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Typhoon Matmo struck the coast on the southern shores of China on Sunday afternoon, following its sweeping across the island province of Hainan. The intense weather led to the evacuation of approximately 350,000 people, delivering heavy downpours and damaging winds, particularly between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Hainan's Wenchang. Boat transport were halted and air travel disrupted at Haikou Meilan airport.

Typhoon Statistics

Matmo, this year's 21st typhoon of the year, recorded wind speeds of 151km/h and poured over 50mm of precipitation in six hours in Chongzou and Qinzhou. Urban areas of the region also experienced high rainfall totals.

Matmo prompted China's highest-level emergency warning, with disruptions in the city, where businesses, transport links and highways were closed. In Hong Kong, numerous air services were affected and dozens called off.

Forecast and Movement

As Matmo moves inland towards the provincial area 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 experience significant rainfall on the following day, increasing the threat of flooding and mudslides. The system is anticipated to move towards Yunnan province in China, where additional intense rain is likely.

Other Storm Systems

Meanwhile, a hurricane named Priscilla developed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on the weekend, first as a tropical storm. It prompted a weather alert for south-western regions from Punta San Telmo to another location on the start of the week.

In the early hours of Sunday, Priscilla was about 305 miles from Cabo Corrientes with continuous gusts of 105km/h. It strengthened into a severe cyclone in the evening, when sustained winds reached at 75mph.

Though not expected to hit the coast, Priscilla is expected to produce dangerous waves and strong currents as it tracks northwestward along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Heavy rainfall is predicted on Monday, reaching 100-150mm in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with some areas at about 20 centimeters. 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 that day, Shakhti was 130 miles south-east of Ras al Hadd, Oman with peak wind speeds of 64mph.

Shakhti, which has tracked south-westward and weakened, is forecast to recurve eastward into the Arabian Sea. Rough seas are expected to continue along the coastal stretch and heavy rainfall is expected in coastal districts including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.