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Typhoon Matmo made landfall on the coastal regions of China on the weekend, following its passage over the island province of Hainan. The intense weather forced the evacuation of around 350,000 people, delivering torrential rain and damaging winds, especially between Wuchuan in Guangdong and Hainan's Wenchang. Ferry services were suspended and flights cancelled at Haikou Meilan airport.

Storm Details

The typhoon, this year's 21st typhoon of the year, had sustained wind speeds of 94mph and poured over 50mm of precipitation in six hours in Chongzou and Qinzhou. The city of Nanning also received significant rain amounts.

The storm prompted China's top-tier red alert, with disturbances in Zhanjiang, where commercial activities, transportation systems and roads were closed. In the special administrative region, 100 flights were impacted and dozens called off.

Forecast and Movement

As the typhoon advances inward towards the provincial area in the neighboring country, it is expected to diminish into a tropical depression with 55mph winds but will persist to bring heavy rainfall. Vietnam's northern regions could experience 130-150mm on Monday, increasing the risk of inundation and landslides. The system is expected to move towards Yunnan province in China, where additional heavy rainfall is probable.

Global Weather Events

At the same time, a hurricane named Priscilla developed off Mexico's Pacific coast on the weekend, initially as a storm system. It led to a weather alert for south-western regions from Punta San Telmo to Punta Mita on the start of the week.

In the early hours of Sunday, the hurricane was about 305 miles from a Mexican cape with sustained winds of 105km/h. It intensified into a hurricane in the evening, when sustained winds reached at 121km/h.

Though not expected to hit the coast, Priscilla is likely to produce hazardous swells and rip currents as it moves north-west along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Substantial rain is forecast on Monday, amounting to a considerable volume in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with local totals at about 20 centimeters. Colima and western Jalisco could receive 50-100mm.

In other parts, a cyclone named Shakhti has developed as the initial post-season cyclonic storm of the year in the Arabian Sea, causing an warning from the India Meteorological Department for an Indian state. On that day, Shakhti was 209 kilometers southeast of a location in Oman with peak wind speeds of 103km/h.

Shakhti, which has moved in a southwestern direction and lost strength, is forecast to recurve towards the east into the Arabian Sea. Turbulent waters are likely to continue along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and heavy rainfall is expected in coastal districts including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.