Tropical Cyclone Matmo Slammed Southern China Bringing Widespread Evacuations

Typhoon Matmo struck the coast on the coastal regions of China on Sunday afternoon, following its passage over the island province of Hainan. The intense weather forced the evacuation of around 350,000 residents, delivering heavy downpours and destructive gusts, especially between Wuchuan in Guangdong and Wenchang in Hainan. Boat transport were halted and flights cancelled at the airport in Haikou.

Storm Details

The typhoon, this year's 21st typhoon of the year, recorded wind speeds of 151km/h and dumped more than 50mm of precipitation in six hours in Qinzhou and Chongzou. Urban areas of Nanning also received significant rain amounts.

The storm prompted China's highest-level red alert, with disruptions in Zhanjiang, where businesses, transport links and roads were shut. In the special administrative region, 100 flights were affected and dozens called off.

Forecast and Movement

As Matmo moves inland towards the provincial area in the neighboring country, it is expected to diminish into a less intense system with 55mph winds but will continue to bring heavy rainfall. Northern Vietnam could experience 130-150mm on Monday, raising the risk of inundation and landslides. The system is expected to move towards Yunnan province in China, where further intense rain is likely.

Global Weather Events

Meanwhile, Hurricane Priscilla formed off Mexico's Pacific coast on the weekend, first as a storm system. It led to a weather alert for the southwestern areas from a coastal point to Punta Mita on Monday.

In the early hours of Sunday, the hurricane was about 305 miles from Cabo Corrientes with sustained winds of 65mph. It strengthened into a hurricane in the evening, when wind speeds peaked at 121km/h.

Although unlikely to make landfall, the storm is likely to produce hazardous swells and strong currents as it tracks northwestward along the coast towards a Mexican state. Heavy rainfall is predicted on the coming day, amounting to 100-150mm in specific Mexican states, with some areas at about 200mm. Other regions could face moderate to heavy rain.

Elsewhere, a cyclone named Shakhti has developed as the first post-monsoon cyclonic storm of the year in the Arabian Sea, prompting an alert from the national weather agency for an Indian state. On that day, Shakhti was 130 miles south-east of Ras al Hadd, Oman with maximum sustained winds of 103km/h.

The storm, which has moved in a southwestern direction and lost strength, is predicted to recurve eastward into the the sea. Rough seas are expected to continue along the coastal stretch and intense rain is expected in shoreline areas including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.