Tropical Cyclone Matmo Hit Coastal China Bringing Widespread Evacuations
The powerful storm made landfall on the coastal regions of China on Sunday afternoon, following its sweeping across the island province of Hainan. The severe weather forced the relocation of around 350,000 people, delivering heavy downpours and damaging winds, especially between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Wenchang in Hainan. Boat transport were halted and flights cancelled at Haikou Meilan airport.
Typhoon Statistics
Matmo, the 21st cyclone of 2025, recorded wind speeds of 151km/h and dumped over 50mm of precipitation in six hours in Chongzou and Qinzhou. The city of the region also experienced significant rain amounts.
Matmo triggered China's highest-level red alert, with disruptions in Zhanjiang, where commercial activities, transport links and highways were closed. In the special administrative region, 100 flights were affected and 30 cancelled.
Future Projections
As Matmo moves inland towards Cao Bang province in Vietnam, it is projected to diminish into a less intense system with 55mph winds but will continue to bring heavy rainfall. Vietnam's northern regions could face 130-150mm on Monday, raising the threat of inundation and mudslides. The system is expected to move towards Yunnan region in China, where further heavy rainfall is likely.
Global Weather Events
At the same time, a hurricane named Priscilla developed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on the weekend, first as a storm system. It prompted a storm watch for south-western regions from a coastal point to Punta Mita on the start of the week.
In the early hours of the next day, the hurricane was about 305 miles from a Mexican cape with continuous gusts of 65mph. It strengthened into a hurricane in the night, when wind speeds reached at 121km/h.
Though not expected to make landfall, the storm is expected to produce hazardous swells and strong currents as it moves northwestward along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Heavy rainfall is predicted on the coming day, amounting to 100-150mm in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with local totals at about 20 centimeters. Colima and western Jalisco could receive moderate to heavy rain.
Elsewhere, a cyclone named Shakhti has formed as the first post-monsoon storm system of 2025 in the Arabian Sea, causing an warning from the India Meteorological Department for Maharashtra. On that day, the cyclone was 209 kilometers southeast of Ras al Hadd, Oman with maximum sustained winds of 103km/h.
Shakhti, which has moved south-westward and lost strength, is predicted to turn towards the east into the the sea. Turbulent waters are expected to persist along the coastal stretch and heavy rainfall is anticipated in coastal districts including specific Indian cities.
