Typhoon Matmo Struck Southern China Causing Widespread Evacuations

The powerful storm struck the coast on the coastal regions of China on Sunday afternoon, shortly after passage over the island province of Hainan. The intense weather forced the relocation of approximately 350,000 people, bringing torrential rain and destructive gusts, particularly between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Wenchang in Hainan. Ferry services were halted and air travel disrupted at the airport in Haikou.

Storm Details

Matmo, this year's 21st typhoon of the year, recorded wind speeds of 94mph and poured over 50mm of rainfall in six hours in Chongzou and Qinzhou. Urban areas of the region also received significant rain amounts.

Matmo triggered China's highest-level red alert, with disturbances in the city, where businesses, transport links and roads were closed. In the special administrative region, numerous air services were affected and dozens called off.

Forecast and Movement

As the typhoon advances inward towards Cao Bang province 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 significant rainfall on the following day, raising the threat of flooding and landslides. The weather pattern is expected to move towards Yunnan region in China, where further intense rain is likely.

Global Weather Events

At the same time, a hurricane named Priscilla formed off Mexico's Pacific coast on Saturday night, first as a tropical storm. It led to a storm watch for south-western regions from a coastal point to Punta Mita on the start of the week.

In the morning of Sunday, Priscilla was about 491 kilometers from a Mexican cape with sustained winds of 65mph. It intensified into a severe cyclone in the evening, when sustained winds reached at 121km/h.

Though not expected to hit the coast, Priscilla is expected to generate hazardous swells and rip currents as it tracks northwestward along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Substantial rain is forecast on Monday, amounting to a considerable volume in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with some areas at about 200mm. Other regions could receive 50-100mm.

Elsewhere, Cyclone Shakhti has developed as the initial post-season storm system of the year in the a body of water, prompting an alert from the national weather agency for an Indian state. On that day, the cyclone was 130 miles south-east of a location in Oman with peak wind speeds of 103km/h.

Shakhti, which has tracked south-westward and weakened, is predicted to turn eastward into the the sea. Turbulent waters are likely to persist along the coastal stretch and intense rain is anticipated in shoreline areas including specific Indian cities.

James Moore
James Moore

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