Tropical Cyclone Matmo Hit Coastal China Causing Massive Evacuations
The powerful storm made landfall on the southern shores of China on Sunday afternoon, shortly after sweeping across the provincial island of Hainan. The severe weather led to the relocation of approximately 350,000 people, delivering torrential rain and damaging winds, especially between Wuchuan in Guangdong and Wenchang in Hainan. Boat transport were halted and flights cancelled at Haikou Meilan airport.
Typhoon Statistics
The typhoon, the 21st cyclone of 2025, recorded wind speeds of 94mph and dumped more than 50mm of rainfall in six hours in Qinzhou and Chongzou. Urban areas of Nanning also received significant rain amounts.
The storm prompted China's highest-level red alert, with disruptions in the city, where commercial activities, transport links and highways were closed. In Hong Kong, numerous air services were affected and 30 cancelled.
Forecast and Movement
As the typhoon advances inward towards the provincial area in Vietnam, it is projected to weaken into a less intense system with 55mph winds but will continue to bring heavy rainfall. Vietnam's northern regions could experience 130-150mm on Monday, raising the threat of inundation and landslides. The weather pattern is anticipated to move towards Yunnan province in China, where additional heavy rainfall is likely.
Other Storm Systems
Meanwhile, a hurricane named Priscilla formed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on Saturday night, initially as a storm system. It prompted a storm watch for the southwestern areas from Punta San Telmo to Punta Mita on the start of the week.
In the morning of Sunday, the hurricane was about 305 miles from Cabo Corrientes with sustained winds of 105km/h. It intensified into a hurricane in the evening, when sustained winds reached at 75mph.
Although unlikely to make landfall, the storm is likely to produce hazardous swells and strong currents as it tracks northwestward along the coast towards a Mexican state. Substantial rain is forecast on Monday, reaching 100-150mm in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with local totals at about 20 centimeters. Colima and western Jalisco could face 50-100mm.
Elsewhere, a cyclone named Shakhti has formed as the first post-monsoon storm system of 2025 in the Arabian Sea, prompting an alert from the national weather agency for an Indian state. On that day, Shakhti was 209 kilometers southeast of Ras al Hadd, Oman with peak wind speeds of 103km/h.
Shakhti, which has moved south-westward and weakened, is forecast to recurve towards the east into the the sea. Rough seas are likely to persist along the coastal stretch and heavy rainfall is anticipated in coastal districts including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.
