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The powerful storm made landfall on the southern shores of China on Sunday afternoon, 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, especially between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Hainan's Wenchang. Boat transport were halted and flights cancelled at the airport in Haikou.

Storm Details

Matmo, the 21st typhoon of the year, recorded wind speeds of 94mph and dumped over 50mm of rainfall in six hours in Qinzhou and Chongzou. Urban areas of Nanning also received significant rain amounts.

The storm prompted China's top-tier emergency warning, with disruptions in the city, where businesses, transportation systems and highways were closed. In Hong Kong, 100 flights were impacted and dozens called off.

Forecast and Movement

As Matmo moves inland towards the provincial area in Vietnam, it is expected to weaken into a less intense system with 89km/h winds but will continue to bring heavy rainfall. Northern Vietnam could face 130-150mm on the following day, raising the risk of inundation and mudslides. The system is anticipated to move towards Yunnan province in China, where additional heavy rainfall is probable.

Global Weather Events

Meanwhile, Hurricane Priscilla formed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on the weekend, initially as a tropical storm. It prompted a weather alert for the southwestern areas from Punta San Telmo to another location on the start of the week.

In the morning of Sunday, Priscilla was about 491 kilometers from Cabo Corrientes with sustained winds of 65mph. It intensified into a hurricane in the evening, when sustained winds reached at 121km/h.

Though not expected to make landfall, the storm is likely to generate dangerous waves and rip currents as it tracks northwestward along the coast towards a Mexican state. Substantial rain is predicted on the coming day, reaching a considerable volume in specific Mexican states, with local totals at about 200mm. Other regions could receive moderate to heavy rain.

In other parts, Cyclone Shakhti has formed as the initial post-season storm system of the year in the Arabian Sea, causing an warning from the India Meteorological Department for an Indian state. On that day, Shakhti was 209 kilometers south-east of Ras al Hadd, Oman with peak wind speeds of 103km/h.

Shakhti, which has tracked south-westward and weakened, is predicted to turn towards the east 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.