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Typhoon Matmo struck the coast on the coastal regions of China on the weekend, following its sweeping across the island province of Hainan. The severe weather led to the relocation of around 350,000 residents, delivering heavy downpours and destructive gusts, especially between Wuchuan in Guangdong and Wenchang in Hainan. Boat transport were halted and air travel disrupted at the airport in Haikou.

Typhoon Statistics

The typhoon, the 21st cyclone of the year, recorded wind speeds of 151km/h and poured over 50mm of precipitation in six hours in Chongzou and Qinzhou. Urban areas of Nanning also received high rainfall totals.

Matmo triggered China's top-tier red alert, with disruptions in Zhanjiang, where businesses, transportation systems and roads were closed. In the special administrative region, 100 flights were affected and dozens called off.

Forecast and Movement

As the typhoon moves inland towards the provincial area in the neighboring country, it is projected to weaken into a less intense system with 55mph winds but will persist to bring substantial precipitation. Vietnam's northern regions could face 130-150mm on Monday, increasing the risk of flooding and landslides. The system is anticipated to move towards Yunnan province in China, where further intense rain is likely.

Global Weather Events

Meanwhile, a hurricane named Priscilla developed off Mexico's Pacific coast on Saturday night, initially as a tropical storm. It led to a weather alert for south-western regions from Punta San Telmo to another location on the start of the week.

In the early hours of the next day, the hurricane was about 305 miles from a Mexican cape with continuous gusts of 65mph. It intensified into a severe cyclone in the evening, when wind speeds peaked at 121km/h.

Though not expected to hit the coast, Priscilla is likely to generate dangerous waves and rip currents as it moves north-west along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Substantial rain is predicted on the coming day, amounting to a considerable volume in specific Mexican states, with local totals at about 200mm. Other regions could receive 50-100mm.

In other parts, Cyclone Shakhti has developed as the initial post-season cyclonic storm of 2025 in the Arabian Sea, causing an warning from the India Meteorological Department for an Indian state. On that day, the cyclone was 130 miles south-east of Ras al Hadd, Oman with maximum sustained winds of 103km/h.

Shakhti, which has moved south-westward and lost strength, is predicted to recurve towards the east into the Arabian Sea. Turbulent waters are expected to persist along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and intense rain is anticipated in shoreline areas including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.