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Typhoon Matmo made landfall on the southern shores of China on Sunday afternoon, following its sweeping across the island province of Hainan. The intense weather forced the evacuation of approximately 350,000 people, bringing torrential rain and damaging winds, especially between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Wenchang in Hainan. Boat transport were halted and flights cancelled at Haikou Meilan airport.

Storm Details

Matmo, the 21st typhoon of the year, recorded wind speeds of 151km/h and dumped more than 50mm of rainfall in a short period in Chongzou and Qinzhou. Urban areas of the region also received high rainfall totals.

Matmo prompted China's highest-level emergency warning, with disruptions in the city, where businesses, transportation systems and roads were closed. In the special administrative region, numerous air services were impacted and 30 cancelled.

Forecast and Movement

As Matmo moves inland towards Cao Bang province in Vietnam, it is expected to weaken into a less intense system with 89km/h winds but will persist to bring substantial precipitation. Northern Vietnam could experience significant rainfall on the following day, raising the threat of flooding and mudslides. The weather pattern is anticipated to move towards Yunnan province in China, where further heavy rainfall is probable.

Global Weather Events

Meanwhile, 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 Punta San Telmo to another location on the start of the week.

In the morning of Sunday, Priscilla was about 305 miles from a Mexican cape with continuous gusts of 105km/h. It strengthened into a severe cyclone in the evening, when sustained winds peaked at 75mph.

Though not expected to make landfall, the storm is expected to produce hazardous swells and strong currents as it moves north-west along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Substantial rain is forecast on Monday, amounting to a considerable volume in specific Mexican states, with local totals at about 200mm. Colima and western Jalisco could receive moderate to heavy rain.

Elsewhere, a cyclone named Shakhti has formed as the initial post-season cyclonic storm of 2025 in the Arabian Sea, causing an alert from the national weather agency for Maharashtra. On Sunday, Shakhti was 209 kilometers south-east of Ras al Hadd, Oman with peak wind speeds of 64mph.

Shakhti, which has tracked in a southwestern direction and lost strength, is forecast to turn towards the east into the Arabian Sea. Turbulent waters are expected to persist along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and intense rain is expected in coastal districts including specific Indian cities.