Typhoon Matmo Struck Coastal China Causing Widespread Relocations
Typhoon Matmo made landfall on the coastal regions of China on Sunday afternoon, shortly after passage over the island province of Hainan. The severe weather forced the evacuation of around 350,000 people, bringing heavy downpours and damaging winds, especially between Wuchuan in Guangdong and Wenchang in Hainan. Ferry services were halted and flights cancelled at Haikou Meilan airport.
Storm Details
The typhoon, this year's 21st typhoon of 2025, had sustained wind speeds of 94mph and poured over 50mm of precipitation in a short period in Chongzou and Qinzhou. Urban areas of the region also experienced high rainfall totals.
The storm triggered China's top-tier emergency warning, with disturbances in Zhanjiang, where businesses, transport links and roads were closed. In the special administrative region, numerous air services were impacted 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 89km/h winds but will continue to bring heavy rainfall. Vietnam's northern regions could experience 130-150mm on Monday, raising the risk of inundation and landslides. The system is expected to move towards Yunnan region in China, where additional intense rain is likely.
Other Storm Systems
Meanwhile, Hurricane Priscilla formed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on Saturday night, initially as a storm system. It prompted a storm watch for south-western regions from Punta San Telmo to Punta Mita on Monday.
In the morning of Sunday, Priscilla was about 305 miles from Cabo Corrientes with sustained winds of 105km/h. It strengthened into a hurricane in the evening, when wind speeds reached at 121km/h.
Although unlikely to make landfall, Priscilla is likely to produce dangerous waves and strong currents as it tracks northwestward along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Heavy rainfall is predicted on Monday, amounting to a considerable volume in specific Mexican states, with some areas at about 20 centimeters. Other regions could face 50-100mm.
In other parts, a cyclone named Shakhti has developed as the first post-monsoon storm system of 2025 in the Arabian Sea, prompting an warning from the national weather agency for an Indian state. On Sunday, Shakhti was 130 miles south-east of Ras al Hadd, Oman with peak wind speeds of 103km/h.
The storm, which has moved south-westward and weakened, is predicted to turn towards the east into the Arabian Sea. Turbulent waters are expected to continue along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and heavy rainfall is expected in shoreline areas including specific Indian cities.
