🔗 Share this article

The powerful storm struck the coast on the coastal regions of China on the weekend, following its passage over the provincial island of Hainan. The severe weather forced the relocation of approximately 350,000 people, delivering heavy downpours and destructive gusts, particularly between Wuchuan in Guangdong and Hainan's Wenchang. Ferry services were suspended and flights cancelled at Haikou Meilan airport.

Typhoon Statistics

Matmo, this year's 21st cyclone of the year, recorded wind speeds of 151km/h and poured over 50mm of rainfall in six hours in Chongzou and Qinzhou. The city of Nanning also received high rainfall totals.

Matmo triggered China's highest-level emergency warning, with disturbances in Zhanjiang, where commercial activities, transport links and highways were closed. In Hong Kong, numerous air services were affected and dozens called off.

Future Projections

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 heavy rainfall. Vietnam's northern regions could experience significant rainfall on Monday, increasing the threat of flooding and mudslides. The weather pattern is expected to move towards Yunnan region in China, where additional heavy rainfall is likely.

Other Storm Systems

At the same time, a hurricane named Priscilla developed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on the weekend, first as a storm system. It led to a storm watch for the southwestern areas from Punta San Telmo to another location on Monday.

In the early hours of the next day, the hurricane was about 305 miles from a Mexican cape with continuous gusts of 105km/h. It strengthened into a hurricane in the night, when sustained winds reached at 75mph.

Though not expected to hit the coast, the storm is likely to produce hazardous swells and rip currents as it moves north-west along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Substantial rain is predicted on the coming day, amounting to a considerable volume in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with local totals at about 200mm. Colima and western Jalisco could receive moderate to heavy rain.

Elsewhere, a cyclone named Shakhti has developed as the initial post-season storm system of the year in the Arabian Sea, causing an warning from the national weather agency for an Indian state. On Sunday, the cyclone was 130 miles south-east of a location in Oman with maximum sustained winds of 103km/h.

Shakhti, which has tracked south-westward and weakened, is predicted to recurve eastward into the Arabian Sea. Rough seas are likely to continue along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and intense rain is expected in shoreline areas including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.