Typhoon Matmo Hit Southern China Bringing Widespread Relocations

Typhoon Matmo struck the coast on the coastal regions of China on the weekend, shortly after sweeping across the provincial island of Hainan. The intense weather forced the relocation of approximately 350,000 people, bringing heavy downpours and damaging winds, particularly between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Wenchang in Hainan. Boat transport were halted and air travel disrupted at Haikou Meilan airport.

Storm Details

Matmo, this year's 21st typhoon of 2025, recorded wind speeds of 94mph and dumped over 50mm of rainfall in six hours in Chongzou and Qinzhou. Urban areas of the region also received significant rain amounts.

The storm triggered China's highest-level red alert, with disruptions in Zhanjiang, where commercial activities, transportation systems and roads were shut. In the special administrative region, numerous air services were affected and 30 cancelled.

Forecast and Movement

As the typhoon advances inward towards the provincial area in the neighboring country, it is projected to diminish into a less intense system with 55mph winds but will persist to bring substantial precipitation. Vietnam's northern regions could face 130-150mm on Monday, raising the threat of flooding and mudslides. The system is expected to move towards Yunnan province in China, where additional intense rain is likely.

Other Storm Systems

Meanwhile, a hurricane named Priscilla developed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on the weekend, first as a tropical storm. It led to a storm watch for south-western regions from a coastal point to another location on the start of the week.

In the early hours of the next day, the hurricane was about 491 kilometers from a Mexican cape with continuous gusts of 105km/h. It intensified into a hurricane in the night, when sustained winds reached at 121km/h.

Although unlikely to make landfall, Priscilla is likely to generate hazardous swells and strong currents as it tracks north-west along the coast towards a Mexican state. Heavy rainfall is predicted on the coming day, reaching a considerable volume in specific Mexican states, with local totals at about 200mm. Other regions could receive 50-100mm.

Elsewhere, Cyclone Shakhti has formed as the first post-monsoon storm system of the year in the Arabian Sea, prompting an warning from the national weather agency for Maharashtra. On that day, Shakhti was 130 miles south-east of Ras al Hadd, Oman with maximum sustained winds of 103km/h.

The storm, which has tracked in a southwestern direction and lost strength, is forecast 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.