Typhoon Matmo Hit Coastal China Causing Widespread Evacuations

Typhoon Matmo made landfall on the southern shores of China on Sunday afternoon, shortly after passage over the provincial island of Hainan. The severe weather forced the relocation of approximately 350,000 people, bringing heavy downpours and destructive gusts, particularly between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Wenchang in Hainan. Ferry services were suspended and air travel disrupted at Haikou Meilan airport.

Storm Details

Matmo, the 21st typhoon of the year, had sustained wind speeds of 94mph and poured more than 50mm of precipitation in six hours in Qinzhou and Chongzou. Urban areas of Nanning also received significant rain amounts.

The storm triggered China's highest-level emergency warning, with disturbances in the city, where businesses, transport links and roads were shut. In Hong Kong, 100 flights were affected and dozens called off.

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 substantial precipitation. Northern Vietnam could face significant rainfall on the following day, increasing the threat of flooding and landslides. The system is expected to move towards Yunnan region in China, where additional heavy rainfall is probable.

Other Storm Systems

At the same time, a hurricane named Priscilla developed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on Saturday night, initially as a storm system. It led to a weather alert for the southwestern areas from Punta San Telmo to Punta Mita on Monday.

In the early hours of the next day, Priscilla was about 305 miles from Cabo Corrientes with sustained winds of 65mph. It strengthened into a severe cyclone in the night, when wind speeds reached at 75mph.

Although unlikely to hit the coast, the storm is expected to produce dangerous waves and strong currents as it tracks north-west along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Heavy rainfall is predicted on Monday, amounting to 100-150mm in specific Mexican states, with some areas at about 200mm. Other regions could face 50-100mm.

In other parts, a cyclone named Shakhti has developed as the initial post-season storm system of the year in the Arabian Sea, prompting an alert from the India Meteorological Department for an Indian state. On that day, the cyclone was 209 kilometers south-east of Ras al Hadd, Oman with peak wind speeds of 64mph.

The storm, which has tracked in a southwestern direction and lost strength, is forecast to recurve towards the east into the the sea. Turbulent waters are likely to persist along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and heavy rainfall is expected in coastal districts including specific Indian cities.