Tropical Cyclone Matmo Struck Southern China Causing Massive Relocations
Typhoon Matmo made landfall on the coastal regions of China on Sunday afternoon, shortly after passage over the island province of Hainan. The intense weather forced the relocation of approximately 350,000 residents, bringing heavy downpours and damaging winds, especially between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Hainan's Wenchang. Ferry services were suspended and air travel disrupted at the airport in Haikou.
Typhoon Statistics
The typhoon, this year's 21st typhoon of the year, recorded wind speeds of 94mph and dumped over 50mm of precipitation in six hours in Chongzou and Qinzhou. Urban areas of Nanning also received significant rain amounts.
Matmo prompted China's top-tier emergency warning, with disturbances in Zhanjiang, where commercial activities, transportation systems and roads were shut. In the special administrative region, 100 flights were impacted and dozens called off.
Future Projections
As Matmo advances inward towards Cao Bang province in Vietnam, it is projected to diminish into a less intense system with 55mph winds but will persist to bring substantial precipitation. Northern Vietnam could experience significant rainfall on Monday, increasing the threat of flooding and mudslides. The system is anticipated to move towards Yunnan region in China, where additional intense rain is probable.
Other Storm Systems
Meanwhile, Hurricane Priscilla developed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on the weekend, initially as a tropical storm. It led to a storm watch for the southwestern areas from Punta San Telmo to another location on the start of the week.
In the morning of the next day, Priscilla was about 305 miles from Cabo Corrientes with continuous gusts of 65mph. It intensified into a severe cyclone in the night, when sustained winds peaked at 121km/h.
Though not expected to hit the coast, Priscilla is expected to generate hazardous swells and rip currents as it moves north-west along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Heavy rainfall is predicted on Monday, reaching a considerable volume in specific Mexican states, with some areas at about 20 centimeters. Other regions could receive 50-100mm.
Elsewhere, a cyclone named Shakhti has formed as the initial post-season storm system of 2025 in the Arabian Sea, causing an alert from the India Meteorological Department for Maharashtra. On that day, Shakhti was 209 kilometers southeast of Ras al Hadd, Oman with maximum sustained winds of 64mph.
The storm, which has moved in a southwestern direction and lost strength, is predicted to turn eastward into the Arabian Sea. Rough seas are expected to persist along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and heavy rainfall is expected in coastal districts including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.
