Tropical Cyclone Matmo Slammed Coastal China Causing Widespread Relocations
The powerful storm made landfall on the coastal regions of China on the weekend, following its passage over the provincial island of Hainan. The intense weather forced the evacuation of approximately 350,000 residents, delivering torrential rain and destructive gusts, especially between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Hainan's Wenchang. Ferry services were suspended and flights cancelled at Haikou Meilan airport.
Storm Details
The typhoon, this year's 21st cyclone of 2025, recorded wind speeds of 151km/h and dumped over 50mm of rainfall in six hours in Chongzou and Qinzhou. Urban areas of the region also experienced significant rain amounts.
Matmo triggered China's highest-level emergency warning, with disturbances in Zhanjiang, where businesses, transportation systems and highways were closed. In the special administrative region, numerous air services were impacted and dozens called off.
Future Projections
As the typhoon moves inland towards Cao Bang province in Vietnam, it is projected to weaken into a less intense system with 89km/h winds but will persist to bring substantial precipitation. Vietnam's northern regions could experience 130-150mm on the following day, increasing the risk of inundation and landslides. The weather pattern is expected to move towards Yunnan province in China, where further heavy rainfall is probable.
Other Storm Systems
Meanwhile, Hurricane Priscilla formed off Mexico's Pacific coast on Saturday night, initially as a tropical storm. It prompted a weather alert 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 105km/h. It strengthened into a hurricane in the evening, when sustained winds peaked at 75mph.
Though not expected to hit the coast, the storm is likely to generate dangerous waves and strong currents as it moves north-west along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Substantial rain is forecast on the coming day, reaching a considerable volume in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with some areas at about 200mm. Other regions could face moderate to heavy rain.
In other parts, Cyclone Shakhti has developed as the first post-monsoon storm system of the year in the Arabian Sea, causing an alert from the India Meteorological Department for Maharashtra. On that day, the cyclone was 130 miles southeast of a location in Oman with maximum sustained winds of 103km/h.
Shakhti, which has tracked south-westward and weakened, is forecast to turn eastward into the the sea. Turbulent waters are expected to continue along the coastal stretch and heavy rainfall is expected in coastal districts including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.
