Typhoon Matmo Hit Southern China Bringing Massive Relocations
Typhoon Matmo struck the coast on the coastal regions of China on the weekend, following its passage over the provincial island of Hainan. The severe weather led to the relocation of around 350,000 people, bringing heavy downpours and damaging winds, especially between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Hainan's Wenchang. Ferry services were halted and air travel disrupted at the airport in Haikou.
Typhoon Statistics
Matmo, the 21st cyclone of the year, had sustained wind speeds of 94mph and dumped more than 50mm of precipitation in six hours in Chongzou and Qinzhou. Urban areas of the region also received significant rain amounts.
Matmo prompted China's top-tier emergency warning, with disturbances in the city, where businesses, transportation systems and highways were closed. In the special administrative region, 100 flights were affected and 30 cancelled.
Future Projections
As Matmo advances inward towards Cao Bang province in the neighboring country, it is expected to weaken into a tropical depression with 55mph winds but will persist to bring heavy rainfall. Vietnam's northern regions could experience significant rainfall on Monday, raising the threat of inundation and mudslides. The weather pattern is anticipated to move towards Yunnan province in China, where additional intense rain is probable.
Global Weather Events
At the same time, Hurricane Priscilla formed off Mexico's Pacific coast on Saturday night, initially as a storm system. It prompted a weather alert for south-western regions from a coastal point to Punta Mita on the start of the week.
In the morning of Sunday, Priscilla was about 305 miles from Cabo Corrientes with continuous gusts of 65mph. It strengthened into a hurricane in the night, when wind speeds reached at 75mph.
Though not expected to make landfall, the storm is expected to generate hazardous swells and rip currents as it tracks north-west along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Heavy rainfall is predicted on Monday, reaching a considerable volume in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with local totals at about 20 centimeters. Other regions could receive moderate to heavy rain.
Elsewhere, a cyclone named Shakhti has developed as the first post-monsoon cyclonic storm of 2025 in the Arabian Sea, causing an alert from the India Meteorological Department for Maharashtra. On that day, the cyclone was 130 miles southeast of a location in Oman with maximum sustained winds of 103km/h.
The storm, which has moved south-westward and lost strength, is predicted to turn towards the east into the Arabian Sea. Rough seas are likely to continue along the coastal stretch and intense rain is anticipated in coastal districts including specific Indian cities.