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Typhoon Matmo made landfall on the southern shores of China on the weekend, following its sweeping across the island province of Hainan. The severe weather forced the relocation of approximately 350,000 people, delivering heavy downpours and damaging winds, especially between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Hainan's Wenchang. Ferry services were suspended and air travel disrupted at Haikou Meilan airport.

Typhoon Statistics

The typhoon, the 21st cyclone of the year, had sustained wind speeds of 94mph and poured more than 50mm of precipitation in a short period in Qinzhou and Chongzou. The city of the region also experienced high rainfall totals.

Matmo prompted China's highest-level red alert, with disruptions in Zhanjiang, where commercial activities, transport links and highways were closed. In Hong Kong, numerous air services were affected and 30 cancelled.

Future Projections

As the typhoon moves inland towards Cao Bang province in Vietnam, it is projected to diminish into a tropical depression with 89km/h winds but will persist to bring substantial precipitation. Vietnam's northern regions could face 130-150mm on the following day, increasing the risk of inundation and mudslides. The system is expected to move towards Yunnan province in China, where additional heavy rainfall is likely.

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 storm watch for south-western regions from Punta San Telmo to Punta Mita on Monday.

In the early hours of the next day, Priscilla was about 491 kilometers from Cabo Corrientes with sustained winds of 105km/h. It strengthened into a hurricane in the evening, when sustained winds peaked at 121km/h.

Although unlikely to hit the coast, Priscilla is expected to produce hazardous swells and rip currents as it moves northwestward along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Substantial rain is predicted on the coming day, reaching a considerable volume in specific Mexican states, with some areas at about 20 centimeters. Other regions could face moderate to heavy rain.

In other parts, Cyclone Shakhti has formed as the initial post-season storm system of the year in the Arabian Sea, prompting an alert from the national weather agency for Maharashtra. On that day, Shakhti was 130 miles south-east of Ras al Hadd, Oman with peak wind speeds of 64mph.

The storm, which has tracked south-westward and weakened, is predicted to recurve eastward into the Arabian Sea. Turbulent waters are likely to continue along the coastal stretch and heavy rainfall is expected in coastal districts including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.