Tropical Cyclone Matmo Struck Southern China Causing Widespread Evacuations

Typhoon Matmo made landfall on the southern shores of China on the weekend, following its passage over the island province of Hainan. The severe weather forced the relocation of approximately 350,000 residents, delivering torrential rain and damaging winds, especially between Wuchuan in Guangdong and Wenchang in Hainan. Boat transport were halted and flights cancelled at Haikou Meilan airport.

Typhoon Statistics

Matmo, this year's 21st cyclone of 2025, recorded wind speeds of 151km/h and dumped more than 50mm of rainfall in a short period in Qinzhou and Chongzou. Urban areas of Nanning also experienced high rainfall totals.

Matmo prompted China's top-tier emergency warning, with disruptions in the city, where businesses, transportation systems and highways were closed. In the special administrative region, 100 flights were impacted and dozens called off.

Future Projections

As Matmo moves inland towards the provincial area in the neighboring country, it is expected to weaken into a less intense system with 55mph winds but will continue to bring substantial precipitation. Northern Vietnam could face significant rainfall on the following day, increasing the risk of inundation and mudslides. The weather pattern is anticipated to move towards Yunnan region in China, where further intense rain is likely.

Global Weather Events

Meanwhile, Hurricane Priscilla formed off Mexico's Pacific coast on Saturday night, initially as a tropical storm. It prompted a storm watch for south-western regions from Punta San Telmo to Punta Mita on Monday.

In the early hours of Sunday, the hurricane was about 305 miles from a Mexican cape with continuous gusts of 105km/h. It strengthened into a hurricane in the night, when sustained winds peaked at 75mph.

Although unlikely to make landfall, the storm is likely to generate hazardous swells and rip currents as it tracks northwestward along the coast towards a Mexican state. Heavy rainfall is forecast on the coming day, reaching a considerable volume in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with local totals at about 200mm. Other regions could receive moderate to heavy rain.

Elsewhere, a cyclone named Shakhti has developed as the first post-monsoon cyclonic storm of 2025 in the a body of water, prompting an alert from the national weather agency for Maharashtra. On that day, Shakhti was 130 miles south-east of a location in Oman with maximum sustained winds of 103km/h.

The storm, which has tracked south-westward and weakened, is forecast to turn towards the east into the the sea. Rough seas are expected to continue along the coastal stretch and intense rain is anticipated in shoreline areas including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.