Typhoon Matmo Slammed Southern China Causing Widespread Relocations

The powerful storm made landfall on the southern shores of China on Sunday afternoon, shortly after sweeping across the provincial island of Hainan. The intense weather led to the relocation of around 350,000 residents, delivering torrential rain and damaging winds, particularly between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Wenchang in Hainan. Ferry services were halted and air travel disrupted at Haikou Meilan airport.

Typhoon Statistics

Matmo, the 21st cyclone of the year, had sustained wind speeds of 151km/h and dumped more than 50mm of precipitation in a short period in Qinzhou and Chongzou. Urban areas of the region also experienced significant rain amounts.

Matmo triggered China's highest-level emergency warning, with disturbances in Zhanjiang, where commercial activities, transportation systems and roads were closed. In the special administrative region, 100 flights were affected and 30 cancelled.

Forecast and Movement

As Matmo advances inward towards Cao Bang province in Vietnam, it is projected to diminish into a less intense system with 89km/h winds but will persist to bring substantial precipitation. Vietnam's northern regions could face 130-150mm on the following day, increasing the threat of flooding and landslides. The weather pattern is anticipated to move towards Yunnan province in China, where further intense rain is probable.

Other Storm Systems

Meanwhile, Hurricane Priscilla developed off Mexico's Pacific coast on the weekend, initially as a storm system. It led to a weather alert for the southwestern areas from a coastal point to another location on the start of the week.

In the early hours of Sunday, Priscilla was about 491 kilometers from a Mexican cape with sustained winds of 105km/h. It intensified into a severe cyclone in the evening, when sustained winds reached at 121km/h.

Although unlikely to make landfall, the storm is likely to produce hazardous swells and rip currents as it tracks north-west along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Heavy rainfall is forecast on Monday, reaching a considerable volume in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with some areas at about 20 centimeters. Colima and western Jalisco could receive 50-100mm.

In other parts, a cyclone named Shakhti has developed as the first post-monsoon cyclonic storm of 2025 in the Arabian Sea, causing an warning from the national weather agency for Maharashtra. On that day, the cyclone was 209 kilometers southeast of a location in Oman with peak wind speeds of 64mph.

Shakhti, which has moved south-westward and lost strength, is predicted to recurve eastward into the the sea. Turbulent waters are likely to persist along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and heavy rainfall is expected in shoreline areas including specific Indian cities.

Christopher Wright
Christopher Wright

A tech enthusiast and business strategist with over a decade of experience in digital transformation and startup consulting.