Tropical Cyclone Matmo Slammed Southern China Bringing Massive Relocations
Typhoon Matmo struck the coast on the coastal regions of China on the weekend, following its passage over the island province of Hainan. The intense weather led to the relocation of around 350,000 residents, delivering torrential rain and destructive gusts, particularly between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Wenchang in Hainan. Boat transport were suspended and flights cancelled at the airport in Haikou.
Storm Details
The typhoon, this year's 21st cyclone of the year, had sustained wind speeds of 94mph and poured more than 50mm of rainfall in a short period in Chongzou and Qinzhou. Urban areas of the region also experienced high rainfall totals.
The storm prompted China's top-tier emergency warning, with disruptions in the city, where commercial activities, transport links and highways were closed. In Hong Kong, 100 flights were impacted and 30 cancelled.
Forecast and Movement
As Matmo advances inward towards the provincial area in Vietnam, it is expected to weaken into a tropical depression with 55mph winds but will continue to bring substantial precipitation. Northern Vietnam could face 130-150mm on the following day, raising the risk of inundation and landslides. The system is expected to move towards Yunnan region in China, where further heavy rainfall is likely.
Other Storm Systems
Meanwhile, Hurricane Priscilla formed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on Saturday night, first as a tropical storm. It led to a weather alert for south-western regions from a coastal point to another location on Monday.
In the early hours of Sunday, Priscilla was about 491 kilometers from Cabo Corrientes with sustained winds of 105km/h. It strengthened into a hurricane in the night, when sustained winds peaked at 75mph.
Although unlikely to make landfall, the storm is likely to produce dangerous waves and strong currents as it moves northwestward along the coast towards a Mexican state. Heavy rainfall is predicted on the coming day, amounting to a considerable volume in specific Mexican states, with some areas at about 20 centimeters. Colima and western Jalisco could receive 50-100mm.
Elsewhere, a cyclone named Shakhti has developed as the first post-monsoon cyclonic storm of 2025 in the Arabian Sea, prompting an warning from the national weather agency for an Indian state. On that day, Shakhti was 130 miles southeast of Ras al Hadd, Oman with maximum sustained winds of 103km/h.
Shakhti, which has tracked in a southwestern direction and lost strength, is forecast to turn eastward into the the sea. Rough seas are expected to continue along the coastal stretch and heavy rainfall is expected in coastal districts including specific Indian cities.
