🔗 Share this article

The powerful storm made landfall on the southern shores of China on the weekend, shortly after passage over the provincial island of Hainan. The severe weather led to the evacuation of around 350,000 people, bringing heavy downpours and destructive gusts, especially between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Hainan's Wenchang. Ferry services were suspended and flights cancelled at Haikou Meilan airport.

Storm Details

Matmo, this year's 21st typhoon of the year, recorded wind speeds of 151km/h and poured more than 50mm of precipitation in a short period in Qinzhou and Chongzou. Urban areas of Nanning also experienced high rainfall totals.

Matmo triggered China's highest-level red alert, with disruptions in the city, 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 advances inward towards Cao Bang province in Vietnam, it is projected to weaken into a tropical depression with 55mph winds but will persist to bring heavy rainfall. Vietnam's northern regions could experience significant rainfall on Monday, increasing the threat of flooding and landslides. The system is expected to move towards Yunnan province in China, where further heavy rainfall is probable.

Other Storm Systems

At the same time, a hurricane named Priscilla formed off Mexico's Pacific coast on the weekend, first as a tropical storm. It led to a weather alert for south-western regions from a coastal point to Punta Mita on Monday.

In the early hours of Sunday, Priscilla was about 491 kilometers from a Mexican cape with continuous gusts of 65mph. It intensified into a hurricane in the evening, when sustained winds peaked at 121km/h.

Although unlikely to hit the coast, Priscilla is likely to produce hazardous swells and strong currents as it moves north-west along the coast towards a Mexican state. Substantial rain is predicted on the coming day, reaching 100-150mm in specific Mexican states, with local totals at about 20 centimeters. Other regions could face moderate to heavy rain.

Elsewhere, Cyclone Shakhti has formed as the initial post-season cyclonic storm of the year in the Arabian Sea, prompting an alert from the India Meteorological Department for Maharashtra. On Sunday, Shakhti was 130 miles south-east of Ras al Hadd, Oman with maximum sustained winds of 103km/h.

The storm, which has tracked south-westward and lost strength, is predicted to turn towards the east into the Arabian Sea. Turbulent waters are likely to persist along the coastal stretch and heavy rainfall is expected in shoreline areas including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.