Complex sentence: The cyclone weakened to Category 1 strength as it crossed the island, close to Matanzas, but regained first Category 2 and then Category 3 strength as it moved north through the Gulf of Mexico.
Split into simpler sentences: The cyclone weakened to Category 1 strength as it crossed the island. However, it re-intensified into a Category 2 and then Category 3 strength as it moved north through the Gulf of Mexico.