Typhoon Matmo Slammed Coastal China Causing Massive Relocations
Typhoon Matmo made landfall on the coastal regions of China on Sunday afternoon, following its sweeping across the provincial island of Hainan. The severe weather led to the relocation of around 350,000 residents, bringing heavy downpours and damaging winds, particularly between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Hainan's Wenchang. Boat transport were suspended and flights cancelled at the airport in Haikou.
Typhoon Statistics
Matmo, this year's 21st typhoon of 2025, had sustained wind speeds of 94mph and poured over 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 disturbances in Zhanjiang, where commercial activities, transport links and roads were closed. In Hong Kong, 100 flights were impacted and dozens called off.
Future Projections
As Matmo advances inward towards Cao Bang province in the neighboring country, it is expected to weaken into a tropical depression with 55mph winds but will persist to bring substantial precipitation. Northern Vietnam could face significant rainfall on Monday, raising the threat of flooding and landslides. The weather pattern is expected to move towards Yunnan region in China, where further heavy rainfall is probable.
Other Storm Systems
At the same time, a hurricane named Priscilla formed off Mexico's Pacific coast on Saturday night, initially as a storm system. It prompted a storm watch for the southwestern areas from Punta San Telmo to another location on the start of the week.
In the early hours of the next day, Priscilla was about 491 kilometers from a Mexican cape with continuous gusts of 105km/h. It intensified into a hurricane in the night, when sustained winds reached at 75mph.
Although unlikely to make landfall, Priscilla is likely to generate hazardous swells and strong currents as it moves northwestward along the coast towards a Mexican state. Substantial rain is predicted on Monday, reaching a considerable volume in specific Mexican states, with local totals at about 200mm. Other regions could face 50-100mm.
Elsewhere, Cyclone Shakhti has formed as the initial post-season cyclonic storm of the year in the Arabian Sea, prompting an warning from the national weather agency for an Indian state. On that day, Shakhti was 130 miles southeast of Ras al Hadd, Oman with maximum sustained winds of 103km/h.
The storm, which has tracked south-westward and weakened, is predicted to turn eastward into the Arabian Sea. Turbulent waters are likely to continue along the coastal stretch and intense rain is expected in shoreline areas including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.