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Typhoon Matmo struck the coast on the southern shores of China on Sunday afternoon, following its sweeping across the island province of Hainan. The severe weather forced the relocation of approximately 350,000 residents, delivering heavy downpours and destructive gusts, especially between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Wenchang in Hainan. Boat transport were halted and air travel disrupted at Haikou Meilan airport.

Typhoon Statistics

The typhoon, the 21st typhoon of the year, had sustained wind speeds of 94mph and dumped over 50mm of precipitation in six hours in Qinzhou and Chongzou. Urban areas of Nanning also received significant rain amounts.

Matmo triggered 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 dozens called off.

Forecast and Movement

As the typhoon moves inland towards the provincial area in Vietnam, it is projected to weaken into a tropical depression with 55mph winds but will continue to bring heavy rainfall. Northern Vietnam could face 130-150mm on Monday, raising the risk of flooding and mudslides. The weather pattern is anticipated to move towards Yunnan province in China, where further intense rain is probable.

Other Storm Systems

Meanwhile, a hurricane named Priscilla formed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on Saturday night, initially as a storm system. It prompted a weather alert for the southwestern areas from Punta San Telmo to another location on Monday.

In the early hours of Sunday, Priscilla was about 305 miles from a Mexican cape with continuous gusts of 105km/h. It strengthened into a hurricane in the night, when wind speeds peaked at 75mph.

Though not expected to make landfall, the storm is likely to produce hazardous swells and strong currents as it tracks north-west along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Heavy rainfall is predicted on Monday, reaching a considerable volume in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with some areas at about 200mm. Colima and western Jalisco could receive moderate to heavy rain.

In other parts, Cyclone Shakhti has developed as the first post-monsoon storm system of the year in the a body of water, causing an warning from the national weather agency for an Indian state. On Sunday, the cyclone was 209 kilometers south-east of a location in Oman with peak wind speeds of 103km/h.

Shakhti, which has tracked south-westward and weakened, is forecast to recurve eastward into the Arabian Sea. Turbulent waters are likely to persist along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and heavy rainfall is anticipated in coastal districts including specific Indian cities.