Tropical Cyclone Matmo Slammed Southern China Bringing Massive Relocations
Typhoon Matmo made landfall on the coastal regions of China on the weekend, following its passage over the island province of Hainan. The severe weather forced the evacuation of around 350,000 residents, bringing heavy downpours and damaging winds, especially between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Wenchang in Hainan. Boat transport were suspended and air travel disrupted at the airport in Haikou.
Typhoon Statistics
The typhoon, the 21st cyclone of 2025, had sustained wind speeds of 151km/h and dumped more than 50mm of precipitation in six hours in Chongzou and Qinzhou. The city of the region also experienced high rainfall totals.
Matmo triggered China's highest-level red alert, with disturbances in the city, where businesses, transport links and highways were closed. In Hong Kong, 100 flights were impacted and 30 cancelled.
Future Projections
As Matmo 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. Northern Vietnam could face 130-150mm on the following day, increasing the threat of inundation and mudslides. The system is anticipated to move towards Yunnan province in China, where further intense rain is probable.
Global Weather Events
At the same time, a hurricane named Priscilla developed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on Saturday night, first as a tropical storm. It led to a storm watch for the southwestern areas from Punta San Telmo to another location on Monday.
In the morning of the next day, Priscilla was about 305 miles from Cabo Corrientes with continuous gusts of 105km/h. It intensified into a severe cyclone in the night, when wind speeds reached at 75mph.
Though not expected to make landfall, Priscilla is likely to generate dangerous waves and strong currents as it moves north-west along the coast towards a Mexican state. Substantial rain is predicted on the coming day, reaching a considerable volume in specific Mexican states, with some areas at about 200mm. Colima and western Jalisco could receive 50-100mm.
Elsewhere, Cyclone Shakhti has formed as the initial post-season storm system of 2025 in the a body of water, causing an warning from the India Meteorological Department for Maharashtra. On that day, Shakhti was 209 kilometers south-east of Ras al Hadd, Oman with peak wind speeds of 64mph.
The storm, which has tracked in a southwestern direction and lost strength, is predicted to turn towards the east into the Arabian Sea. Rough seas are expected to persist along the coastal stretch and intense rain is expected in shoreline areas including specific Indian cities.