Typhoon Matmo Struck Southern China Bringing Widespread Evacuations
Typhoon Matmo struck the coast on the southern shores of China on the weekend, following its passage over the provincial island of Hainan. The severe weather forced the relocation of around 350,000 residents, delivering heavy downpours and damaging winds, especially between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Wenchang in Hainan. Ferry services were halted and flights cancelled at the airport in Haikou.
Storm Details
The typhoon, the 21st cyclone of the year, recorded wind speeds of 94mph and poured more than 50mm of precipitation in six hours in Chongzou and Qinzhou. The city of the region also experienced significant rain amounts.
The storm triggered China's highest-level emergency warning, with disruptions in Zhanjiang, where commercial activities, transportation systems and roads were shut. In the special administrative region, 100 flights were affected and 30 cancelled.
Future Projections
As the typhoon advances inward towards the provincial area in Vietnam, it is projected to weaken into a less intense system with 89km/h winds but will continue to bring heavy rainfall. Vietnam's northern regions could experience significant rainfall on Monday, raising the threat of flooding and landslides. The system is expected to move towards Yunnan region in China, where additional intense rain is probable.
Global Weather Events
At the same time, Hurricane Priscilla developed off Mexico's Pacific coast on Saturday night, initially as a tropical storm. It led to a weather alert for south-western regions from a coastal point to Punta Mita on Monday.
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 severe cyclone in the night, when sustained winds reached at 75mph.
Although unlikely to hit the coast, Priscilla is likely to generate dangerous waves and rip currents as it moves north-west along the coast towards a Mexican state. Heavy rainfall is forecast on Monday, amounting to 100-150mm in specific Mexican states, with local totals at about 20 centimeters. Colima and western Jalisco could face 50-100mm.
In other parts, Cyclone Shakhti has formed as the first post-monsoon storm system of 2025 in the a body of water, prompting an warning from the national weather agency for Maharashtra. On that day, the cyclone was 209 kilometers southeast of a location in Oman with peak wind speeds of 103km/h.
Shakhti, which has moved south-westward and lost strength, is predicted to turn towards the east into the Arabian Sea. Rough seas are likely to persist along the coastal stretch and intense rain is anticipated in coastal districts including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.
