Hurricane Lorenzo Downgraded

VERACRUZ - Hurricane Lorenzo weakened into a tropical storm after making landfall and losing strength inland over eastern Mexico, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said early today.

Lorenzo had earlier strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane as it bore down on Mexico's Gulf Coast with powerful winds and rain, forcing authorities to evacuate low-lying coastal communities.

As of 5 a.m. EDT, Lorenzo was centered about 30 miles south-southwest of Tuxpan and was moving westward at 7 mph, the center said. It had top sustained winds near 65 mph.