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The powerful storm made landfall on the southern shores of China on Sunday afternoon, following its sweeping across the island province of Hainan. The intense weather led to the evacuation of approximately 350,000 people, bringing heavy downpours and destructive gusts, particularly between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Wenchang in Hainan. Boat transport were halted and flights cancelled at Haikou Meilan airport.

Storm Details

Matmo, the 21st cyclone of 2025, recorded wind speeds of 94mph and poured more than 50mm of rainfall in six hours in Qinzhou and Chongzou. Urban areas of Nanning also experienced high rainfall totals.

Matmo prompted China's top-tier red alert, with disruptions in Zhanjiang, where businesses, transportation systems and roads were closed. In the special administrative region, numerous air services were impacted and 30 cancelled.

Forecast and Movement

As Matmo advances inward towards Cao Bang province in the neighboring country, it is expected to weaken into a less intense system with 89km/h winds but will continue to bring substantial precipitation. Vietnam's northern regions could face significant rainfall on Monday, increasing the threat of flooding and mudslides. The system is anticipated to move towards Yunnan region in China, where additional intense rain is probable.

Global Weather Events

At the same time, a hurricane named Priscilla developed off Mexico's Pacific coast on Saturday night, first as a storm system. It led to a weather alert for south-western regions from a coastal point to another location on the start of the week.

In the early hours of Sunday, Priscilla was about 491 kilometers from a Mexican cape with sustained winds of 65mph. It intensified into a severe cyclone in the night, when wind speeds peaked at 75mph.

Though not expected to make landfall, Priscilla is likely to generate hazardous swells and rip currents as it moves north-west along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Substantial rain is forecast on the coming day, reaching 100-150mm in specific Mexican states, with local totals at about 20 centimeters. Other regions could receive 50-100mm.

Elsewhere, a cyclone named Shakhti has formed as the initial post-season storm system of 2025 in the Arabian Sea, causing an warning from the India Meteorological Department for Maharashtra. On that day, Shakhti was 209 kilometers south-east of a location in Oman with maximum sustained winds of 64mph.

Shakhti, which has moved south-westward and lost strength, is forecast to recurve towards the east into the Arabian Sea. Turbulent waters are expected to persist along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and intense rain is anticipated in coastal districts including specific Indian cities.