Tropical Cyclone Matmo Slammed Coastal China Bringing Widespread Relocations
Typhoon Matmo struck the coast on the southern shores of China on Sunday afternoon, shortly after passage over the provincial island of Hainan. The intense weather led to the evacuation of approximately 350,000 people, bringing torrential rain and destructive gusts, particularly between Guangdong's Wuchuan and Wenchang in Hainan. Ferry services were halted and air travel disrupted at the airport in Haikou.
Storm Details
The typhoon, this year's 21st cyclone of the year, recorded wind speeds of 94mph and poured over 50mm of rainfall in a short period in Qinzhou and Chongzou. The city of Nanning also received high rainfall totals.
The storm triggered China's highest-level emergency warning, with disturbances in the city, where commercial activities, transportation systems and roads were shut. In the special administrative region, numerous air services were impacted and 30 cancelled.
Future Projections
As Matmo moves inland towards the provincial area in the neighboring country, it is projected to weaken into a tropical depression with 89km/h winds but will persist to bring substantial precipitation. Northern Vietnam could face 130-150mm on the following day, raising the threat of flooding and landslides. The system is anticipated to move towards Yunnan province in China, where further heavy rainfall is likely.
Other Storm Systems
At the same time, a hurricane named Priscilla formed off the Pacific shoreline of Mexico on Saturday night, first as a tropical storm. It led to a weather alert for south-western regions from a coastal point to Punta Mita on the start of the week.
In the morning of the next day, the hurricane was about 491 kilometers from a Mexican cape with sustained winds of 65mph. It intensified into a severe cyclone in the night, when sustained winds reached at 75mph.
Though not expected to make landfall, the storm is expected to produce dangerous waves and rip currents as it moves north-west along the coast towards Baja California Sur. Heavy rainfall is forecast on Monday, reaching 100-150mm in Michoacán and western Guerrero, with local totals at about 20 centimeters. Other regions could face 50-100mm.
In other parts, a cyclone named Shakhti has developed as the first post-monsoon cyclonic storm of the year in the Arabian Sea, prompting an warning from the India Meteorological Department for an Indian state. On Sunday, the cyclone was 130 miles southeast of Ras al Hadd, Oman with peak wind speeds of 64mph.
Shakhti, which has tracked south-westward and lost strength, is predicted to turn towards the east into the Arabian Sea. Rough seas are expected to continue along the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and intense rain is anticipated in shoreline areas including Dwarka, Jamnagar and Surat.
