Typhoon Matmo Struck Southern China Bringing Massive Relocations
The powerful storm made landfall on the coastal regions of China on the weekend, shortly after sweeping across the provincial island of Hainan. The intense weather forced the evacuation of around 350,000 residents, bringing torrential rain and destructive gusts, especially between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Wenchang in Hainan. Ferry services were halted and flights cancelled at the airport in Haikou.
Storm Details
The typhoon, this year's 21st typhoon of the year, had sustained wind speeds of 151km/h and dumped more than 50mm of rainfall in six hours in Chongzou and Qinzhou. Urban areas of Nanning also experienced significant rain amounts.
Matmo triggered China's top-tier red alert, with disturbances in Zhanjiang, where businesses, transportation systems and highways were shut. In Hong Kong, 100 flights were affected and dozens called off.
Forecast and Movement
As Matmo moves inland towards the provincial area in the neighboring country, it is expected to weaken into a tropical depression with 55mph winds but will persist to bring heavy rainfall. Northern Vietnam could face 130-150mm on the following day, increasing the threat of inundation and landslides. The system is expected to move towards Yunnan province in China, where further heavy rainfall is likely.
Other Storm Systems
Meanwhile, Hurricane Priscilla formed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on Saturday night, initially as a tropical storm. It prompted a storm watch for south-western regions from Punta San Telmo to Punta Mita on the start of the week.
In the morning of the next day, Priscilla was about 491 kilometers from a Mexican cape with continuous gusts of 65mph. It strengthened into a hurricane in the night, when wind speeds reached at 121km/h.
Though not expected to make landfall, Priscilla is likely to produce dangerous waves and strong currents as it moves northwestward along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Substantial rain is forecast on Monday, amounting to a considerable volume in specific Mexican states, with some areas at about 20 centimeters. Other regions could face moderate to heavy rain.
Elsewhere, a cyclone named Shakhti has developed as the first post-monsoon cyclonic storm of 2025 in the a body of water, prompting an alert from the India Meteorological Department for an Indian state. On that day, the cyclone was 130 miles southeast of a location in Oman with peak wind speeds of 64mph.
Shakhti, which has moved south-westward and lost strength, is forecast to turn eastward into the Arabian Sea. Rough seas are expected to persist along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and intense rain is expected in coastal districts including specific Indian cities.
