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The powerful storm made landfall on the southern shores of China on the weekend, following its passage over the island province of Hainan. The severe weather forced the evacuation of approximately 350,000 people, bringing heavy downpours and destructive gusts, particularly between Wuchuan in Guangdong and Wenchang in Hainan. Boat transport were suspended and air travel disrupted at the airport in Haikou.

Typhoon Statistics

The typhoon, the 21st cyclone of 2025, recorded wind speeds of 151km/h and poured over 50mm of precipitation in six hours in Chongzou and Qinzhou. The city of Nanning also received high rainfall totals.

Matmo triggered China's top-tier red alert, with disturbances in the city, where businesses, transportation systems and highways were closed. In Hong Kong, 100 flights were impacted and 30 cancelled.

Future Projections

As the typhoon advances inward towards the provincial area in the neighboring country, it is expected to weaken into a less intense system with 55mph winds but will continue to bring heavy rainfall. Northern Vietnam could face 130-150mm on the following day, raising the risk of flooding and mudslides. The weather pattern is anticipated to move towards Yunnan province in China, where further intense rain is likely.

Other Storm Systems

At the same time, Hurricane Priscilla formed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on Saturday night, first as a tropical storm. It led to a storm watch for south-western regions from a coastal point to Punta Mita on the start of the week.

In the morning of the next day, the hurricane was about 305 miles from a Mexican cape with sustained winds of 105km/h. It strengthened into a severe cyclone in the night, when wind speeds peaked at 75mph.

Though not expected to hit the coast, the storm is expected to produce dangerous waves and rip currents as it moves north-west along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Heavy rainfall is forecast on the coming day, amounting to 100-150mm in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with some areas at about 200mm. Colima and western Jalisco could face moderate to heavy rain.

Elsewhere, Cyclone Shakhti has formed as the initial post-season storm system of 2025 in the Arabian Sea, causing an alert from the national weather agency for Maharashtra. On Sunday, Shakhti was 209 kilometers southeast of a location in Oman with peak wind speeds of 64mph.

Shakhti, which has tracked in a southwestern direction and lost strength, is predicted to recurve towards the east into the Arabian Sea. Turbulent waters are likely to continue along the coastal stretch and intense rain is anticipated in coastal districts including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.