Tropical Cyclone Matmo Hit Southern China Bringing Massive Evacuations
Typhoon Matmo made landfall on the southern shores of China on Sunday afternoon, shortly after sweeping across the island province of Hainan. The severe weather led to the relocation of approximately 350,000 people, delivering torrential rain and damaging winds, especially between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Wenchang in Hainan. Ferry services were halted and flights cancelled at Haikou Meilan airport.
Typhoon Statistics
The typhoon, the 21st typhoon of 2025, had sustained wind speeds of 94mph and dumped more than 50mm of rainfall in a short period in Qinzhou and Chongzou. The city of Nanning also experienced high rainfall totals.
Matmo prompted China's top-tier emergency warning, with disruptions in Zhanjiang, where commercial activities, transportation systems and roads were closed. In the special administrative region, numerous air services were affected and 30 cancelled.
Forecast and Movement
As the typhoon advances inward towards Cao Bang province in the neighboring country, it is projected to weaken into a tropical depression with 89km/h winds but will persist to bring substantial precipitation. Northern Vietnam could experience 130-150mm on Monday, increasing the threat of flooding and landslides. The system is expected to move towards Yunnan province in China, where further heavy rainfall is likely.
Global Weather Events
Meanwhile, a hurricane named Priscilla formed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on the weekend, initially as a storm system. It prompted a storm watch for south-western regions from a coastal point to another location on Monday.
In the morning of Sunday, Priscilla was about 491 kilometers from a Mexican cape with continuous gusts of 105km/h. It strengthened into a hurricane in the evening, when wind speeds reached at 121km/h.
Though not expected to hit the coast, the storm is likely to produce dangerous waves and rip currents as it tracks north-west along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Substantial rain is predicted on the coming day, amounting to 100-150mm in specific Mexican states, with some areas at about 20 centimeters. Colima and western Jalisco could receive 50-100mm.
Elsewhere, Cyclone Shakhti has developed as the initial post-season cyclonic storm of 2025 in the Arabian Sea, causing an alert from the national weather agency for Maharashtra. On that day, Shakhti was 209 kilometers southeast of Ras al Hadd, Oman with peak wind speeds of 103km/h.
Shakhti, which has tracked in a southwestern direction and weakened, is predicted to recurve towards the east into the the sea. Rough seas are expected to persist along the coastal stretch and heavy rainfall is expected in shoreline areas including specific Indian cities.