Tropical Cyclone Matmo Slammed Coastal China Causing Widespread Evacuations
The powerful storm struck the coast on the coastal regions of China on the weekend, shortly after passage over the provincial island of Hainan. The severe weather forced the relocation of approximately 350,000 residents, bringing torrential rain and destructive gusts, particularly between Wuchuan in Guangdong and Hainan's Wenchang. Boat transport were halted and flights cancelled at the airport in Haikou.
Storm Details
The typhoon, the 21st typhoon of 2025, had sustained wind speeds of 94mph and poured over 50mm of rainfall in six hours in Qinzhou and Chongzou. The city of the region also received high rainfall totals.
Matmo triggered China's highest-level red alert, with disturbances in the city, where commercial activities, transport links and roads were shut. In Hong Kong, numerous air services were impacted and 30 cancelled.
Forecast and Movement
As the typhoon moves inland towards Cao Bang province in Vietnam, it is projected to weaken into a less intense system with 89km/h winds but will persist to bring heavy rainfall. Vietnam's northern regions could experience significant rainfall on Monday, increasing the risk of flooding and mudslides. The weather pattern is anticipated to move towards Yunnan region in China, where additional heavy rainfall is probable.
Other Storm Systems
Meanwhile, Hurricane Priscilla formed off Mexico's Pacific coast on the weekend, initially as a tropical storm. It led to a weather alert for the southwestern areas from a coastal point to Punta Mita on the start of the week.
In the early hours of the next day, Priscilla was about 305 miles from a Mexican cape with sustained winds of 105km/h. It strengthened into a hurricane in the evening, when sustained winds reached at 75mph.
Though not expected to hit the coast, Priscilla is expected to produce hazardous swells and rip currents as it moves north-west along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Substantial rain is forecast on Monday, amounting to a considerable volume in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with some areas at about 20 centimeters. Other regions could receive moderate to heavy rain.
Elsewhere, Cyclone Shakhti has developed as the first post-monsoon storm system of 2025 in the a body of water, prompting an warning from the India Meteorological Department for an Indian state. On that day, Shakhti was 130 miles south-east of a location in Oman with maximum sustained winds of 103km/h.
Shakhti, which has moved in a southwestern direction and lost strength, is predicted to recurve towards the east into the Arabian Sea. Turbulent waters are expected to continue along the coastal stretch and intense rain is expected in shoreline areas including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.
