🔗 Share this article

Typhoon Matmo made landfall on the southern shores of China on Sunday afternoon, following its passage over the island province of Hainan. The severe weather forced the relocation of around 350,000 residents, bringing torrential rain and damaging winds, especially between Wuchuan in Guangdong and Wenchang in Hainan. Boat transport were suspended and flights cancelled at Haikou Meilan airport.

Storm Details

Matmo, the 21st cyclone of the year, had sustained wind speeds of 151km/h and poured more than 50mm of rainfall in a short period in Qinzhou and Chongzou. Urban areas of the region also experienced significant rain amounts.

The storm prompted China's highest-level emergency warning, with disruptions in Zhanjiang, where businesses, transport links and roads were closed. In Hong Kong, numerous air services were impacted and 30 cancelled.

Forecast and Movement

As the typhoon moves inland towards the provincial area in Vietnam, it is projected to weaken into a less intense system with 55mph winds but will persist to bring heavy rainfall. Vietnam's northern regions could face 130-150mm on the following day, raising the risk of flooding and landslides. The system is expected to move towards Yunnan province in China, where further intense rain is probable.

Other Storm Systems

Meanwhile, a hurricane named Priscilla developed off Mexico's Pacific coast on the weekend, initially as a tropical storm. It prompted a storm watch for the southwestern areas from a coastal point to another location on Monday.

In the early hours of the next day, Priscilla was about 491 kilometers from a Mexican cape with continuous gusts of 65mph. It strengthened into a severe cyclone in the evening, when sustained winds reached at 121km/h.

Although unlikely to hit the coast, Priscilla is expected to generate hazardous swells and strong currents as it tracks north-west along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Heavy rainfall is predicted on the coming day, reaching 100-150mm in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with some areas at about 20 centimeters. Colima and western Jalisco could face 50-100mm.

In other parts, a cyclone named Shakhti has formed as the initial post-season storm system of the year in the a body of water, prompting an alert from the national weather agency for an Indian state. On that day, Shakhti was 130 miles southeast of a location in Oman with maximum sustained winds of 103km/h.

Shakhti, which has moved in a southwestern direction and lost strength, is forecast to recurve eastward into the the sea. Turbulent waters are expected to continue along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and intense rain is expected in coastal districts including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.