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The powerful storm made landfall on the coastal regions of China on the weekend, shortly after passage over the provincial island of Hainan. The intense weather forced the relocation of around 350,000 residents, delivering heavy downpours and damaging winds, particularly between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Wenchang in Hainan. Boat transport were halted and flights cancelled at Haikou Meilan airport.

Typhoon Statistics

The typhoon, the 21st typhoon of the year, had sustained wind speeds of 94mph and poured over 50mm of rainfall in six hours in Chongzou and Qinzhou. Urban areas of Nanning also experienced high rainfall totals.

Matmo triggered China's highest-level red alert, with disruptions in Zhanjiang, where commercial activities, transportation systems and roads were closed. In the special administrative region, 100 flights were impacted and dozens called off.

Future Projections

As Matmo advances inward towards Cao Bang province in Vietnam, it is expected to diminish into a less intense system with 55mph winds but will persist to bring heavy rainfall. Vietnam's northern regions could experience significant rainfall on Monday, raising the threat of flooding and landslides. The system is anticipated to move towards Yunnan region in China, where further heavy rainfall is probable.

Global Weather Events

At the same time, a hurricane named Priscilla developed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on Saturday night, first as a storm system. It prompted a storm watch for south-western regions from a coastal point to Punta Mita on Monday.

In the early hours of Sunday, the hurricane was about 491 kilometers from a Mexican cape with continuous gusts of 65mph. It strengthened into a hurricane in the night, when wind speeds peaked at 121km/h.

Although unlikely to make landfall, Priscilla is expected to produce dangerous waves and rip currents as it tracks northwestward along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Substantial rain is forecast on Monday, reaching 100-150mm in specific Mexican states, with some areas at about 20 centimeters. Colima and western Jalisco could face 50-100mm.

In other parts, a cyclone named Shakhti has developed as the first post-monsoon storm system of 2025 in the Arabian Sea, causing an alert from the India Meteorological Department for Maharashtra. On Sunday, Shakhti was 209 kilometers south-east of Ras al Hadd, Oman with peak wind speeds of 103km/h.

The storm, which has tracked in a southwestern direction and weakened, is forecast to recurve towards the east into the Arabian Sea. Rough seas are expected to persist along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and intense rain is anticipated in shoreline areas including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.