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Typhoon Matmo struck the coast on the coastal regions of China on Sunday afternoon, shortly after sweeping across the island province of Hainan. The severe weather forced the evacuation of approximately 350,000 people, delivering heavy downpours and destructive gusts, especially between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Wenchang in Hainan. Boat transport were suspended and air travel disrupted at Haikou Meilan airport.

Storm Details

The typhoon, the 21st typhoon of the year, recorded wind speeds of 94mph and poured over 50mm of precipitation in a short period in Chongzou and Qinzhou. Urban areas of Nanning also experienced high rainfall totals.

The storm triggered China's highest-level emergency warning, with disturbances in Zhanjiang, where businesses, transport links and highways were shut. In the special administrative region, 100 flights were affected and dozens called off.

Forecast and Movement

As Matmo moves inland towards the provincial area in the neighboring country, 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 significant rainfall on Monday, increasing the risk of flooding and landslides. The system is expected to move towards Yunnan region in China, where additional heavy rainfall is probable.

Global Weather Events

Meanwhile, a hurricane named Priscilla developed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on the weekend, initially as a tropical storm. It led to a storm watch for south-western regions from a coastal point to another location on Monday.

In the early hours of the next day, Priscilla was about 305 miles from a Mexican cape with continuous gusts of 65mph. It intensified into a hurricane in the night, when sustained winds peaked at 75mph.

Though not expected to make landfall, the storm is expected to generate dangerous waves and strong currents as it moves north-west 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 20 centimeters. Colima and western Jalisco could face moderate to heavy rain.

Elsewhere, Cyclone Shakhti has formed as the first post-monsoon storm system of 2025 in the a body of water, causing an alert from the India Meteorological Department for an Indian state. On that day, Shakhti was 209 kilometers southeast of Ras al Hadd, Oman with maximum sustained winds of 103km/h.

The storm, which has moved south-westward and weakened, is predicted to turn towards the east into the the sea. Turbulent waters are likely to continue along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and heavy rainfall is anticipated in coastal districts including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.