Tropical Cyclone Matmo Slammed Southern China Causing Massive Relocations

Typhoon Matmo made landfall on the southern shores of China on Sunday afternoon, shortly after passage over the provincial island of Hainan. The intense weather led to the relocation of around 350,000 residents, bringing torrential rain and damaging winds, especially between Wuchuan in Guangdong and Hainan's Wenchang. Ferry services were suspended and flights cancelled at Haikou Meilan airport.

Storm Details

Matmo, this year's 21st cyclone of 2025, had sustained wind speeds of 94mph and dumped more than 50mm of precipitation in a short period in Qinzhou and Chongzou. Urban areas of Nanning also experienced high rainfall totals.

The storm prompted China's top-tier emergency warning, with disruptions in Zhanjiang, where businesses, transportation systems and roads were shut. In the special administrative region, numerous air services were affected and dozens called off.

Forecast and Movement

As Matmo advances inward towards the provincial area in the neighboring country, it is expected to weaken into a tropical depression with 55mph winds but will continue to bring heavy rainfall. Vietnam's northern regions could face 130-150mm on Monday, raising the risk of inundation and mudslides. The weather pattern is expected to move towards Yunnan region in China, where additional intense rain is likely.

Other Storm Systems

At the same time, a hurricane named Priscilla developed off Mexico's Pacific coast on the weekend, first as a storm system. It led to a storm watch for south-western regions from Punta San Telmo to another location on the start of the week.

In the morning of Sunday, the hurricane was about 491 kilometers from a Mexican cape with sustained winds of 65mph. It intensified into a hurricane in the evening, when wind speeds peaked at 121km/h.

Though not expected to hit the coast, the storm is expected to produce dangerous waves and rip currents as it moves northwestward along the coast towards a Mexican state. Heavy rainfall is predicted on Monday, amounting to a considerable volume in specific Mexican states, with local totals at about 20 centimeters. Other regions could face moderate to heavy rain.

In other parts, a cyclone named Shakhti has developed as the first post-monsoon cyclonic storm of the year in the Arabian Sea, prompting an warning from the India Meteorological Department for an Indian state. On that day, the cyclone was 130 miles southeast of Ras al Hadd, Oman with peak wind speeds of 103km/h.

The storm, which has moved south-westward and lost strength, is forecast to recurve towards the east into the Arabian Sea. Rough seas are expected to continue along the coastal stretch and heavy rainfall is expected in shoreline areas including specific Indian cities.