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The powerful storm struck the coast on the southern shores of China on the weekend, shortly after passage over the provincial island of Hainan. The intense weather led to the evacuation of around 350,000 people, delivering heavy downpours and damaging winds, particularly between Wuchuan in Guangdong and Hainan's Wenchang. Ferry services were halted and flights cancelled at Haikou Meilan airport.

Typhoon Statistics

Matmo, the 21st cyclone of 2025, recorded wind speeds of 94mph and poured over 50mm of rainfall in six hours in Qinzhou and Chongzou. The city of Nanning also experienced significant rain amounts.

The storm triggered China's highest-level red alert, with disturbances in the city, where businesses, transportation systems and roads were shut. In Hong Kong, 100 flights were affected and 30 cancelled.

Future Projections

As Matmo moves inland towards Cao Bang province in Vietnam, it is expected to diminish into a tropical depression with 55mph winds but will persist to bring heavy rainfall. Vietnam's northern regions could face significant rainfall on Monday, raising the threat of inundation and landslides. The weather pattern is expected to move towards Yunnan province in China, where further intense rain is probable.

Global Weather Events

Meanwhile, Hurricane Priscilla developed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on Saturday night, initially as a storm system. It prompted a weather alert for south-western regions from a coastal point to Punta Mita on Monday.

In the early hours of the next day, the hurricane was about 305 miles from a Mexican cape with sustained winds of 65mph. It intensified into a severe cyclone in the evening, when sustained winds peaked at 121km/h.

Though not expected to make landfall, the storm is expected to generate hazardous swells and rip currents as it moves northwestward along the coast towards a Mexican state. Substantial rain is forecast on Monday, amounting to 100-150mm in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with local totals at about 200mm. Colima and western Jalisco could face 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 alert from the India Meteorological Department for an Indian state. On Sunday, Shakhti was 130 miles southeast of a location in Oman with peak wind speeds of 103km/h.

The storm, which has tracked south-westward and weakened, is forecast to recurve eastward into the the sea. Turbulent waters are likely to persist along the coastal stretch and intense rain is expected in shoreline areas including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.