Typhoon Matmo Hit Coastal China Causing Widespread Evacuations
The powerful storm struck the coast on the southern shores of China on Sunday afternoon, following its sweeping across the provincial island of Hainan. The intense weather led to the relocation of approximately 350,000 people, delivering torrential rain and damaging winds, especially between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Wenchang in Hainan. Boat transport were halted and air travel disrupted at Haikou Meilan airport.
Storm Details
The typhoon, the 21st cyclone of the year, recorded wind speeds of 151km/h and dumped more than 50mm of precipitation in six hours in Qinzhou and Chongzou. Urban areas of the region also received high rainfall totals.
The storm triggered China's top-tier red alert, with disruptions in the city, where commercial activities, transport links and highways were shut. In Hong Kong, 100 flights were impacted and dozens called off.
Future Projections
As Matmo advances inward towards the provincial area in the neighboring country, it is expected to diminish into a tropical depression with 55mph winds but will persist to bring heavy rainfall. Northern Vietnam could face 130-150mm on Monday, raising the risk of inundation and landslides. The weather pattern is expected to move towards Yunnan province in China, where additional intense rain is probable.
Other Storm Systems
At the same time, Hurricane Priscilla formed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on the weekend, initially as a tropical storm. It led to a storm watch for south-western regions from a coastal point to another location on the start of the week.
In the morning of Sunday, Priscilla was about 305 miles from a Mexican cape with continuous gusts of 65mph. It intensified into a severe cyclone in the night, when wind speeds peaked at 121km/h.
Although unlikely to hit the coast, the storm is likely to produce dangerous waves and strong currents as it moves north-west along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Substantial rain is forecast on Monday, amounting to 100-150mm in specific Mexican states, with local totals at about 200mm. Colima and western Jalisco could receive 50-100mm.
In other parts, a cyclone named Shakhti has developed as the initial post-season cyclonic storm of 2025 in the Arabian Sea, prompting an warning from the national weather agency for an Indian state. On that day, the cyclone was 209 kilometers southeast of Ras al Hadd, Oman with maximum sustained winds of 64mph.
Shakhti, which has moved south-westward and lost strength, is forecast to recurve eastward into the Arabian Sea. Turbulent waters are likely to continue along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and heavy rainfall is anticipated in coastal districts including specific Indian cities.
