Typhoon Matmo Slammed Southern China Causing Massive Evacuations
Typhoon Matmo made landfall on the coastal regions of China on Sunday afternoon, following its sweeping across the island province of Hainan. The intense weather led to the relocation of approximately 350,000 residents, delivering torrential rain and damaging winds, particularly between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Hainan's Wenchang. Ferry services were suspended and flights cancelled at Haikou Meilan airport.
Storm Details
The typhoon, this year's 21st typhoon of the year, had sustained wind speeds of 94mph and poured over 50mm of precipitation in six hours in Qinzhou and Chongzou. Urban areas of Nanning also received significant rain amounts.
Matmo prompted China's top-tier emergency warning, with disruptions in Zhanjiang, where businesses, transport links and highways were shut. In Hong Kong, 100 flights were impacted and dozens called off.
Forecast and Movement
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 heavy rainfall. Northern Vietnam could experience significant rainfall on the following day, raising the threat of flooding and landslides. The system is anticipated to move towards Yunnan region in China, where further intense rain is likely.
Other Storm Systems
Meanwhile, a hurricane named Priscilla developed off Mexico's Pacific coast on Saturday night, first as a tropical storm. It prompted a storm watch for the southwestern areas from a coastal point to Punta Mita on Monday.
In the morning of Sunday, the hurricane was about 305 miles from a Mexican cape with continuous gusts of 105km/h. It intensified into a hurricane in the night, when wind speeds reached at 75mph.
Although unlikely to make landfall, the storm is likely to generate dangerous waves and strong currents as it moves northwestward along the coast towards a Mexican state. Substantial rain is predicted on the coming day, amounting to 100-150mm in specific Mexican states, with some areas at about 200mm. Other regions could face 50-100mm.
In other parts, a cyclone named Shakhti has developed as the first post-monsoon storm system of 2025 in the Arabian Sea, prompting an alert from the India Meteorological Department for an Indian state. On Sunday, the cyclone was 209 kilometers south-east of Ras al Hadd, Oman with peak wind speeds of 64mph.
The storm, which has tracked in a southwestern direction and lost strength, is forecast to recurve eastward into the the sea. Rough seas are likely to continue along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and intense rain is expected in coastal districts including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.
