Typhoon Matmo has intensified over the upper South China Sea and is expected to make landfall in China’s Guangdong province on Sunday, according to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD). While the storm will not enter Thailand, it is strengthening the southwest monsoon, bringing heavier rain and flash flood risks to northern, northeastern, eastern and southern regions through Oct 7.
At 4am Thai time on Sunday, the typhoon had maximum sustained winds near the centre of about 120 kilometres per hour and was moving west-northwest at a speed of roughly 25km/h.
Once Matmo makes landfall, it is expected to weaken rapidly as a high-pressure system from China pushes southward between Oct 6 and 7, the department said. The storm will not move into Thailand.
However, Matmo’s influence will strengthen the prevailing southwest monsoon over Thailand’s Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, bringing more widespread rain across the North and the Northeast, with heavy rainfall in some areas of the East and the western coast of the South from Oct 5 to 7.
Residents in at-risk areas – particularly near foothills, waterways, and low-lying zones – are advised to be on alert for flash floods, runoff, and overflowing rivers due to heavy and accumulated rainfall.
In the upper Andaman Sea, waves are expected to reach 1-2 metres in height and exceed 2 metres in areas with thunderstorms. The TMD urged small boats to navigate with caution and avoid sailing in stormy conditions.
The department advised the public to closely follow weather updates on its website (www.tmd.go.th) or through its 24-hour hotlines at 0-2399-4012-13 and 1182.