Typhoon Matmo Hit Southern China Bringing Massive Evacuations
The powerful storm made landfall on the southern shores of China on Sunday afternoon, following its sweeping across the provincial island of Hainan. The intense weather led to the evacuation of approximately 350,000 people, delivering heavy downpours and damaging winds, particularly between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Wenchang in Hainan. Boat transport were suspended and air travel disrupted at Haikou Meilan airport.
Storm Details
Matmo, this year's 21st typhoon of 2025, recorded wind speeds of 151km/h and poured over 50mm of rainfall in six hours in Qinzhou and Chongzou. Urban areas of the region also received significant rain amounts.
The storm triggered China's top-tier red alert, with disturbances in Zhanjiang, where businesses, transportation systems and roads were shut. In the special administrative region, 100 flights were impacted and 30 cancelled.
Future Projections
As Matmo moves inland towards Cao Bang province in the neighboring country, it is expected to diminish into a less intense system with 89km/h winds but will persist to bring substantial precipitation. Northern Vietnam could face 130-150mm on the following day, increasing 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
Meanwhile, Hurricane Priscilla developed off Mexico's Pacific coast on Saturday night, initially as a storm system. It prompted a weather alert for the southwestern areas from a coastal point to another location on Monday.
In the early hours of the next day, the hurricane was about 305 miles from a Mexican cape with continuous gusts of 65mph. It strengthened into a hurricane in the evening, when sustained winds peaked at 121km/h.
Though not expected to hit the coast, the storm is expected to generate hazardous swells and strong currents as it moves northwestward along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Heavy rainfall is predicted on Monday, amounting to 100-150mm in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with local totals at about 200mm. Colima and western Jalisco could face 50-100mm.
In other parts, a cyclone named Shakhti has developed as the initial post-season storm system of the year in the Arabian Sea, prompting an warning from the India Meteorological Department for Maharashtra. On Sunday, the cyclone was 130 miles southeast of a location in Oman with maximum sustained winds of 103km/h.
The storm, which has moved south-westward and weakened, is predicted to recurve eastward into the the sea. Turbulent waters are expected to persist along the coastal stretch and heavy rainfall is expected in coastal districts including specific Indian cities.
