Typhoon Matmo Hit Coastal China Causing Massive Evacuations
The powerful storm struck the coast on the coastal regions of China on Sunday afternoon, following its passage over the island province of Hainan. The severe weather forced the evacuation of around 350,000 residents, delivering torrential rain and damaging winds, particularly between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Hainan's Wenchang. Boat transport were suspended and flights cancelled at the airport in Haikou.
Typhoon Statistics
Matmo, the 21st cyclone of 2025, recorded wind speeds of 151km/h and dumped more than 50mm of rainfall in six hours in Qinzhou and Chongzou. The city of the region also received significant rain amounts.
Matmo triggered China's top-tier red alert, with disruptions in Zhanjiang, where commercial activities, transportation systems and roads were closed. In the special administrative region, numerous air services were impacted and 30 cancelled.
Future Projections
As the typhoon moves inland towards the provincial area in Vietnam, it is projected to weaken into a tropical depression with 89km/h winds but will persist to bring substantial precipitation. Vietnam's northern regions could face 130-150mm on the following day, raising the threat of inundation and landslides. The weather pattern is anticipated to move towards Yunnan province in China, where additional intense rain is probable.
Global Weather Events
At the same time, Hurricane Priscilla developed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on Saturday night, first as a tropical storm. It prompted a storm watch for the southwestern areas from Punta San Telmo to another location on the start of the week.
In the early hours of Sunday, Priscilla 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 reached at 75mph.
Though not expected to make landfall, Priscilla is expected to produce dangerous waves and strong currents as it tracks northwestward along the coast towards a Mexican state. Substantial rain is predicted on Monday, reaching 100-150mm in specific Mexican states, with local totals at about 200mm. Other regions could receive 50-100mm.
Elsewhere, a cyclone named Shakhti has formed as the first post-monsoon cyclonic storm of 2025 in the a body of water, prompting an alert from the national weather agency for an Indian state. On that day, the cyclone was 209 kilometers southeast of Ras al Hadd, Oman with peak wind speeds of 103km/h.
The storm, which has tracked south-westward and lost strength, is predicted to turn towards the east into the Arabian Sea. Turbulent waters are likely to continue along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and heavy rainfall is anticipated in shoreline areas including specific Indian cities.