Tropical Cyclone Matmo Slammed Southern China Causing Massive Relocations

The powerful storm struck the coast on the coastal regions of China on Sunday afternoon, following its sweeping across the island province of Hainan. The severe weather forced the evacuation of approximately 350,000 people, bringing heavy downpours and destructive gusts, particularly between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Wenchang in Hainan. Ferry services were suspended and air travel disrupted at the airport in Haikou.

Storm Details

Matmo, this year's 21st typhoon of 2025, had sustained wind speeds of 94mph and poured more than 50mm of rainfall in six hours in Chongzou and Qinzhou. Urban areas of the region also received high rainfall totals.

Matmo triggered China's highest-level emergency warning, with disruptions in Zhanjiang, where commercial activities, transport links and roads were closed. In Hong Kong, 100 flights were impacted and 30 cancelled.

Forecast and Movement

As Matmo moves inland towards Cao Bang province in Vietnam, it is expected to diminish into a tropical depression with 89km/h winds but will continue to bring heavy rainfall. Vietnam's northern regions could face 130-150mm on Monday, raising the risk of inundation and landslides. The system is anticipated to move towards Yunnan region in China, where further heavy rainfall is probable.

Other Storm Systems

Meanwhile, a hurricane named Priscilla formed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on the weekend, initially as a storm system. It led to a storm watch for south-western regions from Punta San Telmo to Punta Mita on Monday.

In the early hours of the next day, the hurricane was about 491 kilometers from Cabo Corrientes with sustained winds of 105km/h. It intensified into a hurricane in the evening, when wind speeds reached at 121km/h.

Although unlikely to make landfall, Priscilla is likely to generate dangerous waves and rip currents as it tracks north-west along the coast towards a Mexican state. Heavy rainfall is predicted on Monday, reaching a considerable volume in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with local totals at about 200mm. Other regions could receive 50-100mm.

In other parts, Cyclone Shakhti has developed as the first post-monsoon cyclonic storm of the year in the Arabian Sea, prompting an alert from the India Meteorological Department for Maharashtra. On Sunday, the cyclone was 130 miles south-east of a location in Oman with peak wind speeds of 103km/h.

The storm, which has moved in a southwestern direction and lost strength, is forecast to turn eastward into the Arabian Sea. Rough seas are likely to persist along the coastal stretch and heavy rainfall is expected in shoreline areas including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.