Typhoon Matmo Struck Southern China Bringing Widespread Evacuations
The powerful storm made landfall on the coastal regions of China on the weekend, following its passage over the provincial island of Hainan. The severe weather forced the evacuation of around 350,000 residents, delivering heavy downpours and destructive gusts, especially between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Wenchang in Hainan. Boat transport were halted and flights cancelled at Haikou Meilan airport.
Typhoon Statistics
The typhoon, this year's 21st cyclone of 2025, recorded wind speeds of 94mph and dumped over 50mm of rainfall in six hours in Qinzhou and Chongzou. Urban areas of Nanning also received significant rain amounts.
The storm triggered China's highest-level red alert, with disruptions in the city, where commercial activities, transportation systems and roads were closed. In Hong Kong, 100 flights were impacted and 30 cancelled.
Forecast and Movement
As Matmo moves inland towards the provincial area in Vietnam, it is projected to diminish into a less intense system with 89km/h winds but will continue to bring substantial precipitation. Vietnam's northern regions could face significant rainfall on the following day, increasing the threat of inundation and landslides. The system is anticipated to move towards Yunnan region in China, where additional intense rain is likely.
Other Storm Systems
At the same time, a hurricane named Priscilla formed off Mexico's Pacific coast on the weekend, first as a tropical storm. It prompted a storm watch for south-western regions from a coastal point to Punta Mita on the start of the week.
In the early hours of Sunday, the hurricane was about 305 miles from a Mexican cape with continuous gusts of 65mph. It strengthened into a severe cyclone in the evening, when sustained winds peaked at 121km/h.
Though not expected to make landfall, the storm is expected to produce dangerous waves and rip currents as it moves northwestward along the coast towards a Mexican state. Heavy rainfall is forecast on the coming day, amounting to a considerable volume in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with local totals at about 200mm. Colima and western Jalisco could receive 50-100mm.
In other parts, a cyclone named Shakhti has formed as the first post-monsoon storm system of 2025 in the Arabian Sea, prompting an warning from the national weather agency for Maharashtra. On Sunday, Shakhti was 130 miles south-east of Ras al Hadd, Oman with peak wind speeds of 64mph.
Shakhti, which has moved in a southwestern direction and weakened, is predicted to recurve eastward into the the sea. Rough seas are likely to persist along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and heavy rainfall is anticipated in shoreline areas including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.
