Typhoon Matmo Slammed Southern China Bringing Widespread Evacuations

Typhoon Matmo made landfall on the southern shores of China on Sunday afternoon, following its sweeping across the island province of Hainan. The severe weather led to the evacuation of approximately 350,000 people, bringing torrential rain and destructive gusts, especially between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Hainan's Wenchang. Boat transport were halted and air travel disrupted at the airport in Haikou.

Typhoon Statistics

Matmo, this year's 21st typhoon of 2025, recorded wind speeds of 94mph and dumped over 50mm of rainfall in a short period in Qinzhou and Chongzou. Urban areas of Nanning also experienced high rainfall totals.

Matmo triggered China's highest-level red alert, with disturbances in Zhanjiang, where commercial activities, transportation systems and highways were closed. In Hong Kong, numerous air services were impacted and dozens called off.

Future Projections

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 continue to bring heavy rainfall. Vietnam's northern regions could experience significant rainfall on the following day, raising the threat of inundation and mudslides. The system is expected to move towards Yunnan region in China, where further heavy rainfall is probable.

Global Weather Events

At the same time, Hurricane Priscilla developed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on the weekend, first as a tropical storm. It prompted a weather alert for south-western regions from a coastal point to Punta Mita on Monday.

In the morning of the next day, the hurricane was about 491 kilometers from Cabo Corrientes with continuous gusts of 105km/h. It intensified into a severe cyclone in the night, when sustained winds peaked at 75mph.

Though not expected to make landfall, the storm is likely to generate hazardous swells 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 specific Mexican states, with some areas at about 20 centimeters. Other regions 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 alert from the national weather agency for an Indian state. On that day, Shakhti was 130 miles southeast of Ras al Hadd, Oman with peak wind speeds of 103km/h.

The storm, which has tracked south-westward and lost strength, is forecast to recurve eastward into the the sea. Turbulent waters are expected to persist along the coastal stretch and heavy rainfall is expected in shoreline areas including specific Indian cities.

Sara Moore
Sara Moore

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