Tropical Cyclone Matmo Slammed Coastal China Bringing Massive Evacuations
Typhoon Matmo struck the coast on the coastal regions of China on the weekend, shortly after sweeping across the island province of Hainan. The severe weather led to the relocation of around 350,000 residents, delivering heavy downpours and damaging winds, especially between Wuchuan in Guangdong and Hainan's Wenchang. Boat transport were halted and air travel disrupted at Haikou Meilan airport.
Storm Details
Matmo, the 21st cyclone of the year, recorded wind speeds of 151km/h and dumped over 50mm of rainfall in a short period in Chongzou and Qinzhou. The city of the region also received high rainfall totals.
Matmo triggered China's highest-level red alert, with disruptions in Zhanjiang, where businesses, transportation systems and roads were shut. In the special administrative region, 100 flights were affected and dozens called off.
Forecast and Movement
As Matmo moves inland towards Cao Bang province in the neighboring country, it is expected to weaken into a tropical depression with 55mph winds but will continue to bring heavy rainfall. Northern Vietnam could face significant rainfall on the following day, raising the risk of inundation and mudslides. The system is anticipated to move towards Yunnan province in China, where additional intense rain is probable.
Other Storm Systems
At the same time, a hurricane named Priscilla formed off Mexico's Pacific coast on the weekend, first as a tropical storm. It prompted a weather alert for the southwestern areas from Punta San Telmo to another location on Monday.
In the early hours of Sunday, Priscilla was about 491 kilometers from Cabo Corrientes with sustained winds of 105km/h. It intensified into a hurricane in the night, when wind speeds peaked at 121km/h.
Although unlikely to make landfall, the storm is likely to produce hazardous swells and rip currents as it tracks northwestward along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Substantial rain is predicted on the coming day, amounting to a considerable volume in specific Mexican states, with local totals at about 200mm. Colima and western Jalisco could receive moderate to heavy rain.
In other parts, a cyclone named Shakhti has developed as the initial post-season storm system of the year in the a body of water, prompting an warning from the India Meteorological Department for an Indian state. On Sunday, the cyclone was 209 kilometers southeast of a location in Oman with peak wind speeds of 103km/h.
The storm, which has tracked south-westward and lost strength, is forecast to recurve towards the east into the Arabian Sea. Turbulent waters are likely to continue along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and intense rain is anticipated in coastal districts including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.
