Tropical Cyclone Matmo Hit Coastal China Causing Massive Relocations

Typhoon Matmo made landfall on the coastal regions of China on the weekend, shortly after passage over the provincial island of Hainan. The intense weather led to the evacuation 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 Haikou Meilan airport.

Storm Details

Matmo, the 21st typhoon of the year, had sustained wind speeds of 151km/h and dumped more than 50mm of precipitation in a short period in Chongzou and Qinzhou. Urban areas of the region also received high rainfall totals.

The storm prompted China's highest-level emergency warning, with disturbances in the city, where businesses, transportation systems and highways were closed. In Hong Kong, numerous air services were impacted and 30 cancelled.

Forecast and Movement

As the typhoon moves inland towards the provincial area in Vietnam, it is projected to weaken into a less intense system with 55mph winds but will persist to bring heavy rainfall. Northern Vietnam could face significant rainfall on the following day, increasing the risk of flooding and mudslides. The weather pattern is expected to move towards Yunnan region in China, where additional heavy rainfall is probable.

Other Storm Systems

At the same time, a hurricane named Priscilla formed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on Saturday night, initially as a tropical storm. It prompted a weather alert for the southwestern areas from a coastal point to Punta Mita on the start of the week.

In the early hours of the next day, Priscilla was about 305 miles from a Mexican cape with sustained winds of 65mph. It intensified into a severe cyclone in the night, when wind speeds reached at 121km/h.

Although unlikely to make landfall, the storm is likely to produce hazardous swells and rip currents as it tracks north-west along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Substantial rain is predicted on Monday, reaching a considerable volume in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with local totals at about 200mm. Colima and western Jalisco could face moderate to heavy rain.

In other parts, a cyclone named Shakhti has developed as the first post-monsoon storm system of 2025 in the a body of water, prompting an alert from the India Meteorological Department for Maharashtra. On Sunday, the cyclone was 209 kilometers southeast of a location in Oman with maximum sustained winds of 103km/h.

The storm, which has moved south-westward and weakened, is predicted to turn eastward into the Arabian Sea. Turbulent waters are likely to continue along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and heavy rainfall is expected in shoreline areas including specific Indian cities.

Heather Allen
Heather Allen

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