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Typhoon Matmo struck the coast on the southern shores of China on Sunday afternoon, following its passage over the provincial island of Hainan. The intense weather led to the relocation of approximately 350,000 residents, bringing torrential rain and destructive gusts, especially between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Hainan's Wenchang. Boat transport were halted and flights cancelled at the airport in Haikou.

Storm Details

Matmo, the 21st typhoon of the year, recorded wind speeds of 94mph and poured over 50mm of precipitation in a short period in Qinzhou and Chongzou. The city of the region also experienced significant rain amounts.

Matmo triggered China's highest-level red alert, with disruptions in the city, where businesses, transport links and highways were shut. In the special administrative region, numerous air services were impacted and 30 cancelled.

Future Projections

As Matmo advances inward towards the provincial area in Vietnam, it is projected to diminish into a tropical depression with 89km/h winds but will persist to bring heavy rainfall. Northern Vietnam could experience 130-150mm on the following day, increasing the risk of flooding 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 formed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on Saturday night, initially as a storm system. It prompted a storm watch for south-western regions from a coastal point to Punta Mita on the start of the week.

In the morning of Sunday, Priscilla was about 305 miles from a Mexican cape with continuous gusts of 105km/h. It strengthened into a hurricane in the evening, when wind speeds reached at 75mph.

Although unlikely to make landfall, the storm is expected to generate dangerous waves and strong currents as it tracks north-west along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Substantial rain is predicted on the coming day, amounting to a considerable volume in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with some areas at about 20 centimeters. Other regions could face 50-100mm.

In other parts, Cyclone Shakhti has developed as the initial post-season storm system of 2025 in the Arabian Sea, causing an alert from the India Meteorological Department for an Indian state. On that day, the cyclone was 130 miles south-east of Ras al Hadd, Oman with peak wind speeds of 64mph.

Shakhti, which has moved south-westward and weakened, is forecast to recurve towards the east into the the sea. Rough seas are likely to persist along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and intense rain is anticipated in coastal districts including specific Indian cities.