The North and Northeast of Thailand, currently affected by flooding, are expected to experience more rain brought by Storm Matmo as it intensifies into a typhoon and reaches Vietnam by Monday.
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) reported on Saturday morning that the typhoon is expected to move through China’s southernmost Hainan Island, then into the Gulf of Tonkin. It is forecasted to reach the upper Vietnam coast on Sunday and Monday.
The typhoon will gradually weaken as a cold wind from China covers the area, TMD director-general Sukanyanee Yawinchan said.
Although Matmo will not enter Thailand, it will strengthen the southwest monsoon affecting the country, the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, causing heavy rain in the North and Northeast from Sunday to Tuesday.
Flash floods, forest runoff and overflowing riverbanks may occur in these regions, Ms Sukanyanee added.
According to a report from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation on Saturday morning, flooding caused by the recent tropical storm Bualoi remained in 17 provinces across the North, Central Plains, Northeast, East and South, affecting 100,235 households and 341,356 people, with 12 fatalities.
China to cancel some flights as Matmo nears Hainan
Meanwhile, Chinese authorities will cancel flights in Hainan on Saturday night before Typhoon Matmo hits the southern province, likely disrupting a peak holiday travel period for the resort island.
All flights to and from the provincial capital Haikou’s international airport are expected to be cancelled from 11pm (1500 GMT), the official Xinhua news agency reported, as Matmo could bring strong winds and heavy rain to southern China, including Guangdong and Yunnan provinces.
Matmo, which caused flooding in the Philippines this week, is expected to make landfall on Sunday.
Haikou plans to halt all schools, work and transport from Saturday afternoon to Sunday, Xinhua said.
During China’s eight-day National Day holiday, which began on Wednesday, people are expected to make some 2.36 billion passenger trips, with daily average trips forecast to be up 3.2% from the same period last year, Xinhua said on Wednesday.
Haikou had planned nearly 150 cultural events and more than 10 sports competitions during the holiday period, while the resort city Sanya had planned 170 art and tourism activities, according to Hainan’s official social media.
State media China Central Television (CCTV), citing meteorological experts, asked the public to stay vigilant as Matmo will have a serious impact on tourism and transportation, while the number of travellers is up significantly.
The Hong Kong Observatory said it would raise the tropical cyclone warning signal to Strong Wind Signal No. 3 at 12.20pm (0420 GMT) and assess the need for higher signals later on Saturday.
The financial hub has issued 12 tropical cyclone warning signals this year, the most since 1946, the observatory said on Friday.