Typhoon Matmo Slammed Coastal China Causing Massive Evacuations
The powerful storm made landfall on the coastal regions of China on Sunday afternoon, following its sweeping across the provincial island of Hainan. The severe weather forced the evacuation of approximately 350,000 people, bringing heavy downpours and destructive gusts, especially between Wuchuan in Guangdong and Hainan's Wenchang. Ferry services were halted and air travel disrupted at the airport in Haikou.
Typhoon Statistics
Matmo, this year's 21st cyclone of 2025, had sustained wind speeds of 94mph and dumped over 50mm of rainfall in six hours in Chongzou and Qinzhou. The city of Nanning also received high rainfall totals.
The storm triggered China's highest-level red alert, with disruptions in the city, where businesses, transport links and roads were closed. In Hong Kong, 100 flights were impacted and dozens called off.
Future Projections
As the typhoon moves inland towards the provincial area in the neighboring country, it is expected to diminish into a less intense system with 89km/h winds but will continue to bring heavy rainfall. Vietnam's northern regions could face significant rainfall on Monday, raising the risk of inundation and landslides. The weather pattern is expected to move towards Yunnan province in China, where further intense rain is likely.
Global Weather Events
Meanwhile, a hurricane named Priscilla developed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on Saturday night, first as a storm system. It led to a storm watch for south-western regions from a coastal point to Punta Mita on the start of the week.
In the morning of Sunday, Priscilla was about 305 miles from a Mexican cape with sustained winds of 105km/h. It strengthened into a severe cyclone in the night, when sustained winds reached at 75mph.
Though not expected to hit the coast, the storm is expected to produce hazardous swells and strong currents as it moves northwestward along the coast towards a Mexican state. Substantial rain is forecast on the coming day, reaching 100-150mm in specific Mexican states, with local totals 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 a body of water, prompting an warning from the India Meteorological Department for Maharashtra. On that day, the cyclone was 209 kilometers southeast of a location in Oman with maximum sustained winds of 103km/h.
The storm, which has moved south-westward and lost strength, is predicted to recurve towards the east into the the sea. Rough seas are likely to persist along the coastal stretch and intense rain is expected in shoreline areas including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.
