Typhoon Matmo Struck Southern China Bringing Widespread Evacuations
Typhoon Matmo struck the coast on the coastal regions of China on Sunday afternoon, shortly after passage over the provincial island of Hainan. The intense weather led to the relocation of approximately 350,000 residents, bringing torrential rain and damaging winds, especially between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Hainan's Wenchang. Boat transport were suspended and flights cancelled at Haikou Meilan airport.
Storm Details
The typhoon, this year's 21st cyclone of 2025, had sustained wind speeds of 151km/h and poured more than 50mm of precipitation in a short period in Chongzou and Qinzhou. Urban areas of Nanning also experienced high rainfall totals.
Matmo triggered China's highest-level emergency warning, with disturbances in Zhanjiang, where commercial activities, transportation systems and roads were closed. In Hong Kong, numerous air services were impacted and dozens called off.
Future Projections
As the typhoon advances inward towards Cao Bang province in the neighboring country, it is projected to weaken into a less intense system with 89km/h winds but will persist to bring substantial precipitation. Vietnam's northern regions could face 130-150mm on Monday, increasing the threat of flooding and mudslides. The system is anticipated to move towards Yunnan province in China, where further intense rain is likely.
Global Weather Events
Meanwhile, Hurricane Priscilla developed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on Saturday night, initially as a tropical storm. It led to a weather alert for the southwestern areas from a coastal point to Punta Mita on Monday.
In the morning of the next day, Priscilla was about 305 miles from a Mexican cape with continuous gusts of 65mph. It strengthened into a severe cyclone in the evening, when sustained winds reached at 121km/h.
Although unlikely to hit the coast, Priscilla is likely to produce hazardous swells and strong currents as it tracks northwestward along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Substantial rain is predicted on the coming day, reaching 100-150mm in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with local totals at about 20 centimeters. Other regions could face 50-100mm.
In other parts, a cyclone named Shakhti has developed as the initial post-season storm system of 2025 in the Arabian Sea, causing an warning from the national weather agency for Maharashtra. On that day, Shakhti was 209 kilometers southeast of Ras al Hadd, Oman with maximum sustained winds of 64mph.
The storm, which has tracked south-westward and weakened, is predicted to recurve towards the east into the Arabian Sea. Rough seas are likely to continue along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and heavy rainfall is anticipated in coastal districts including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.
