurricane weakened to a Category 3 prior to making landfall, but it remained a dangerous major hurricane.

Willa quickly weakened from a Category 3 hurricane at landfall to a tropical depression by Wednesday morning.

The storm brought winds of over 100 mph, causing widespread power outages and damage to homes and businesses, according to Reuters.

Ahead of Willa, between 7,000 and 8,000 people were evacuated from high-risk areas, the Associated Press reported.

Schools were closed across the region from Monday through Wednesday to allow for preparations ahead of Willa.

Willa made landfall south of Mazatlan, near the community of Escuinapa, sparing the major resort area from the worst of the storm.

The state civil defense office said that the hospital in Escuinapa suffered damage to the ceiling and some other areas, according to the AP.

The AP also reported that the Interior Department announced federal aircraft, 12,000 soldiers, 3,800 sailors and 120 federal police officers have been sent to the affected areas.

The storm dissipated over the rugged terrain of northern Mexico on Wednesday afternoon.

Moisture from Willa will be pulled northeastward into the southern United States and could cause additional flooding problems in the coming days.

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