Typhoon Matmo Hit Coastal China Bringing Massive Evacuations

Typhoon Matmo made landfall on the coastal regions of China on Sunday afternoon, shortly after passage over the island province of Hainan. The intense weather forced the evacuation of around 350,000 residents, bringing heavy downpours and damaging winds, especially between Wuchuan in Guangdong and Hainan's Wenchang. Boat transport were halted and air travel disrupted at the airport in Haikou.

Storm Details

Matmo, this year's 21st cyclone of the year, had sustained wind speeds of 151km/h and poured more than 50mm of rainfall in a short period in Chongzou and Qinzhou. Urban areas of Nanning also received high rainfall totals.

The storm prompted China's top-tier emergency warning, with disruptions in Zhanjiang, where businesses, transport links and roads were shut. In the special administrative region, numerous air services were affected and dozens called off.

Future Projections

As the typhoon moves inland towards Cao Bang province in Vietnam, it is projected to diminish into a tropical depression with 55mph winds but will persist to bring heavy rainfall. Vietnam's northern regions could experience 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 additional intense rain is probable.

Global Weather Events

At the same time, Hurricane Priscilla developed off Mexico's Pacific coast on the weekend, initially as a tropical storm. It prompted a weather alert for the southwestern areas from a coastal point to another location on the start of the week.

In the morning of the next day, Priscilla was about 491 kilometers from Cabo Corrientes with sustained winds of 65mph. It intensified into a severe cyclone in the evening, when sustained winds peaked at 75mph.

Though not expected to make landfall, Priscilla is expected to generate hazardous swells and rip currents as it moves north-west along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Substantial rain is predicted on the coming day, reaching 100-150mm in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with some areas at about 20 centimeters. 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 a body of water, causing an warning from the India Meteorological Department for an Indian state. On that day, Shakhti was 209 kilometers south-east of a location in Oman with maximum sustained winds of 64mph.

The storm, which has tracked south-westward and lost strength, is predicted to recurve towards the east into the Arabian Sea. Rough seas are expected to persist along the coastal stretch and heavy rainfall is anticipated in coastal districts including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.

Monica Fitzgerald
Monica Fitzgerald

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