Tropical Cyclone Matmo Hit Southern China Causing Massive Evacuations
The powerful storm made landfall on the coastal regions of China on Sunday afternoon, shortly after passage over the island province of Hainan. The intense weather forced the evacuation of around 350,000 residents, bringing heavy downpours and damaging winds, particularly between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Hainan's Wenchang. Boat transport were suspended and air travel disrupted at Haikou Meilan airport.
Storm Details
The typhoon, this year's 21st typhoon of 2025, had sustained wind speeds of 94mph and dumped more than 50mm of precipitation in a short period in Qinzhou and Chongzou. The city of the region also experienced high rainfall totals.
Matmo triggered China's top-tier red alert, with disturbances in Zhanjiang, where businesses, transportation systems and highways were closed. In Hong Kong, 100 flights were impacted and dozens called off.
Future Projections
As Matmo moves inland towards the provincial area in Vietnam, it is projected to diminish into a less intense system with 55mph winds but will persist to bring substantial precipitation. Northern Vietnam could experience 130-150mm on Monday, increasing the risk of inundation and mudslides. The weather pattern is expected to move towards Yunnan region in China, where additional intense rain is likely.
Global Weather Events
Meanwhile, a hurricane named Priscilla formed off Mexico's Pacific coast on Saturday night, initially as a storm system. It prompted a storm watch for the southwestern areas from Punta San Telmo to another location on Monday.
In the morning of Sunday, the hurricane was about 491 kilometers from Cabo Corrientes with continuous gusts of 65mph. It strengthened into a severe cyclone in the night, when sustained winds reached at 75mph.
Although unlikely to make landfall, Priscilla is expected to produce dangerous waves and rip currents as it tracks north-west along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Substantial rain is forecast on Monday, amounting to a considerable volume in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with local totals at about 200mm. Colima and western Jalisco could receive moderate to heavy rain.
Elsewhere, a cyclone named Shakhti has developed as the first post-monsoon storm system of the year in the Arabian Sea, causing an warning from the national weather agency for an Indian state. On Sunday, the cyclone was 130 miles southeast of Ras al Hadd, Oman with peak wind speeds of 103km/h.
Shakhti, which has moved south-westward and weakened, is forecast to recurve eastward into the Arabian Sea. Rough seas are expected to persist along the coastal stretch and intense rain is expected in shoreline areas including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.