Tropical Cyclone Matmo Slammed Coastal China Causing Massive Evacuations

The powerful storm made landfall on the southern shores of China on Sunday afternoon, shortly after passage over the island province of Hainan. The intense weather forced the relocation of around 350,000 people, delivering heavy downpours and damaging winds, particularly between Wuchuan in Guangdong and Hainan's Wenchang. Boat transport were suspended and air travel disrupted at the airport in Haikou.

Storm Details

Matmo, this year's 21st typhoon of 2025, recorded wind speeds of 151km/h and poured more than 50mm of rainfall in six hours in Chongzou and Qinzhou. The city of Nanning also experienced high rainfall totals.

Matmo prompted China's top-tier red alert, with disturbances in Zhanjiang, where businesses, transport links and highways were shut. In Hong Kong, numerous air services were impacted and 30 cancelled.

Forecast and Movement

As the typhoon moves inland towards Cao Bang province in the neighboring country, it is projected to diminish into a tropical depression with 89km/h winds but will persist to bring heavy rainfall. Vietnam's northern regions could face 130-150mm on Monday, increasing the threat of flooding and mudslides. The weather pattern is anticipated 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 storm system. It prompted a storm watch for the southwestern areas from a coastal point to Punta Mita on Monday.

In the morning of Sunday, the hurricane was about 491 kilometers from Cabo Corrientes with continuous gusts of 65mph. It intensified into a hurricane in the night, when sustained winds peaked at 121km/h.

Although unlikely to make landfall, Priscilla is likely to generate dangerous waves and rip currents as it tracks north-west along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Substantial rain is forecast on the coming day, amounting to a considerable volume in specific Mexican states, with local totals at about 20 centimeters. Other regions could face 50-100mm.

Elsewhere, a cyclone named Shakhti has formed as the first post-monsoon storm system of the year in the a body of water, causing an alert from the national weather agency for an Indian state. On that day, the cyclone was 209 kilometers south-east of a location in Oman with peak wind speeds of 103km/h.

The storm, which has moved in a southwestern direction and weakened, is predicted to turn towards the east into the the sea. Turbulent waters are likely to continue along the coastal stretch and heavy rainfall is anticipated in shoreline areas including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.

Joshua Walker
Joshua Walker

A tech enthusiast and writer passionate about innovation and digital culture.