Typhoon Matmo Hit Coastal China Causing Massive Relocations
The powerful storm struck the coast on the coastal regions of China on Sunday afternoon, following its passage over the island province of Hainan. The severe weather forced the relocation of around 350,000 residents, bringing torrential rain and destructive gusts, especially between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Hainan's Wenchang. Boat transport were suspended and air travel disrupted at Haikou Meilan airport.
Storm Details
Matmo, the 21st cyclone of the year, had sustained wind speeds of 151km/h and dumped over 50mm of rainfall in six hours in Qinzhou and Chongzou. Urban areas of the region also received significant rain amounts.
The storm triggered China's top-tier red alert, with disturbances in the city, where businesses, transportation systems and roads were closed. In the special administrative region, 100 flights were affected and dozens called off.
Future Projections
As Matmo moves inland towards Cao Bang province in Vietnam, it is expected to weaken into a tropical depression with 55mph winds but will persist to bring substantial precipitation. Northern Vietnam could face 130-150mm on Monday, raising the risk of inundation and landslides. The weather pattern is anticipated to move towards Yunnan region in China, where additional intense rain is probable.
Global Weather Events
Meanwhile, a hurricane named Priscilla developed off Mexico's Pacific coast on Saturday night, first as a storm system. It prompted a weather alert for the southwestern areas from Punta San Telmo to another location on the start of the week.
In the morning of the next day, Priscilla was about 491 kilometers from a Mexican cape with sustained winds of 105km/h. It intensified into a hurricane in the evening, when wind speeds peaked at 75mph.
Although unlikely to make landfall, Priscilla is expected to generate dangerous waves and rip currents as it moves northwestward along the coast towards a Mexican state. Heavy rainfall is forecast on the coming day, reaching 100-150mm in specific Mexican states, with some areas at about 20 centimeters. Other regions could receive 50-100mm.
Elsewhere, a cyclone named Shakhti has formed as the initial post-season cyclonic storm of 2025 in the a body of water, prompting an warning from the national weather agency for Maharashtra. On that day, Shakhti was 130 miles south-east of a location in Oman with maximum sustained winds of 64mph.
Shakhti, which has tracked south-westward and weakened, is forecast to turn eastward into the Arabian Sea. Rough seas are likely to persist along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and heavy rainfall is expected in shoreline areas including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.
