Typhoon Matmo Hit Coastal China Bringing Widespread Evacuations
Typhoon Matmo struck the coast on the southern shores of China on the weekend, shortly after passage over the island province of Hainan. The intense weather led to the relocation of approximately 350,000 people, bringing heavy downpours and damaging winds, especially between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Wenchang in Hainan. Ferry services 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 more than 50mm of precipitation in a short period in Qinzhou and Chongzou. The city of Nanning also experienced high rainfall totals.
The storm triggered China's top-tier emergency warning, with disruptions in Zhanjiang, where businesses, transportation systems and roads were closed. In Hong Kong, 100 flights were affected and dozens called off.
Future Projections
As the typhoon advances inward towards Cao Bang province in the neighboring country, it is expected to diminish into a less intense system with 55mph winds but will continue to bring heavy rainfall. Northern Vietnam could experience significant rainfall on Monday, raising the threat of flooding and landslides. The weather pattern is anticipated to move towards Yunnan region in China, where further heavy rainfall is likely.
Global Weather Events
Meanwhile, a hurricane named Priscilla developed off Mexico's Pacific coast on the weekend, initially as a storm system. It prompted a storm watch for the southwestern areas from a coastal point to another location on the start of the week.
In the morning of the next day, Priscilla was about 305 miles from a Mexican cape with continuous gusts of 105km/h. It intensified into a hurricane in the evening, when sustained winds reached at 75mph.
Although unlikely to hit the coast, Priscilla is expected to produce hazardous swells and strong currents as it moves north-west along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Heavy rainfall is forecast on the coming day, amounting to a considerable volume in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with local totals at about 20 centimeters. Other regions could receive moderate to heavy rain.
In other parts, a cyclone named Shakhti has developed as the initial post-season storm system of the year in the a body of water, causing an warning from the national weather agency for Maharashtra. On Sunday, Shakhti was 209 kilometers south-east of a location in Oman with peak wind speeds of 103km/h.
The storm, which has moved south-westward and lost strength, is forecast to recurve eastward into the Arabian Sea. Rough seas are likely to persist along the coastal stretch and intense rain is expected in coastal districts including specific Indian cities.
