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The powerful storm made landfall on the southern shores of China on Sunday afternoon, following its passage over the island province of Hainan. The severe weather forced the evacuation of around 350,000 people, bringing heavy downpours and damaging winds, particularly between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Hainan's Wenchang. Ferry services were suspended and air travel disrupted at Haikou Meilan airport.

Storm Details

Matmo, this year's 21st typhoon of the year, recorded wind speeds of 94mph and poured over 50mm of precipitation in six hours in Qinzhou and Chongzou. Urban areas of the region also received significant rain amounts.

The storm prompted China's top-tier red alert, with disruptions in Zhanjiang, where businesses, transport links and roads were shut. In the special administrative region, numerous air services were impacted and dozens called off.

Future Projections

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 persist to bring heavy rainfall. Vietnam's northern regions could face 130-150mm on the following day, raising the threat of flooding and mudslides. The system is expected to move towards Yunnan province in China, where further heavy rainfall is likely.

Other Storm Systems

Meanwhile, a hurricane named Priscilla developed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on the weekend, first 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 morning of Sunday, the hurricane was about 305 miles from Cabo Corrientes with continuous gusts of 65mph. It intensified into a severe cyclone in the evening, when wind speeds peaked at 75mph.

Although unlikely to hit the coast, Priscilla is expected to produce dangerous waves and strong currents as it tracks northwestward along the coast towards a Mexican state. Heavy rainfall is predicted on Monday, reaching 100-150mm in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with local totals at about 200mm. Other regions could face moderate to heavy rain.

In other parts, Cyclone Shakhti has developed as the initial post-season cyclonic storm of the year in the Arabian Sea, causing an alert from the national weather agency for an Indian state. On Sunday, Shakhti was 130 miles south-east of Ras al Hadd, Oman with peak wind speeds of 64mph.

The storm, which has moved south-westward and lost strength, is forecast to recurve 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.