Tropical Cyclone Matmo Hit Coastal China Causing Massive Evacuations
Typhoon Matmo made landfall on the coastal regions of China on Sunday afternoon, following its passage over the provincial island of Hainan. The severe weather forced the relocation of approximately 350,000 residents, bringing heavy downpours and destructive gusts, particularly between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Hainan's Wenchang. Ferry services were suspended and flights cancelled at the airport in Haikou.
Storm Details
The typhoon, the 21st typhoon of 2025, recorded wind speeds of 151km/h and poured over 50mm of rainfall in six hours in Chongzou and Qinzhou. The city of the region also experienced significant rain amounts.
The storm triggered China's highest-level red alert, with disruptions in Zhanjiang, where businesses, transportation systems and highways were closed. In the special administrative region, 100 flights were impacted and dozens called off.
Future Projections
As the typhoon moves inland towards Cao Bang province in Vietnam, it is expected to diminish into a less intense system with 55mph winds but will persist to bring substantial precipitation. Northern Vietnam could face 130-150mm on Monday, raising the risk of inundation and landslides. The weather pattern is anticipated to move towards Yunnan province in China, where further heavy rainfall is likely.
Global Weather Events
At the same time, Hurricane Priscilla developed off Mexico's Pacific coast on the weekend, 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 morning of the next day, Priscilla was about 491 kilometers from a Mexican cape with sustained winds of 65mph. It strengthened into a severe cyclone in the night, when wind speeds reached at 121km/h.
Though not expected to hit the coast, the storm is likely to generate hazardous swells and strong currents as it tracks northwestward along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Heavy rainfall is predicted on the coming day, reaching a considerable volume in MichoacĂ¡n and western Guerrero, with some areas at about 20 centimeters. Colima and western Jalisco could receive moderate to heavy rain.
In other parts, a cyclone named Shakhti has developed as the first post-monsoon cyclonic storm of 2025 in the Arabian Sea, prompting an warning from the national weather agency for an Indian state. On Sunday, the cyclone was 209 kilometers southeast of Ras al Hadd, Oman with maximum sustained winds of 103km/h.
The storm, which has tracked in a southwestern direction and weakened, is forecast to turn eastward into the Arabian Sea. Rough seas are expected to continue along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and intense rain is anticipated in coastal districts including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.
