Tropical Cyclone Matmo Hit Southern China Bringing Widespread Relocations
Typhoon Matmo struck the coast on the southern shores of China on the weekend, following its passage over the island province of Hainan. The intense weather led to the evacuation of around 350,000 people, delivering heavy downpours and destructive gusts, particularly between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Hainan's Wenchang. Ferry services were suspended and air travel disrupted at the airport in Haikou.
Storm Details
Matmo, this year's 21st typhoon of 2025, had sustained wind speeds of 94mph and dumped more than 50mm of precipitation in a short period in Qinzhou and Chongzou. Urban areas of Nanning also experienced high rainfall totals.
The storm triggered China's highest-level emergency warning, with disruptions in the city, where businesses, transport links 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 the neighboring country, it is projected to diminish into a tropical depression with 89km/h winds but will persist to bring heavy rainfall. Northern Vietnam could experience significant rainfall on Monday, increasing the threat of inundation and landslides. The system is anticipated to move towards Yunnan region in China, where additional intense rain is probable.
Other Storm Systems
At the same time, a hurricane named Priscilla developed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on the weekend, initially 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 the next day, the hurricane was about 491 kilometers from a Mexican cape with continuous gusts of 65mph. It strengthened into a hurricane in the night, when wind speeds reached at 75mph.
Though not expected to hit the coast, 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, reaching 100-150mm in specific Mexican states, with local totals at about 200mm. Other regions could receive moderate to heavy rain.
In other parts, a cyclone named Shakhti has formed as the initial post-season cyclonic storm of 2025 in the a body of water, prompting an warning from the India Meteorological Department for an Indian state. On that day, the cyclone was 130 miles southeast 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 towards the east into the the sea. Rough seas are expected to continue along the coastal stretch and heavy rainfall is anticipated in shoreline areas including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.
