Tropical Cyclone Matmo Slammed Southern China Causing Massive Relocations

Typhoon Matmo made landfall on the coastal regions of China on Sunday afternoon, shortly after passage over the provincial island of Hainan. The intense weather forced the evacuation of approximately 350,000 people, delivering heavy downpours and destructive gusts, particularly between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Wenchang in Hainan. Boat transport were suspended and air travel disrupted at Haikou Meilan airport.

Storm Details

Matmo, this year's 21st cyclone of 2025, recorded wind speeds of 151km/h and poured over 50mm of rainfall in six hours in Qinzhou and Chongzou. Urban areas of Nanning also experienced high rainfall totals.

The storm triggered China's top-tier red alert, with disruptions in Zhanjiang, where commercial activities, transport links and roads were shut. In the special administrative region, numerous air services were affected and dozens called off.

Forecast and Movement

As the typhoon moves inland towards the provincial area in Vietnam, it is projected to diminish into a tropical depression with 55mph winds but will persist to bring substantial precipitation. Vietnam's northern regions could face 130-150mm on Monday, raising the threat of inundation and landslides. The weather pattern is expected to move towards Yunnan region in China, where further heavy rainfall is likely.

Other Storm Systems

Meanwhile, Hurricane Priscilla formed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on the weekend, initially as a tropical storm. It led to a storm watch for south-western regions from a coastal point to another location on Monday.

In the morning of the next day, Priscilla was about 491 kilometers from a Mexican cape with sustained winds of 65mph. It strengthened into a hurricane in the night, when wind speeds reached at 121km/h.

Though not expected to make landfall, Priscilla is expected to generate hazardous swells and rip currents as it tracks northwestward along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Substantial rain is forecast on Monday, reaching 100-150mm in specific Mexican states, with some areas at about 200mm. Colima and western Jalisco could face moderate to heavy rain.

In other parts, Cyclone Shakhti has formed as the initial post-season cyclonic storm of the year in the a body of water, prompting an warning from the India Meteorological Department for an Indian state. On that day, Shakhti was 209 kilometers south-east of a location in Oman with maximum sustained winds of 103km/h.

Shakhti, which has moved south-westward and lost strength, is predicted to recurve towards the east into the the sea. Rough seas are expected to persist along the coastal stretch and intense rain is anticipated in shoreline areas including specific Indian cities.