Tropical Cyclone Matmo Struck Coastal China Bringing Widespread Relocations
The powerful storm struck the coast on the southern shores of China on the weekend, following its sweeping across the island province of Hainan. The intense weather led to the relocation of approximately 350,000 people, delivering torrential rain and destructive gusts, especially between Wuchuan in Guangdong and Wenchang in Hainan. Ferry services were halted and air travel disrupted at Haikou Meilan airport.
Typhoon Statistics
Matmo, the 21st cyclone of 2025, recorded wind speeds of 94mph and dumped more than 50mm of precipitation in a short period in Qinzhou and Chongzou. The city of the region also experienced significant rain amounts.
Matmo triggered China's highest-level emergency warning, with disruptions in the city, where businesses, transport links and highways were closed. In the special administrative region, 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 tropical depression with 55mph winds but will persist to bring substantial precipitation. Northern Vietnam could face significant rainfall on Monday, raising the risk of inundation and landslides. The system is expected to move towards Yunnan province in China, where further intense rain is likely.
Global Weather Events
At the same time, Hurricane Priscilla formed off Mexico's Pacific coast on the weekend, initially as a storm system. It led to a storm watch for south-western regions from a coastal point to another location on the start of the week.
In the early hours of the next day, the hurricane was about 305 miles from Cabo Corrientes with sustained winds of 65mph. It strengthened into a hurricane in the night, when sustained winds peaked at 75mph.
Though not expected to make landfall, Priscilla is expected to generate hazardous swells and strong currents as it tracks northwestward along the coast towards a Mexican state. Heavy rainfall is predicted on Monday, amounting to 100-150mm in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with some areas at about 20 centimeters. Other regions could receive moderate to heavy rain.
In other parts, a cyclone named Shakhti has formed as the first post-monsoon cyclonic storm of 2025 in the Arabian Sea, causing an warning from the India Meteorological Department for Maharashtra. On that day, the cyclone was 209 kilometers south-east of a location in Oman with peak wind speeds of 64mph.
The storm, which has moved in a southwestern direction and lost strength, is forecast to recurve eastward into the the sea. Rough seas are expected to continue along the coastal stretch and intense rain is anticipated in shoreline areas including specific Indian cities.