Ernesto makes landfall

People take refuge from Hurricane Ernesto in a shelter Tuesday in the Mahahual community on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.

• NEW: Hurricane Ernesto is packing 80 mph winds
• NEW: The storm's intensity drops after making landfall in Mexcio
• The storm is expected to enter the Bay of Campeche Wednesday afternoon

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(CNN) -- Hurricane Ernesto weakened over Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula early Wednesday as it whipped the region with 80 mph winds, the National Hurricane Center said.

The Category 1 storm is forecast to lose more of its punch as it crosses the landmass before emerging into the Bay of Campeche Wednesday afternoon, where it's expected to restrengthen.

As of 1 a.m. ET, the storm was about 20 miles (35 kilometers) north of Chetumal, Mexico, the National Hurricane Center reported. Ernesto was moving west at 15 mph. Hurricane force winds extended 35 miles (55 kilometers) from the storm's center, while tropical storm force winds reached up 175 miles (280 kilometers).

The storm could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides, the hurricane center warned.

Hurricane Ernesto is expected to weaken as it crosses the Yucatan before emerging in the Bay of Campeche.

Between 3 and 5 inches of rain are expected along the northern coast of Honduras, the hurricane center said. Some mountains might get up to 8 inches.

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Belize, the southern Yucatan Peninsula and northern Guatemala may get up to 12 inches of rain in some areas.

Areas of Honduras and the Yucatan Peninsula were under tropical storm warnings.

Ernesto will cause a surge when it reaches the coast, increasing water levels by as much as 2 to 4 feet above normal tide levels in the area near and north of where the storm makes landfall, the hurricane center said.

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