Typhoon Matmo Struck Southern China Causing Widespread Relocations
The powerful storm made landfall on the coastal regions of China on the weekend, following its sweeping across the island province of Hainan. The intense weather forced the relocation of around 350,000 residents, delivering torrential rain and damaging winds, especially between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Hainan's Wenchang. Boat transport were suspended and air travel disrupted at the airport in Haikou.
Storm Details
Matmo, the 21st cyclone of the year, recorded wind speeds of 151km/h and poured more than 50mm of precipitation in a short period in Qinzhou and Chongzou. Urban areas of the region also received significant rain amounts.
The storm triggered China's top-tier emergency warning, with disturbances in Zhanjiang, where commercial activities, transport links and roads were shut. In the special administrative region, numerous air services were affected and 30 cancelled.
Future Projections
As the typhoon advances inward towards Cao Bang province in Vietnam, it is projected to diminish into a less intense system with 55mph winds but will persist to bring heavy rainfall. Northern Vietnam could face significant rainfall on Monday, raising the threat of inundation and landslides. The weather pattern is anticipated to move towards Yunnan region in China, where additional heavy rainfall is probable.
Other Storm Systems
Meanwhile, Hurricane Priscilla formed off Mexico's Pacific coast on the weekend, initially as a tropical storm. It led to a storm watch for the southwestern areas from a coastal point to Punta Mita on Monday.
In the morning of Sunday, Priscilla was about 305 miles from a Mexican cape with continuous gusts of 105km/h. It intensified into a severe cyclone in the evening, when wind speeds peaked at 75mph.
Although unlikely to hit the coast, the storm is expected to produce hazardous swells and strong currents as it moves northwestward along the coast towards a Mexican state. Heavy rainfall is predicted on Monday, reaching a considerable volume in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with some areas at about 200mm. Other regions could receive 50-100mm.
In other parts, Cyclone Shakhti has formed as the initial post-season cyclonic storm of 2025 in the a body of water, causing an alert from the national weather agency for an Indian state. On Sunday, Shakhti was 130 miles south-east of a location in Oman with maximum sustained winds of 103km/h.
Shakhti, which has tracked in a southwestern direction and lost strength, is forecast to turn towards the east into the the sea. Rough seas are likely to continue along the coastal stretch and intense rain is anticipated in coastal districts including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.
