Tropical Cyclone Matmo Hit Southern China Causing Widespread Relocations

Typhoon Matmo struck the coast on the southern shores of China on the weekend, following its passage over the provincial island of Hainan. The intense weather forced the relocation of approximately 350,000 people, delivering heavy downpours and damaging winds, particularly between Wuchuan in Guangdong and Wenchang in Hainan. Ferry services were suspended and air travel disrupted at Haikou Meilan airport.

Storm Details

The typhoon, the 21st typhoon of 2025, recorded wind speeds of 151km/h and dumped over 50mm of precipitation in a short period in Chongzou and Qinzhou. The city of the region also experienced significant rain amounts.

Matmo triggered China's top-tier emergency warning, with disruptions in Zhanjiang, where businesses, transportation systems and highways were shut. In the special administrative region, numerous air services were affected and 30 cancelled.

Forecast and Movement

As the typhoon moves inland towards Cao Bang province in the neighboring country, it is projected to diminish into a tropical depression with 89km/h winds but will persist to bring substantial precipitation. Vietnam's northern regions could face significant rainfall on the following day, raising the threat of inundation and landslides. The system is anticipated to move towards Yunnan province in China, where further intense rain is probable.

Global Weather Events

Meanwhile, a hurricane named Priscilla developed off Mexico's Pacific coast on Saturday night, first as a storm system. It prompted a storm watch for the southwestern areas from Punta San Telmo to another location on Monday.

In the early hours of Sunday, the hurricane was about 491 kilometers from Cabo Corrientes with sustained winds of 65mph. It strengthened into a severe cyclone in the night, when sustained winds peaked at 121km/h.

Though not expected to hit the coast, Priscilla is likely to produce hazardous swells and strong currents as it moves northwestward along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Heavy rainfall is forecast on Monday, amounting to a considerable volume in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with local totals at about 200mm. Colima and western Jalisco could receive moderate to heavy rain.

In other parts, Cyclone Shakhti has formed as the first post-monsoon storm system of the year in the Arabian Sea, prompting an alert from the India Meteorological Department for an Indian state. On Sunday, Shakhti was 130 miles southeast of Ras al Hadd, Oman with peak wind speeds of 64mph.

The storm, which has moved south-westward and lost strength, is forecast to recurve towards the east into the the sea. Turbulent waters are expected to persist along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and heavy rainfall is anticipated in coastal districts including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.