Typhoon Matmo Slammed Southern China Bringing Massive Evacuations
Typhoon Matmo made landfall on the southern shores of China on Sunday afternoon, following its sweeping across the island province of Hainan. The intense weather forced the relocation of around 350,000 people, delivering torrential rain and damaging winds, especially between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Hainan's Wenchang. Boat transport were halted and flights cancelled at the airport in Haikou.
Storm Details
The typhoon, the 21st typhoon of the year, recorded wind speeds of 151km/h and poured over 50mm of rainfall in six hours in Qinzhou and Chongzou. Urban areas of the region also received high rainfall totals.
The storm prompted China's highest-level emergency warning, with disruptions in Zhanjiang, where businesses, transport links and highways were closed. In Hong Kong, 100 flights were impacted and 30 cancelled.
Forecast and Movement
As Matmo moves inland towards Cao Bang province in Vietnam, it is expected to weaken into a less intense system with 55mph winds but will persist to bring heavy rainfall. Northern Vietnam could face 130-150mm on Monday, increasing the threat of flooding and landslides. The weather pattern is anticipated to move towards Yunnan region in China, where further heavy rainfall is probable.
Other Storm Systems
At the same time, a hurricane named Priscilla developed 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 the start of the week.
In the early hours of the next day, Priscilla was about 305 miles from a Mexican cape with continuous gusts of 105km/h. It intensified into a hurricane in the night, when sustained winds reached at 121km/h.
Though not expected to hit the coast, Priscilla is expected to generate hazardous swells and strong currents as it moves north-west along the coast towards a Mexican state. Heavy rainfall is forecast on Monday, reaching 100-150mm in specific Mexican states, with some areas at about 200mm. Colima and western Jalisco could face moderate to heavy rain.
Elsewhere, Cyclone Shakhti has formed as the first post-monsoon cyclonic storm of 2025 in the a body of water, prompting an warning from the India Meteorological Department for an Indian state. On Sunday, the cyclone was 209 kilometers southeast of Ras al Hadd, Oman with maximum sustained winds of 64mph.
The storm, which has moved in a southwestern direction and lost strength, is predicted to turn eastward into the Arabian Sea. Turbulent waters are likely to persist along the coastal stretch and intense rain is anticipated in shoreline areas including specific Indian cities.
