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The powerful storm made landfall on the southern shores of China on Sunday afternoon, following its passage over the provincial island of Hainan. The severe weather forced the relocation of around 350,000 residents, delivering heavy downpours and damaging winds, especially between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Hainan's Wenchang. Boat transport were halted and air travel disrupted at Haikou Meilan airport.

Storm Details

Matmo, this year's 21st cyclone of 2025, recorded wind speeds of 151km/h and dumped more than 50mm of rainfall in a short period in Chongzou and Qinzhou. Urban areas of the region also experienced significant rain amounts.

Matmo prompted China's top-tier red alert, with disturbances in the city, where commercial activities, transportation systems and roads were shut. In Hong Kong, numerous air services were affected and 30 cancelled.

Future Projections

As Matmo advances inward towards the provincial area 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 experience significant rainfall on the following day, increasing the threat of flooding and mudslides. The system is expected to move towards Yunnan province in China, where additional intense rain is probable.

Global Weather Events

At the same time, Hurricane Priscilla developed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on the weekend, first as a tropical storm. It led to a storm watch for south-western regions from Punta San Telmo to Punta Mita on Monday.

In the morning of the next day, Priscilla was about 491 kilometers from Cabo Corrientes with sustained winds of 105km/h. It intensified into a severe cyclone in the night, when sustained winds reached at 121km/h.

Though not expected to hit the coast, Priscilla is likely to produce dangerous waves and rip currents as it moves northwestward along the coast towards a Mexican state. Substantial rain is forecast on Monday, amounting to 100-150mm in specific Mexican states, with local totals at about 200mm. Colima and western Jalisco could face moderate to heavy rain.

In other parts, a cyclone named Shakhti has formed as the first post-monsoon storm system of the year in the a body of water, prompting an alert from the national weather agency for Maharashtra. On Sunday, the cyclone was 209 kilometers south-east of Ras al Hadd, Oman with peak wind speeds of 64mph.

The storm, which has tracked south-westward and lost strength, is forecast to turn eastward into the the sea. Rough seas are likely to persist along the coastal stretch and intense rain is expected in coastal districts including specific Indian cities.