🔗 Share this article Tropical Cyclone Matmo Hit Southern China Causing Widespread Evacuations Typhoon Matmo struck the coast on the southern shores of China on Sunday afternoon, following its passage over the provincial island of Hainan. The intense weather forced the evacuation of approximately 350,000 people, delivering heavy downpours and damaging winds, especially between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Hainan's Wenchang. Boat transport were suspended and flights cancelled at the airport in Haikou. Storm Details Matmo, the 21st cyclone of the year, recorded wind speeds of 94mph and dumped more than 50mm of precipitation in a short period in Chongzou and Qinzhou. The city of the region also received high rainfall totals. The storm triggered China's top-tier red alert, with disturbances in the city, where commercial activities, transportation systems and roads were shut. In Hong Kong, 100 flights were impacted and 30 cancelled. Forecast and Movement As Matmo moves inland towards Cao Bang province in the neighboring country, it is projected to diminish into a tropical depression with 55mph winds but will persist to bring substantial precipitation. Vietnam's northern regions could experience 130-150mm on the following day, increasing the threat of inundation and mudslides. The weather pattern is expected to move towards Yunnan region in China, where further heavy rainfall is likely. Global Weather Events 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 a coastal point to Punta Mita on Monday. In the early hours of the next day, Priscilla was about 305 miles from a Mexican cape with continuous gusts of 105km/h. It intensified into a severe cyclone in the night, when wind speeds reached at 121km/h. Though not expected to make landfall, the storm is expected to generate dangerous waves and strong currents as it moves northwestward along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Heavy rainfall is predicted on Monday, reaching 100-150mm in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with some areas at about 200mm. Other regions could face moderate to heavy rain. In other parts, a cyclone named Shakhti has developed as the first post-monsoon cyclonic storm of 2025 in the a body of water, prompting an warning from the India Meteorological Department for Maharashtra. On that day, the cyclone was 130 miles southeast of a location in Oman with maximum sustained winds of 103km/h. The storm, which has tracked in a southwestern direction and weakened, is predicted to recurve eastward into the the sea. Rough seas are expected to continue along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and heavy rainfall is anticipated in coastal districts including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.