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Typhoon Matmo made landfall on the southern shores of China on the weekend, following its passage over the island province of Hainan. The intense weather led to the evacuation of around 350,000 residents, bringing heavy downpours and damaging winds, particularly between Wuchuan in Guangdong and Wenchang in Hainan. Boat transport were suspended and air travel disrupted at Haikou Meilan airport.

Storm Details

Matmo, the 21st typhoon of the year, recorded wind speeds of 94mph and dumped over 50mm of rainfall in a short period in Chongzou and Qinzhou. Urban areas of the region also received high rainfall totals.

The storm triggered China's top-tier red alert, with disturbances in Zhanjiang, where commercial activities, transport links and roads were shut. In the special administrative region, 100 flights were affected and dozens called off.

Forecast and Movement

As the typhoon advances inward towards Cao Bang province in the neighboring country, it is expected to diminish into a tropical depression with 55mph winds but will continue to bring heavy rainfall. Vietnam's northern regions could experience significant rainfall on the following day, increasing the risk of inundation and mudslides. The weather pattern is expected to move towards Yunnan province in China, where additional heavy rainfall is probable.

Other Storm Systems

At the same time, a hurricane named Priscilla formed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on the weekend, first as a tropical storm. It prompted a weather alert for the southwestern areas from Punta San Telmo to another location on the start of the week.

In the early hours of Sunday, the hurricane was about 305 miles from Cabo Corrientes with continuous gusts of 105km/h. It strengthened into a hurricane in the night, when wind speeds peaked at 121km/h.

Although unlikely to hit the coast, 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 forecast on Monday, amounting to 100-150mm in specific Mexican states, with local totals at about 200mm. Colima and western Jalisco could face 50-100mm.

Elsewhere, a cyclone named Shakhti has formed as the first post-monsoon storm system of 2025 in the a body of water, causing an warning from the India Meteorological Department for Maharashtra. On Sunday, Shakhti was 130 miles southeast of Ras al Hadd, Oman with maximum sustained winds of 64mph.

Shakhti, which has tracked south-westward and weakened, is predicted to recurve towards the east into the Arabian Sea. Turbulent waters are expected to persist along the coastal stretch and heavy rainfall is expected in coastal districts including specific Indian cities.