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The powerful storm struck the coast on the southern shores of China on Sunday afternoon, following its sweeping across the provincial island of Hainan. The severe weather led to the evacuation of approximately 350,000 people, delivering heavy downpours and destructive gusts, particularly between Wuchuan in Guangdong and Hainan's Wenchang. Boat transport were suspended and air travel disrupted at Haikou Meilan airport.

Typhoon Statistics

Matmo, the 21st cyclone of the year, recorded wind speeds of 151km/h and poured more than 50mm of precipitation in six hours in Qinzhou and Chongzou. Urban areas of Nanning also received significant rain amounts.

Matmo prompted China's top-tier emergency warning, with disturbances in the city, where businesses, transportation systems and highways were closed. In the special administrative region, 100 flights were affected and 30 cancelled.

Forecast and Movement

As the typhoon advances inward towards the provincial area in the neighboring country, it is projected to weaken into a less intense system with 89km/h winds but will persist to bring heavy rainfall. Vietnam's northern regions could experience significant rainfall on Monday, increasing the threat of flooding and landslides. The weather pattern is anticipated to move towards Yunnan province in China, where additional heavy rainfall is probable.

Other Storm Systems

Meanwhile, a hurricane named Priscilla developed off Mexico's Pacific coast on the weekend, initially as a tropical storm. It led to a weather alert for south-western regions from Punta San Telmo to Punta Mita on Monday.

In the early hours of Sunday, the hurricane was about 491 kilometers from Cabo Corrientes with sustained winds of 65mph. It strengthened into a hurricane in the evening, when sustained winds reached at 75mph.

Though not expected to hit the coast, Priscilla is likely to generate dangerous waves and strong currents as it tracks northwestward along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Heavy rainfall is forecast on the coming day, reaching 100-150mm in specific Mexican states, with local totals 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 a body of water, causing an warning from the India Meteorological Department for an Indian state. On Sunday, Shakhti was 130 miles south-east of a location in Oman with peak wind speeds of 103km/h.

The storm, which has tracked in a southwestern direction and lost strength, is predicted to turn eastward into the Arabian Sea. Rough seas are expected to persist along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and intense rain is anticipated in coastal districts including specific Indian cities.