Typhoon Matmo Hit Coastal China Causing Massive Relocations

Typhoon Matmo made landfall on the coastal regions of China on Sunday afternoon, shortly after passage over the provincial island of Hainan. The severe weather forced the relocation of approximately 350,000 people, bringing torrential rain and damaging winds, particularly between Wuchuan in Guangdong and Hainan's Wenchang. Boat transport were suspended and flights cancelled at the airport in Haikou.

Storm Details

Matmo, the 21st typhoon of 2025, had sustained wind speeds of 151km/h and poured more than 50mm of rainfall in six hours in Qinzhou and Chongzou. The city of the region also experienced high rainfall totals.

Matmo triggered China's highest-level emergency warning, with disturbances in the city, where commercial activities, transport links and highways were closed. In the special administrative region, numerous air services were impacted and 30 cancelled.

Forecast and Movement

As Matmo advances inward towards Cao Bang province in the neighboring country, it is expected to weaken into a tropical depression with 89km/h winds but will persist to bring heavy rainfall. Northern Vietnam could face 130-150mm on Monday, raising the threat of flooding and mudslides. The system is anticipated to move towards Yunnan province in China, where further intense rain is likely.

Other Storm Systems

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

In the morning of the next day, Priscilla 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 75mph.

Though not expected to hit the coast, the storm is expected to generate hazardous swells and rip currents as it moves northwestward along the coast towards a Mexican state. Substantial rain is forecast on the coming day, reaching a considerable volume in specific Mexican states, with local totals at about 200mm. Other regions could face moderate to heavy rain.

Elsewhere, a cyclone named Shakhti has developed as the first post-monsoon storm system of the year in the Arabian Sea, causing an warning from the national weather agency for an Indian state. On that day, the cyclone was 209 kilometers south-east of Ras al Hadd, Oman with peak wind speeds of 64mph.

The storm, which has tracked in a southwestern direction and lost strength, is forecast to turn eastward into the Arabian Sea. Turbulent waters are likely to continue along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and heavy rainfall is expected in shoreline areas including specific Indian cities.

Anita Owens
Anita Owens

A forward-thinking entrepreneur and tech enthusiast with over a decade of experience in digital transformation and startup consulting.