Tropical Cyclone Matmo Slammed Southern China Bringing Massive Relocations
The powerful storm struck the coast on the coastal regions of China on the weekend, following its passage over the island province of Hainan. The intense weather led to the relocation of around 350,000 people, bringing torrential rain and damaging winds, particularly between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Wenchang in Hainan. Ferry services were halted and flights cancelled at Haikou Meilan airport.
Storm Details
Matmo, the 21st cyclone of 2025, recorded wind speeds of 151km/h and poured over 50mm of precipitation in six hours in Chongzou and Qinzhou. The city of Nanning also experienced significant rain amounts.
The storm prompted China's top-tier red alert, with disturbances in Zhanjiang, where commercial activities, transportation systems and roads were closed. In Hong Kong, 100 flights were affected and 30 cancelled.
Forecast and Movement
As Matmo advances inward towards the provincial area in Vietnam, it is expected to diminish into a tropical depression with 89km/h winds but will continue to bring heavy rainfall. Vietnam's northern regions could face 130-150mm on Monday, raising the risk of flooding and mudslides. The system is expected to move towards Yunnan province in China, where additional heavy rainfall is likely.
Other Storm Systems
Meanwhile, Hurricane Priscilla formed off Mexico's Pacific coast on Saturday night, first as a storm system. It led to a weather alert for south-western regions from a coastal point to Punta Mita on Monday.
In the morning of Sunday, Priscilla was about 491 kilometers from Cabo Corrientes with sustained winds of 105km/h. It strengthened into a hurricane in the night, when wind speeds peaked at 75mph.
Though not expected to make landfall, Priscilla is expected to produce dangerous waves and strong currents as it moves northwestward along the coast towards a Mexican state. Heavy rainfall is predicted on the coming day, amounting to 100-150mm in specific Mexican states, with local totals at about 200mm. Colima and western Jalisco could face 50-100mm.
In other parts, Cyclone Shakhti has formed as the first post-monsoon cyclonic storm of 2025 in the Arabian Sea, prompting an warning from the India Meteorological Department for Maharashtra. On Sunday, the cyclone was 209 kilometers southeast of a location in Oman with peak wind speeds of 64mph.
Shakhti, which has moved south-westward and lost strength, is forecast to turn towards the east into the Arabian Sea. Rough seas are likely to persist along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and heavy rainfall is anticipated in shoreline areas including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.
