Tropical Cyclone Matmo Slammed Coastal China Bringing Massive Relocations
The powerful storm made landfall on the coastal regions of China on Sunday afternoon, following its sweeping across the island province of Hainan. The intense weather led to the relocation of approximately 350,000 people, delivering torrential rain and destructive gusts, particularly between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Hainan's Wenchang. Ferry services were halted and flights cancelled at the airport in Haikou.
Typhoon Statistics
The typhoon, the 21st typhoon of the year, recorded wind speeds of 151km/h and dumped over 50mm of precipitation in a short period in Chongzou and Qinzhou. The city of the region also received high rainfall totals.
Matmo triggered China's top-tier emergency warning, with disturbances in the city, where commercial activities, transport links and highways were shut. In Hong Kong, numerous air services were impacted and 30 cancelled.
Future Projections
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 experience 130-150mm on the following day, increasing the risk of inundation and landslides. The weather pattern is anticipated to move towards Yunnan region in China, where additional heavy rainfall is probable.
Other Storm Systems
At the same time, Hurricane Priscilla developed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on Saturday night, first as a storm system. It prompted a storm watch for the southwestern areas from Punta San Telmo to another location on Monday.
In the morning of the next day, the hurricane was about 491 kilometers from Cabo Corrientes with continuous gusts of 105km/h. It strengthened into a hurricane in the evening, when wind speeds peaked at 75mph.
Although unlikely to hit the coast, Priscilla is likely to generate hazardous swells and strong currents as it moves northwestward along the coast towards a Mexican state. Substantial rain is forecast on Monday, amounting to a considerable volume in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with some areas at about 20 centimeters. Colima and western Jalisco could receive 50-100mm.
Elsewhere, a cyclone named Shakhti has formed as the first post-monsoon cyclonic storm of the year in the Arabian Sea, prompting an warning from the national weather agency for Maharashtra. On Sunday, the cyclone was 209 kilometers south-east of Ras al Hadd, Oman with maximum sustained winds of 103km/h.
Shakhti, which has moved in a southwestern direction and lost strength, is predicted to turn towards the east into the Arabian Sea. Turbulent waters are likely to persist along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and intense rain is expected in shoreline areas including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.
