Typhoon Matmo Hit Coastal China Causing Massive Relocations
Typhoon Matmo struck the coast on the coastal regions of China on Sunday afternoon, following its sweeping across the island province of Hainan. The severe weather led to the relocation of approximately 350,000 people, delivering torrential rain and destructive gusts, especially between Wuchuan in Guangdong and Hainan's Wenchang. Boat transport were halted and air travel disrupted at Haikou Meilan airport.
Storm Details
The typhoon, the 21st cyclone of the year, had sustained wind speeds of 94mph and poured more than 50mm of precipitation in a short period in Chongzou and Qinzhou. The city of the region also received significant rain amounts.
The storm triggered China's top-tier emergency warning, with disruptions in Zhanjiang, where commercial activities, transport links and highways were shut. In Hong Kong, numerous air services were affected and 30 cancelled.
Future Projections
As the typhoon moves inland 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 significant rainfall on Monday, raising the risk of inundation and landslides. The weather pattern is expected to move towards Yunnan province in China, where further intense rain is probable.
Global Weather Events
Meanwhile, Hurricane Priscilla formed off Mexico's Pacific coast on Saturday night, first as a tropical storm. It led to a storm watch for the southwestern areas from a coastal point 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 continuous gusts of 65mph. It intensified into a severe cyclone in the night, when wind speeds reached at 75mph.
Though not expected to make landfall, Priscilla is expected to generate dangerous waves and rip currents as it tracks north-west along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Heavy rainfall is predicted on the coming day, amounting to a considerable volume in specific Mexican states, with local totals at about 20 centimeters. Colima and western Jalisco could receive moderate to heavy rain.
Elsewhere, Cyclone 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, the cyclone was 130 miles south-east of a location in Oman with maximum sustained winds of 103km/h.
Shakhti, which has tracked in a southwestern direction and weakened, is forecast to recurve towards the east into the the sea. Rough seas are likely to persist along the coastal stretch and intense rain is anticipated in shoreline areas including specific Indian cities.
