Typhoon Matmo Hit Coastal China Causing Massive Relocations
Typhoon Matmo struck the coast on the coastal regions of China on the weekend, shortly after passage over the provincial island of Hainan. The intense weather led to the evacuation of around 350,000 people, delivering torrential rain and destructive gusts, particularly between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Hainan's Wenchang. Boat transport were suspended and flights cancelled at Haikou Meilan airport.
Typhoon Statistics
The typhoon, this year's 21st cyclone of the year, had sustained wind speeds of 94mph and poured more than 50mm of precipitation in six hours in Qinzhou and Chongzou. Urban areas of the region also experienced high rainfall totals.
The storm triggered China's highest-level red alert, with disruptions in the city, where businesses, transportation systems and roads were closed. In the special administrative region, numerous air services were impacted and dozens called off.
Forecast and Movement
As the typhoon moves inland towards the provincial area in Vietnam, it is projected to diminish into a tropical depression with 55mph winds but will continue to bring substantial precipitation. Vietnam's northern regions could face 130-150mm on the following day, raising the risk of flooding and landslides. The system is expected to move towards Yunnan province in China, where further heavy rainfall is likely.
Other Storm Systems
At the same time, a hurricane named Priscilla developed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on the weekend, initially as a storm system. It prompted a storm watch for south-western regions from Punta San Telmo to another location on Monday.
In the early hours of Sunday, Priscilla was about 491 kilometers from Cabo Corrientes with continuous gusts of 105km/h. It intensified into a severe cyclone in the night, when sustained winds reached at 75mph.
Although unlikely to make landfall, the storm is likely to produce dangerous waves and strong currents as it tracks north-west along the coast towards a Mexican state. Heavy rainfall is forecast on the coming day, reaching a considerable volume in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with some areas at about 200mm. Colima and western Jalisco could receive 50-100mm.
In other parts, a cyclone named Shakhti has formed as the first post-monsoon cyclonic storm of the year in the Arabian Sea, prompting an alert from the national weather agency for Maharashtra. On Sunday, Shakhti was 209 kilometers southeast of Ras al Hadd, Oman with maximum sustained winds of 103km/h.
The storm, which has moved south-westward 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 heavy rainfall is anticipated in shoreline areas including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.
