Typhoon Matmo Struck Southern China Causing Widespread Evacuations

Typhoon Matmo made landfall on the coastal regions of China on Sunday afternoon, following its sweeping across the island province of Hainan. The intense weather forced the relocation of approximately 350,000 people, bringing heavy downpours and damaging winds, especially between Wuchuan in Guangdong and Hainan's Wenchang. Boat transport were halted and flights cancelled at Haikou Meilan airport.

Typhoon Statistics

The typhoon, this year's 21st cyclone of 2025, had sustained wind speeds of 151km/h and poured over 50mm of rainfall in a short period in Qinzhou and Chongzou. The city of the region also experienced significant rain amounts.

Matmo triggered China's top-tier red alert, with disturbances in Zhanjiang, where businesses, transport links and roads were closed. In the special administrative region, numerous air services were impacted and dozens called off.

Future Projections

As the typhoon moves inland towards the provincial area in Vietnam, it is expected to weaken into a less intense system with 55mph winds but will continue to bring heavy rainfall. Vietnam's northern regions could face significant rainfall on Monday, raising the threat of flooding and mudslides. The system is anticipated to move towards Yunnan region in China, where further heavy rainfall is likely.

Global Weather Events

Meanwhile, Hurricane Priscilla formed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on the weekend, first as a tropical storm. It led to a weather alert 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 a Mexican cape with sustained winds of 105km/h. It strengthened into a hurricane in the night, when sustained winds reached at 121km/h.

Although unlikely to make landfall, Priscilla is expected to produce hazardous swells and rip currents as it tracks north-west along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Heavy rainfall is predicted on the coming day, amounting to a considerable volume in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with some areas at about 200mm. Other regions could receive moderate to heavy rain.

Elsewhere, a cyclone named Shakhti has developed as the initial post-season cyclonic storm of 2025 in the Arabian Sea, causing an warning from the national weather agency for Maharashtra. On Sunday, the cyclone was 209 kilometers south-east of a location in Oman with maximum sustained winds of 64mph.

Shakhti, which has moved south-westward and weakened, is predicted to recurve eastward into the the sea. Turbulent waters are likely to continue along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and intense rain is expected in shoreline areas including specific Indian cities.

Joy Anderson
Joy Anderson

A quantum computing researcher and AI enthusiast with a passion for exploring the boundaries of technology and innovation.

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