Typhoon Matmo Hit Southern China Bringing Massive Evacuations

Typhoon Matmo struck the coast on the southern shores of China on Sunday afternoon, shortly after sweeping across the island province of Hainan. The intense weather led to the evacuation of approximately 350,000 residents, delivering torrential rain and destructive gusts, particularly between Wuchuan in Guangdong and Hainan's Wenchang. Boat transport were suspended and air travel disrupted at the airport in Haikou.

Typhoon Statistics

The typhoon, this year's 21st cyclone of the year, had sustained wind speeds of 151km/h and dumped over 50mm of precipitation in six hours in Qinzhou and Chongzou. The city of the region also received significant rain amounts.

Matmo triggered China's highest-level red alert, with disruptions in Zhanjiang, where businesses, transportation systems and highways were closed. In Hong Kong, 100 flights were affected and dozens called off.

Future Projections

As the typhoon advances inward towards Cao Bang province in Vietnam, it is expected to diminish into a tropical depression with 55mph winds but will persist to bring heavy rainfall. Vietnam's northern regions could face significant rainfall on Monday, increasing the risk of inundation and landslides. The weather pattern is anticipated to move towards Yunnan province in China, where further heavy rainfall is probable.

Global Weather Events

Meanwhile, Hurricane Priscilla formed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on Saturday night, first as a tropical storm. It prompted a storm watch for south-western regions 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 Cabo Corrientes with sustained winds of 65mph. It intensified into a severe cyclone in the evening, when wind speeds peaked at 75mph.

Though not expected to make landfall, Priscilla is expected to generate hazardous swells and rip currents as it moves north-west along the coast towards a Mexican state. Heavy rainfall is predicted on Monday, amounting to 100-150mm in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with local totals at about 20 centimeters. Colima and western Jalisco could receive 50-100mm.

Elsewhere, a cyclone named Shakhti has developed as the first post-monsoon storm system of 2025 in the Arabian Sea, causing an warning from the national weather agency for Maharashtra. On Sunday, Shakhti was 209 kilometers southeast of Ras al Hadd, Oman with peak wind speeds of 64mph.

The storm, which has tracked in a southwestern direction and lost strength, is forecast to turn eastward into the Arabian Sea. Rough seas are likely to persist along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and intense rain is anticipated in shoreline areas including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.