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The powerful storm made landfall on the southern shores of China on Sunday afternoon, shortly after passage over the provincial island of Hainan. The severe weather forced the evacuation of approximately 350,000 people, delivering heavy downpours and damaging winds, 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, this year's 21st cyclone of the year, recorded wind speeds of 151km/h and dumped more than 50mm of precipitation in six hours in Qinzhou and Chongzou. Urban areas of the region also received high rainfall totals.

Matmo prompted China's highest-level emergency warning, with disturbances in the city, where businesses, transportation systems and roads were closed. In Hong Kong, numerous air services were impacted and dozens called off.

Forecast and Movement

As the typhoon advances inward towards Cao Bang province in Vietnam, it is expected to weaken into a less intense system with 55mph winds but will continue to bring substantial precipitation. Northern Vietnam could experience significant rainfall on the following day, increasing the risk of flooding and landslides. The weather pattern is expected to move towards Yunnan province in China, where further intense rain is likely.

Global Weather Events

At the same time, Hurricane Priscilla formed off Mexico's Pacific coast on the weekend, initially as a storm system. It prompted a storm watch for the southwestern areas from Punta San Telmo to another location on the start of the week.

In the morning of the next day, the hurricane was about 305 miles from a Mexican cape with sustained winds of 65mph. It strengthened into a severe cyclone in the evening, when wind speeds peaked at 75mph.

Though not expected to hit the coast, the storm is likely to generate hazardous swells and rip currents as it moves northwestward along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Substantial rain is forecast on the coming day, reaching a considerable volume in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with local totals at about 200mm. Colima and western Jalisco could receive moderate to heavy rain.

In other parts, Cyclone Shakhti has developed as the initial post-season storm system of the year in the a body of water, prompting an warning from the national weather agency for Maharashtra. On that day, the cyclone was 209 kilometers south-east of Ras al Hadd, Oman with maximum sustained winds of 64mph.

The storm, which has moved in a southwestern direction and weakened, is forecast to recurve towards the east into the the sea. Turbulent waters are likely to persist along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and intense rain is expected in shoreline areas including specific Indian cities.