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Typhoon Matmo made landfall on the southern shores of China on the weekend, following its sweeping across the provincial island of Hainan. The severe weather forced the relocation of approximately 350,000 residents, bringing torrential rain and destructive gusts, particularly between Wuchuan in Guangdong and Wenchang in Hainan. Ferry services were suspended and air travel disrupted at Haikou Meilan airport.

Typhoon Statistics

Matmo, this year's 21st typhoon of the year, had sustained wind speeds of 94mph and poured more than 50mm of precipitation in six hours in Chongzou and Qinzhou. Urban areas of the region also experienced high rainfall totals.

The storm prompted China's top-tier red alert, with disturbances in Zhanjiang, where commercial activities, transport links and highways were closed. In Hong Kong, numerous air services were affected and 30 cancelled.

Future Projections

As Matmo moves inland towards Cao Bang province in Vietnam, it is expected to weaken into a tropical depression with 89km/h winds but will persist to bring heavy rainfall. Northern Vietnam could experience 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 heavy rainfall is probable.

Global Weather Events

Meanwhile, a hurricane named Priscilla developed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on Saturday night, first as a tropical storm. It led to a storm watch for south-western regions from Punta San Telmo to Punta Mita on the start of the week.

In the morning of Sunday, the hurricane was about 305 miles from Cabo Corrientes with continuous gusts of 105km/h. It intensified into a severe cyclone in the night, when sustained winds peaked at 121km/h.

Though not expected to make landfall, Priscilla is likely to generate dangerous waves and rip currents as it tracks northwestward along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Heavy rainfall is predicted on the coming day, amounting to 100-150mm in specific Mexican states, with some areas at about 20 centimeters. Colima and western Jalisco could receive 50-100mm.

Elsewhere, a cyclone named Shakhti has formed as the first post-monsoon storm system of 2025 in the Arabian Sea, causing an alert from the national weather agency for Maharashtra. On Sunday, Shakhti was 209 kilometers southeast of Ras al Hadd, Oman with maximum sustained winds of 103km/h.

Shakhti, which has moved in a southwestern direction and weakened, is predicted to recurve eastward into the Arabian Sea. Turbulent waters are expected to persist along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and heavy rainfall is anticipated in shoreline areas including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.