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The powerful storm struck the coast on the southern shores of China on Sunday afternoon, shortly after passage over the provincial island of Hainan. The severe weather led to the relocation of approximately 350,000 residents, bringing torrential rain and destructive gusts, especially between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Wenchang in Hainan. Ferry services were suspended and flights cancelled at Haikou Meilan airport.

Storm Details

Matmo, this year's 21st cyclone of the year, had sustained wind speeds of 151km/h and poured more than 50mm of precipitation in six hours in Qinzhou and Chongzou. Urban areas of Nanning also received significant rain amounts.

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

Forecast and Movement

As the typhoon advances inward towards Cao Bang province in the neighboring country, it is projected to weaken into a tropical depression with 89km/h winds but will persist to bring heavy rainfall. Vietnam's northern regions could face 130-150mm on Monday, raising the threat of inundation and mudslides. The system is anticipated to move towards Yunnan province in China, where additional heavy rainfall is probable.

Global Weather Events

Meanwhile, Hurricane Priscilla formed off Mexico's Pacific coast on the weekend, initially as a tropical storm. It led to a storm watch 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 sustained winds of 65mph. It strengthened into a hurricane in the evening, when wind speeds reached at 75mph.

Although unlikely to make landfall, the storm is likely to generate dangerous waves and strong currents as it moves north-west along the coast towards a Mexican state. Substantial rain is forecast on the coming day, amounting to 100-150mm in specific Mexican states, with some areas at about 200mm. Colima and western Jalisco could face moderate to heavy rain.

Elsewhere, Cyclone Shakhti has developed as the initial post-season cyclonic storm of the year in the Arabian Sea, causing an warning from the national weather agency for Maharashtra. On Sunday, Shakhti was 209 kilometers southeast of a location in Oman with maximum sustained winds of 64mph.

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