🔗 Share this article

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 evacuation of approximately 350,000 residents, delivering heavy downpours and destructive gusts, particularly between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Wenchang in Hainan. Ferry services were suspended and air travel disrupted at the airport in Haikou.

Typhoon Statistics

The typhoon, this year's 21st cyclone of the year, recorded wind speeds of 94mph and poured over 50mm of precipitation in a short period in Chongzou and Qinzhou. Urban areas of the region also received significant rain amounts.

Matmo prompted China's top-tier red alert, with disruptions in the city, where businesses, transport links and roads were closed. In the special administrative region, 100 flights were impacted and dozens called off.

Future Projections

As the typhoon moves inland towards the provincial area in Vietnam, it is projected to diminish into a tropical depression with 89km/h winds but will persist to bring substantial precipitation. Vietnam's northern regions could face 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.

Other Storm Systems

At the same time, Hurricane Priscilla developed off Mexico's Pacific coast on Saturday night, initially as a storm system. It prompted a storm watch for south-western regions from Punta San Telmo to Punta Mita on the start of the week.

In the morning of the next day, the hurricane was about 305 miles from Cabo Corrientes with continuous gusts of 65mph. It intensified into a hurricane in the night, when wind speeds peaked at 121km/h.

Though not expected to make landfall, the storm is expected to generate hazardous swells and rip currents as it tracks north-west along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Substantial rain is forecast on Monday, amounting to 100-150mm in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with some areas at about 20 centimeters. Other regions could receive moderate to heavy rain.

Elsewhere, Cyclone Shakhti has formed as the first post-monsoon storm system of the year in the Arabian Sea, causing an alert from the national weather agency for Maharashtra. On Sunday, Shakhti was 130 miles south-east of Ras al Hadd, Oman with maximum sustained winds of 64mph.

The storm, which has moved south-westward and lost strength, is forecast to recurve eastward into the Arabian Sea. Turbulent waters are expected to persist along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and intense rain is anticipated in shoreline areas including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.