🔗 Share this article

Typhoon Matmo made landfall on the coastal regions of China on the weekend, shortly after sweeping across the island province of Hainan. The severe weather forced the relocation of approximately 350,000 people, bringing heavy downpours and destructive gusts, particularly between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Hainan's Wenchang. Ferry services were halted and air travel disrupted at Haikou Meilan airport.

Storm Details

Matmo, the 21st cyclone of the year, had sustained wind speeds of 94mph and dumped more than 50mm of rainfall in six hours in Qinzhou and Chongzou. The city of the region also experienced high rainfall totals.

The storm prompted China's top-tier red alert, with disturbances in the city, where commercial activities, transport links and roads were closed. In Hong Kong, 100 flights were impacted and dozens called off.

Forecast and Movement

As the typhoon moves inland towards the provincial area in Vietnam, it is projected to weaken into a less intense system with 55mph winds but will continue to bring heavy rainfall. Vietnam's northern regions could experience 130-150mm on Monday, raising the risk of flooding and mudslides. The system is expected to move towards Yunnan province in China, where further intense rain is probable.

Global Weather Events

Meanwhile, a hurricane named Priscilla developed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on Saturday night, initially as a tropical storm. It led to a storm watch for the southwestern areas from Punta San Telmo to Punta Mita 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 105km/h. It intensified into a hurricane in the night, when wind speeds peaked at 121km/h.

Though not expected to make landfall, the storm is likely to generate hazardous swells and rip currents as it tracks northwestward along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Heavy rainfall is predicted on the coming day, amounting to a considerable volume in specific Mexican states, with some areas at about 200mm. Colima and western Jalisco could face 50-100mm.

Elsewhere, a cyclone named Shakhti has formed as the first post-monsoon storm system of 2025 in the a body of water, prompting an alert from the India Meteorological Department for an Indian state. On Sunday, the cyclone was 209 kilometers south-east of Ras al Hadd, Oman with maximum sustained winds of 103km/h.

Shakhti, which has moved south-westward and lost strength, is forecast to recurve eastward into the the sea. Turbulent waters are expected to continue along the coastal stretch and intense rain is expected in shoreline areas including specific Indian cities.