Tropical Cyclone Matmo Hit Coastal China Causing Massive 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 severe weather led to the evacuation of approximately 350,000 residents, delivering torrential rain and damaging winds, especially between Wuchuan in Guangdong and Hainan's Wenchang. Boat transport were suspended and air travel disrupted at Haikou Meilan airport.

Storm Details

The typhoon, this year's 21st typhoon of 2025, had sustained wind speeds of 94mph and dumped over 50mm of precipitation in six hours in Chongzou and Qinzhou. Urban areas of Nanning also experienced high rainfall totals.

The storm prompted China's top-tier emergency warning, with disturbances in the city, where businesses, transportation systems and highways were closed. In the special administrative region, numerous air services were affected and 30 cancelled.

Future Projections

As the typhoon moves inland towards Cao Bang province in Vietnam, it is projected to weaken into a less intense system with 55mph winds but will persist to bring heavy rainfall. Northern Vietnam could experience significant rainfall on the following day, increasing the risk of flooding and landslides. The system is anticipated to move towards Yunnan province in China, where additional intense rain is likely.

Global Weather Events

Meanwhile, Hurricane Priscilla developed off Mexico's Pacific coast on the weekend, first as a storm system. It led to a storm watch for the southwestern areas from Punta San Telmo to Punta Mita on the start of the week.

In the morning of Sunday, the hurricane was about 491 kilometers from Cabo Corrientes with sustained winds of 65mph. It intensified into a hurricane in the evening, when wind speeds reached at 121km/h.

Though not expected to make landfall, Priscilla is expected to generate dangerous waves and rip currents as it tracks north-west along the coast towards a Mexican state. Substantial rain is forecast on the coming day, reaching 100-150mm in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with some areas at about 200mm. Colima and western Jalisco could receive 50-100mm.

Elsewhere, a cyclone named Shakhti has developed as the first post-monsoon storm system of 2025 in the Arabian Sea, causing an alert from the national weather agency for an Indian state. On Sunday, the cyclone was 209 kilometers southeast of Ras al Hadd, Oman with maximum sustained winds of 103km/h.

The storm, which has moved in a southwestern direction and weakened, is predicted to turn towards the east into the the sea. Rough seas are likely to continue along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and intense rain is expected in coastal districts including specific Indian cities.