Tropical Cyclone Matmo Struck Southern China Causing Massive Relocations
The powerful storm struck the coast on the southern shores of China on the weekend, following its passage over the island province of Hainan. The severe weather led to the evacuation of approximately 350,000 people, bringing heavy downpours and destructive gusts, especially between Wuchuan in Guangdong and Wenchang in Hainan. Boat transport were suspended and air travel disrupted at Haikou Meilan airport.
Typhoon Statistics
Matmo, this year's 21st typhoon of 2025, recorded wind speeds of 94mph and dumped more than 50mm of precipitation in six hours in Qinzhou and Chongzou. Urban areas of Nanning also received high rainfall totals.
The storm prompted China's highest-level emergency warning, with disturbances in Zhanjiang, where businesses, transport links and roads were closed. In Hong Kong, 100 flights were affected and dozens called off.
Future Projections
As the typhoon advances inward towards Cao Bang province in Vietnam, it is expected to weaken into a less intense system with 55mph winds but will persist to bring heavy rainfall. Northern Vietnam could experience 130-150mm on Monday, increasing the risk of inundation and landslides. The weather pattern is expected to move towards Yunnan province in China, where further heavy rainfall is probable.
Other Storm Systems
At the same time, Hurricane Priscilla developed off Mexico's Pacific coast on the weekend, initially as a tropical storm. It led to a weather alert for the southwestern areas from a coastal point to Punta Mita on the start of the week.
In the early hours of the next day, Priscilla was about 305 miles from Cabo Corrientes with sustained winds of 65mph. It strengthened into a hurricane in the evening, when sustained winds peaked at 75mph.
Though not expected to make landfall, the storm is likely to produce dangerous waves and strong currents as it moves northwestward along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Substantial rain is forecast on the coming day, amounting to a considerable volume in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with some areas at about 200mm. Colima and western Jalisco could face 50-100mm.
Elsewhere, Cyclone Shakhti has formed as the first post-monsoon storm system of the year in the a body of water, causing an alert from the national weather agency for an Indian state. On that day, the cyclone was 209 kilometers southeast of a location in Oman with peak wind speeds of 64mph.
Shakhti, which has tracked south-westward and weakened, is predicted to recurve towards the east into the Arabian Sea. Rough seas are expected to persist along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and intense rain is anticipated in shoreline areas including specific Indian cities.