What's happened
Typhoon Matmo made landfall in southern China, prompting evacuations and severe weather alerts. Meanwhile, Hurricane Priscilla formed off Mexico’s Pacific coast, causing storm watches and heavy rainfall forecasts. Cyclone Shakhti also developed in the Arabian Sea, affecting coastal regions. These storms highlight ongoing severe weather events across Asia and the Americas.
What's behind the headline?
The convergence of these storms underscores a broader pattern of intensified weather events driven by climate change. Typhoon Matmo's landfall in China, with winds reaching 94 mph, exemplifies how Pacific storms are growing more severe and disruptive, forcing large-scale evacuations and infrastructure shutdowns. The storm's progression into Vietnam as a tropical depression indicates a weakening trend but still poses flood risks, especially in Yunnan. Meanwhile, Hurricane Priscilla's formation off Mexico's coast, with sustained winds of 75 mph, highlights the ongoing threat of Pacific hurricanes to North American coastal communities, with heavy rainfall forecasted in Michoacán and Guerrero. Cyclone Shakhti's emergence in the Arabian Sea, with winds of 64 mph, signals a shifting monsoon pattern, affecting Indian and Omani coastal regions. These events collectively demonstrate the increasing frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones globally, emphasizing the need for enhanced preparedness and climate resilience strategies.
What the papers say
The Guardian, The Independent, South China Morning Post, AP News all report on the recent storm activity, with consistent details on wind speeds, evacuation efforts, and forecasted impacts. The Guardian and South China Morning Post emphasize the severity of Typhoon Matmo, noting the highest-level red alert and large-scale evacuations in Guangdong and Hainan. The Independent highlights the storm's progression and the preparations made, including flight cancellations and transport shutdowns. AP News provides detailed meteorological data, confirming wind speeds and the storm's expected weakening after landfall. While all sources agree on the storm's severity and response, The Guardian and South China Morning Post focus more on regional impacts in China and Vietnam, whereas AP News and The Independent provide a broader context including the storm's development stages and forecasts. This consistency across sources underscores the seriousness of the current weather patterns and the global nature of these storm systems.
How we got here
Matmo, the 21st typhoon of 2025, intensified over the Pacific before hitting southern China, prompting the highest-level red alert and mass evacuations. It affected Hainan and Guangdong with strong winds and heavy rain, leading to transportation disruptions and precautionary evacuations. Meanwhile, Priscilla formed off Mexico, strengthening into a hurricane and threatening coastal areas with hazardous swells and rainfall. Cyclone Shakhti developed in the Arabian Sea, prompting alerts in India and Oman, as these regions face increased storm activity amid changing climate patterns.
Go deeper
Common question
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How Strong Is the Typhoon Approaching China?
A powerful typhoon with winds reaching up to 151 kph is heading towards China, prompting urgent warnings and safety measures. Many are wondering just how severe this storm is and what it means for the affected regions. Below, we answer key questions about the storm's strength, impact, and what you can expect in the coming days.
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What Are the Biggest News Stories Today in Politics, Tech, and Climate?
Stay updated with today's top headlines covering global conflicts, technological battles over privacy, and climate threats like approaching typhoons. Curious about how these stories impact you? Below, we answer key questions about the major news events shaping our world today.
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What Damage Did Typhoon Matmo Cause in Guangdong?
Typhoon Matmo, the 21st storm of the year, made landfall in Guangdong, bringing strong winds and heavy rain. While no casualties have been reported, the storm caused significant disruptions, including evacuations and transport shutdowns. Curious about the extent of the damage and how authorities managed the situation? Below, we answer common questions about Typhoon Matmo's impact and safety measures in Guangdong.
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How Are Asian Countries Preparing for Typhoons?
Asian nations are increasingly focused on disaster preparedness as typhoons become more intense and frequent. From early warning systems to evacuations, governments are taking proactive steps to protect their populations. Curious about what measures are in place and how effective they are? Below, we explore how countries like China, the Philippines, and others are preparing for these powerful storms, along with recent impacts and lessons learned from events like Typhoon Matmo.
More on these topics
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Guangdong is a coastal province in South China on the north shore of South China Sea. The capital of the province is Guangzhou.
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Hainan is the smallest and southernmost province of the People's Republic of China, consisting of various islands in the South China Sea.
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China, officially the People's Republic of China, is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population of around 1.4 billion in 2019.
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The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Situated in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of about 7,641 islands that are broadly categorized under three main geographical divisions from
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Yunnan is a province in the southwest of the People's Republic of China. The province spans approximately 394,000 square kilometres and has a population of 48.300 million. The capital of the province is Kunming, formerly also known as Yunnan.
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Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, is a country in Southeast Asia and the easternmost country on the Indochinese Peninsula. With an estimated 96.2 million inhabitants as of 2019, it is the 15th most populous country in the world. Vietn