Typhoon Matmo Slammed Coastal China Bringing Massive Relocations
Typhoon Matmo struck the coast on the southern shores of China on Sunday afternoon, following its passage over the provincial island of Hainan. The severe weather forced the relocation of around 350,000 residents, bringing heavy downpours and damaging winds, especially between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Hainan's Wenchang. Ferry services were halted and flights cancelled at the airport in Haikou.
Typhoon Statistics
The typhoon, this year's 21st typhoon of 2025, recorded wind speeds of 151km/h and poured more than 50mm of rainfall in six hours in Qinzhou and Chongzou. Urban areas of the region also experienced significant rain amounts.
Matmo triggered China's top-tier red alert, with disruptions in Zhanjiang, where businesses, transport links and roads were closed. In Hong Kong, 100 flights were impacted and dozens called off.
Forecast and Movement
As the typhoon moves inland towards Cao Bang province in Vietnam, it is projected to diminish into a tropical depression with 89km/h winds but will persist to bring substantial precipitation. Northern Vietnam could face significant rainfall on the following day, increasing the risk of flooding and landslides. The system is expected to move towards Yunnan province in China, where further intense rain is probable.
Other Storm Systems
At the same time, a hurricane named Priscilla developed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on Saturday night, initially as a tropical storm. It led to a weather alert for south-western regions from a coastal point to Punta Mita on Monday.
In the early hours of Sunday, Priscilla was about 491 kilometers from Cabo Corrientes with sustained winds of 65mph. It intensified into a severe cyclone in the evening, when wind speeds reached at 121km/h.
Though not expected to hit the coast, the storm is likely to produce dangerous waves and strong currents as it tracks north-west along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Substantial rain is forecast on the coming day, amounting to 100-150mm in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with local totals at about 200mm. Colima and western Jalisco could receive 50-100mm.
Elsewhere, a cyclone named Shakhti has developed as the first post-monsoon cyclonic storm of the year in the a body of water, causing an alert from the India Meteorological Department for an Indian state. On that day, the cyclone was 209 kilometers southeast of a location in Oman with peak wind speeds of 103km/h.
Shakhti, which has moved in a southwestern direction and weakened, is forecast to turn eastward into the the sea. Rough seas are expected to continue along the coastal stretch and intense rain is anticipated in shoreline areas including specific Indian cities.