Tropical Cyclone Matmo Hit Southern China Causing Massive Relocations

The powerful storm made landfall on the coastal regions of China on the weekend, following its passage over the island province of Hainan. The severe weather forced the evacuation of around 350,000 people, bringing torrential rain and destructive gusts, especially between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Hainan's Wenchang. Boat transport were suspended and air travel disrupted at Haikou Meilan airport.

Storm Details

Matmo, the 21st typhoon of 2025, recorded wind speeds of 151km/h and dumped more than 50mm of precipitation in a short period in Qinzhou and Chongzou. Urban areas of Nanning also received significant rain amounts.

Matmo prompted China's highest-level emergency warning, with disturbances in Zhanjiang, where businesses, transport links and roads were closed. In the special administrative region, 100 flights were impacted and dozens called off.

Future Projections

As the typhoon 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 continue to bring heavy rainfall. Vietnam's northern regions could face significant rainfall on Monday, raising the risk of inundation and mudslides. The weather pattern is expected to move towards Yunnan province in China, where further intense rain is likely.

Global Weather Events

Meanwhile, a hurricane named Priscilla developed 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 another location on Monday.

In the early hours of the next day, the hurricane was about 305 miles from Cabo Corrientes with continuous gusts of 65mph. It strengthened into a hurricane in the evening, when sustained winds reached at 75mph.

Although unlikely to hit the coast, Priscilla is expected to produce hazardous swells and rip currents as it tracks north-west along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Substantial rain is forecast on the coming day, reaching 100-150mm in specific Mexican states, with local totals at about 200mm. Colima and western Jalisco could receive moderate to heavy rain.

In other parts, a cyclone named Shakhti has developed as the first post-monsoon cyclonic storm of 2025 in the Arabian Sea, causing an alert from the national weather agency for Maharashtra. On Sunday, Shakhti was 130 miles southeast of a location in Oman with maximum sustained winds of 64mph.

The storm, which has tracked south-westward and lost strength, is predicted to recurve towards the east into the the sea. Turbulent waters are likely to continue along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and heavy rainfall is expected in coastal districts including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.