Typhoon Matmo Hit Coastal China Bringing Widespread Evacuations
Typhoon Matmo struck the coast on the southern shores of China on Sunday afternoon, shortly after sweeping across the provincial island of Hainan. The severe weather forced the evacuation of around 350,000 residents, delivering heavy downpours and damaging winds, especially between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Hainan's Wenchang. Ferry services were halted and flights cancelled at the airport in Haikou.
Typhoon Statistics
The typhoon, this year's 21st cyclone of the year, had sustained wind speeds of 94mph and poured more than 50mm of rainfall in a short period in Qinzhou and Chongzou. The city of Nanning also received significant rain amounts.
Matmo prompted China's top-tier red alert, with disruptions in the city, where commercial activities, transportation systems and highways were closed. In the special administrative region, numerous air services were impacted and 30 cancelled.
Future Projections
As the typhoon moves inland towards the provincial area in Vietnam, it is expected to weaken into a tropical depression with 89km/h winds but will continue to bring substantial precipitation. Vietnam's northern regions could experience significant rainfall on Monday, raising the risk of flooding and landslides. The weather pattern is anticipated to move towards Yunnan region in China, where additional heavy rainfall is likely.
Other Storm Systems
At the same time, Hurricane Priscilla formed off Mexico's Pacific coast on Saturday night, first as a tropical storm. It led to a storm watch for the southwestern areas from Punta San Telmo to another location on Monday.
In the morning of the next day, Priscilla 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.
Although unlikely to hit the coast, the storm is expected to produce dangerous waves and strong currents as it moves northwestward along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Substantial rain is predicted on Monday, reaching a considerable volume in specific Mexican states, with some areas at about 200mm. Colima and western Jalisco could receive 50-100mm.
Elsewhere, Cyclone Shakhti has formed as the initial post-season storm system of the year in the Arabian Sea, causing an warning from the India Meteorological Department for an Indian state. On Sunday, Shakhti was 209 kilometers southeast of Ras al Hadd, Oman with peak wind speeds of 103km/h.
Shakhti, which has moved south-westward and lost strength, is predicted to recurve eastward into the Arabian Sea. Rough seas are expected to continue along the coastal stretch and heavy rainfall is expected in coastal districts including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.
