Typhoon Matmo Slammed Southern China Causing Massive Relocations
The powerful storm struck the coast on the coastal regions of China on Sunday afternoon, following its sweeping across the island province of Hainan. The severe weather led to the evacuation of approximately 350,000 people, bringing torrential rain and damaging winds, especially between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Wenchang in Hainan. Boat transport were suspended and air travel disrupted at the airport in Haikou.
Typhoon Statistics
The typhoon, the 21st cyclone of 2025, recorded wind speeds of 94mph and dumped more than 50mm of precipitation in six hours in Chongzou and Qinzhou. Urban areas of Nanning also received significant rain amounts.
The storm prompted China's top-tier red alert, with disruptions in the city, where businesses, transport links and highways were closed. In Hong Kong, 100 flights were affected and dozens called off.
Forecast and Movement
As the typhoon advances inward towards Cao Bang province in the neighboring country, it is expected to diminish into a tropical depression with 89km/h winds but will continue to bring substantial precipitation. Northern Vietnam could experience 130-150mm on the following day, raising the threat of flooding and landslides. The system is anticipated to move towards Yunnan region in China, where additional heavy rainfall is probable.
Other Storm Systems
At the same time, Hurricane Priscilla formed off Mexico's Pacific coast on the weekend, first as a storm system. It prompted a storm watch for the southwestern areas from a coastal point 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 65mph. It strengthened into a hurricane in the evening, when wind speeds reached at 75mph.
Though not expected to make landfall, the storm is expected to produce 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 some areas at about 20 centimeters. Other regions could face moderate to heavy rain.
Elsewhere, a cyclone named Shakhti has developed as the first post-monsoon cyclonic storm of 2025 in the Arabian Sea, prompting an warning from the national weather agency for an Indian state. On that day, the cyclone 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 weakened, is forecast to turn towards the east into the the sea. Rough seas are likely to continue along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and heavy rainfall is anticipated in coastal districts including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.