Tropical Cyclone Matmo Slammed Coastal China Bringing Massive Relocations
Typhoon Matmo made landfall on the coastal regions of China on Sunday afternoon, following its sweeping across the island province of Hainan. The severe weather forced the relocation of around 350,000 people, bringing torrential rain and damaging winds, especially between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Hainan's Wenchang. Boat transport were halted and flights cancelled at Haikou Meilan airport.
Storm Details
Matmo, this year's 21st cyclone of 2025, recorded wind speeds of 151km/h and poured over 50mm of precipitation in six hours in Chongzou and Qinzhou. Urban areas of the region also experienced significant rain amounts.
Matmo prompted China's top-tier red alert, with disturbances in Zhanjiang, where businesses, transport links and highways were shut. In the special administrative region, 100 flights were affected and dozens called off.
Forecast and Movement
As the typhoon moves inland towards the provincial area in Vietnam, it is projected to diminish into a tropical depression with 55mph winds but will continue to bring substantial precipitation. Northern Vietnam could experience significant rainfall on Monday, raising the threat of flooding and landslides. The system is anticipated to move towards Yunnan province in China, where additional intense rain is likely.
Global Weather Events
At the same time, a hurricane named Priscilla formed off Mexico's Pacific coast on Saturday night, first as a storm system. It led to a storm watch for south-western regions from a coastal point to Punta Mita on Monday.
In the early hours of the next day, the hurricane was about 491 kilometers from a Mexican cape with continuous gusts of 65mph. It strengthened into a severe cyclone in the night, when wind speeds peaked at 121km/h.
Though not expected to hit the coast, the storm is expected to produce 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 a considerable volume in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with local totals at about 20 centimeters. Colima and western Jalisco could face 50-100mm.
In other parts, Cyclone Shakhti has developed as the initial post-season cyclonic storm of 2025 in the a body of water, prompting an warning from the India Meteorological Department for an Indian state. On that day, the cyclone was 130 miles southeast of a location in Oman with maximum sustained winds of 103km/h.
The storm, which has tracked south-westward and lost strength, is forecast to recurve eastward into the the sea. Rough seas are expected to continue along the coastal stretch and heavy rainfall is expected in shoreline areas including specific Indian cities.
