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Typhoon Matmo made landfall on the coastal regions of China on the weekend, following its sweeping across the island province of Hainan. The severe weather led to the evacuation of around 350,000 residents, delivering torrential rain and destructive gusts, particularly between Wuchuan in Guangdong and Hainan's Wenchang. Ferry services were suspended and flights cancelled at the airport in Haikou.

Storm Details

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

Matmo triggered China's top-tier red alert, with disruptions in the city, where commercial activities, transport links and highways were shut. In Hong Kong, 100 flights were impacted and 30 cancelled.

Forecast and Movement

As Matmo advances inward towards the provincial area in the neighboring country, it is projected to weaken into a tropical depression with 89km/h winds but will persist to bring substantial precipitation. Vietnam's northern regions could face significant rainfall on Monday, increasing the threat of inundation and mudslides. The weather pattern is expected to move towards Yunnan province in China, where further intense rain is probable.

Other Storm Systems

At the same time, a hurricane named Priscilla developed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on the weekend, first as a tropical storm. It led to a weather alert for the southwestern areas from Punta San Telmo to Punta Mita on the start of the week.

In the early hours of Sunday, Priscilla was about 305 miles from a Mexican cape with continuous gusts of 105km/h. It strengthened into a hurricane in the evening, when wind speeds reached at 75mph.

Although unlikely to hit the coast, Priscilla is expected to produce hazardous swells and strong currents as it tracks north-west along the coast towards a Mexican state. Substantial rain is predicted on the coming day, amounting to a considerable volume in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with some areas at about 200mm. Other regions could face 50-100mm.

Elsewhere, a cyclone named Shakhti has developed as the first post-monsoon storm system of the year in the Arabian Sea, prompting an alert from the India Meteorological Department for Maharashtra. On Sunday, Shakhti was 130 miles southeast of Ras al Hadd, Oman with peak wind speeds of 103km/h.

The storm, which has tracked south-westward and lost strength, is predicted to recurve eastward into the Arabian Sea. Turbulent waters are likely to persist along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and intense rain is expected in coastal districts including specific Indian cities.