Typhoon Matmo Struck Coastal China Bringing Widespread Evacuations
Typhoon Matmo struck the coast on the coastal regions of China on the weekend, following its sweeping across the island province of Hainan. The intense weather led to the relocation of around 350,000 people, bringing torrential rain and damaging winds, particularly between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Wenchang in Hainan. Ferry services were halted and air travel disrupted at Haikou Meilan airport.
Storm Details
The typhoon, this year's 21st cyclone of 2025, recorded wind speeds of 94mph and dumped more than 50mm of rainfall in six hours in Chongzou and Qinzhou. Urban areas of the region also experienced high rainfall totals.
The storm prompted China's top-tier emergency warning, with disturbances in the city, where commercial activities, transport links and roads were shut. In Hong Kong, numerous air services were impacted and dozens called off.
Forecast and Movement
As the typhoon advances inward towards Cao Bang province in Vietnam, it is expected to weaken into a tropical depression with 55mph winds but will continue to bring heavy rainfall. Northern Vietnam could face 130-150mm on Monday, raising the threat of flooding and landslides. The system is anticipated to move towards Yunnan province in China, where additional intense rain is likely.
Other Storm Systems
Meanwhile, a hurricane named Priscilla developed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on Saturday night, initially as a storm system. It prompted a storm watch for the southwestern areas from Punta San Telmo to Punta Mita on the start of the week.
In the morning of the next day, Priscilla was about 305 miles from a Mexican cape with sustained winds of 105km/h. It strengthened into a severe cyclone in the evening, when wind speeds reached at 121km/h.
Though not expected to make landfall, Priscilla is likely to produce hazardous swells and rip currents as it moves north-west along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Substantial rain is forecast on Monday, reaching 100-150mm in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with some areas at about 20 centimeters. Colima and western Jalisco could receive moderate to heavy rain.
Elsewhere, a cyclone named Shakhti has developed as the initial post-season cyclonic storm of the year in the a body of water, prompting an warning from the India Meteorological Department for an Indian state. On Sunday, Shakhti was 209 kilometers south-east of a location in Oman with peak wind speeds of 103km/h.
The storm, which has tracked south-westward and weakened, is predicted to recurve eastward into the the sea. Rough seas are expected to persist along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and intense rain is expected in coastal districts including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.
