Typhoon Matmo Hit Southern China Bringing Widespread Relocations
The powerful storm struck the coast on the coastal regions of China on Sunday afternoon, following its passage over the island province of Hainan. The intense weather forced the evacuation of around 350,000 people, bringing torrential rain and damaging winds, especially between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Wenchang in Hainan. Boat transport were suspended and air travel disrupted at Haikou Meilan airport.
Typhoon Statistics
The typhoon, the 21st cyclone of the year, recorded wind speeds of 151km/h and poured more than 50mm of rainfall in a short period in Qinzhou and Chongzou. Urban areas of the region also received high rainfall totals.
The storm triggered China's top-tier red alert, with disruptions in Zhanjiang, where commercial activities, transportation systems and highways were closed. In Hong Kong, numerous air services were affected and dozens called off.
Future Projections
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 persist to bring heavy rainfall. Northern Vietnam could face 130-150mm on the following day, raising the threat of flooding and mudslides. The weather pattern is expected to move towards Yunnan province in China, where further heavy rainfall is likely.
Other Storm Systems
Meanwhile, a hurricane named Priscilla formed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on Saturday night, first as a tropical storm. It led to a weather alert for south-western regions from Punta San Telmo to another location on the start of the week.
In the early hours of Sunday, the hurricane was about 491 kilometers from a Mexican cape with continuous gusts of 105km/h. It strengthened into a hurricane in the evening, when sustained winds 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 a Mexican state. Heavy rainfall is forecast on the coming day, amounting to 100-150mm in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with some areas at about 200mm. Colima and western Jalisco could face 50-100mm.
Elsewhere, Cyclone Shakhti has developed as the first post-monsoon cyclonic storm of the year in the Arabian Sea, prompting an alert from the national weather agency for Maharashtra. On that day, the cyclone was 209 kilometers southeast of Ras al Hadd, Oman with peak wind speeds of 103km/h.
The storm, which has tracked south-westward and lost strength, is forecast to recurve eastward into the Arabian Sea. Rough seas are likely to persist along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and intense rain is anticipated in shoreline areas including specific Indian cities.