On September29, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) identified a low-pressure area approximately 241 nautical miles (446km) north-northeast of Yap in the Federated States of Micronesia. Satellite imagery indicated a weak turning area with disorganized convective activity, primarily along the system's western boundary.[1] The disturbance later entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and was namedPaolo by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) around 08:00PHT (00:00UTC) on October1, with the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)[α] also starting advisories and classifying it as a tropical depression.[2][3] The JTWC also issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) later that same day, citing tropical cyclone formation within the next 12 to 24 hours.[4] The agency later followed suit and designated Paolo as 27W, with fragmented banding and flaring convection around the low-level circulation center (LLCC).[5] Both agencies upgraded 27W into a tropical storm on the following day, with the JMA assigning it the international name Matmo as it tracked west-northwestward.[6] At 11:00PHT (03:00UTC), PAGASA upgraded Matmo to a severe tropical storm as satellite imagery showed improved organization, with deep convective banding wrapping into the LLCC in a favorable environment.[7][8] The JMA later followed suit and also upgraded the system to a severe tropical storm early on October3.[9]
Both the JTWC and PAGASA subsequently upgraded Matmo to a minimal typhoon before it made landfall over Dinapigue, Isabela.[10][11][12][13] As the typhoon brushed over Northern Luzon, satellite imagery revealed a well-defined, deep convective banding pattern wrapping into the LLCC of Matmo, featuring an impressive central dense overcast (CDO) and extensive feeder bands extending well beyond the island's perimeter.[14] PAGASA and the JTWC later downgraded Matmo to a mid-range tropical storm before it reemerged over the West Philippine Sea near Santa Cruz, Ilocos Sur at 17:00PHT.[15][16] The JTWC re-upgraded Matmo to a typhoon around 09:00 UTC on October 4, as it showed improving convective banding around the LLCC and cooling cloud tops over the previous six hours.[17] The following day, Matmo reached its peak intensity as a Category 2-equivalent typhoon, with estimated one-minute sustained winds of 165km/h (105mph) and a minimum central pressure of 968hPa (28.59inHg).[18] Matmo later made landfall over Xuwen County in Guangdong at around 14:50 CST.[19] It made another landfall over Guangxi early on October6 as it entered the Gulf of Tonkin.[20] Afterwards, Matmo weakened into a tropical storm as it moved inland over Vietnam, with the JTWC issued a final warning as it continued to deteriorate.[21]
Preparations
Philippines
Tropical Storm Matmo approaching Luzon on October2
TCWS No.2 was raised the following day for some portions of Apayao, Cagayan, and Ilocos Sur, as well as the entire provinces of Abra and Kalinga.[26] As Matmo strengthened into a severe tropical storm at 23:00PHT (15:00UTC), the agency upgraded several areas to TCWS No.3, including northern Aurora, Benguet, La Union, central and southern Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and the entire provinces of Ifugao and Mountain Province.[27][28] At 11:00PHT (03:00UTC) on October3, the agency raised TCWS No.4 for extreme northern Aurora, southern Isabela, Abra, Ilocos Sur, northern Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, La Union, and the entire provinces of Mountain Province and Ifugao.[12][29] The signal was later lowered when PAGASA downgraded Matmo to a severe tropical storm at 17:00PHT on October3.[30]
Apart from wind signals, PAGASA issued a heavy rainfall advisory at 11:00PHT on October3, placing Bataan and Zambales under an Orange Rainfall Warning, indicating that flooding was threatening and residents should prepare to evacuate if necessary. A Yellow Rainfall Warning was also issued for Batangas, Cavite, and several towns in Quezon, signaling the possibility of flooding in flood-prone areas.[31] A storm surge warning was also in effect over parts of Luzon.[32][33] Classes were suspended in Isabela, Cagayan, Quirino, and Nueva Vizcaya on October3.[34]
Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) began tracking the low-pressure area as early as September29,[35] upgrading it to a tropical depression by 23:00HKT (15:00UTC) on October1.[36] At 17:20HKT (09:20UTC) on October3, the HKO announced that Standby Signal No.1 would be issued at 19:40HKT.[37] The signal was issued as scheduled,[38] setting a new record for the most Signal No.1 warnings issued in a single typhoon season, with a total of 12. This surpassed the previous record of 11 set during the 1974 season.[39] At 12:20HKT (04:20UTC) on October4, Strong Wind Signal No.3 was issued,[40] following an earlier announcement at 09:40HKT (01:40UTC).[41] Later that day, at 17:45HKT (09:45UTC), the HKO upgraded Matmo to typhoon status.[42] Signal No.3 was eventually downgraded Signal No.1 the next day at 15:40HKT (08:40UTC).[43] At 22:20HKT (14:20UTC), Signal No.1 was also cancelled, putting an end to all typhoon signals in the territory.[44]
Macau
The Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau[β] (SMG) issued Signal No.1 at 23:00MST (15:00UTC) on October3,[45] which tied the record of Signal No.1 occurrences in a typhoon season with the 1974 season.[46] The signal was raised to Signal No.3 at 16:00MST (08:00UTC) on October 4,[47] and a blue storm surge warning was also issued at 12:00MST.[48] At 20:00MST (12:00UTC), the SMG upgraded Matmo to a typhoon.[49] At 02:00MST, the signal was raised to No.8 Southeast signal.[50] At 11:00MST, the Blue Storm Surge Warning was canceled.[51] At 13:00MST, the signal was lowered to the No.3 signal.[52] At 21:00MST, the No. 1 signal was cancelled. [53]
Vietnam
In anticipation of Matmo's developments, the Haiphong City Civil Defense Command issued a directive on October2 to local Civil Defense Commands and related agencies to closely monitor official warnings, forecasts, and the storm's progress. Vessel captains and owners were instructed to stay informed of the storm's current position, projected track, and changing characteristics, taking precautionary measures and adjusting operations to ensure safety. Response forces and rescue equipment were placed on standby for emergency deployment.[54] Additionally, the United States Embassy in Vietnam warned of the approach of Matmo to Vietnam alongside its impact,[55] while the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Agriculture and Environment instructed local authorities and relevant agencies to closely monitor bulletins and forecasts of the typhoon's developments, as well as prevent and respond to the storm's impact including heavy rain, thunderstorms, strong winds and flooding.[56]
China
Around 347,000 people were evacuated in Hainan and Guangdong.[57]
Impact
Philippines
Flooding was reported in several parts of Luzon as Matmo brought heavy rain on October3.[31] A total of 21,340 people were evacuated in the province of Aurora.[58] A power transmission line between Santiago and Alicia was downed, affecting customers of ISELCO I in Isabela and IFELCO in Ifugao.[59] Flash flooding was also reported in Batangas, resulting in the evacuation of hundreds of families. About 55 families were evacuated in Ifugao after the gates of Magat Dam were opened.[60] A house was swept away by floodwaters in Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya.[61] The NDRRMC said that 313,822 were affected by the storm, while 8,380 others were displaced. One house was destroyed while 26 others were damaged. Six infrastructures were damaged, with up to 111 road sections and 36 bridges rendered impassable. Power outages occurred in 61 areas, while 17 seaports were shut down, resulting in at least 176 passengers and 39 vessels stranded.[62] One person drowned after attempting to cross a swollen river in Cordon, Isabela.[63]
Hong Kong
Although the typhoon did not directly hit Hong Kong, its outer rainbands brought heavy rains and strong to gale-force winds to the territory. Winds recorded on Cheung Chau beach reached 82km/h (51mph) (10-minute sustained).[citation needed] The highest wind warning issued in Hong Kong was Strong Wind Signal No.3, which remained in force for 24 hours. However, the HKO failed to upgrade it to Gale or Storm Signal No.8, even though sustained gale-force winds were recorded in multiple areas.[64] More than 100 flights were delayed and an additional 29 were cancelled on October5.[65]
South China
On October5, at Bohe Port in Dianbai District, Maoming, Guangdong Province, strong winds brought by Matmo tore off an iron roof, causing it to fall to the ground. According to the Guangdong Provincial Meteorological Observatory, the center of the typhoon made landfall on the eastern coast of Xuwen County, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, at approximately 14:50 local time on October5. At the time of landfall, the maximum sustained wind speed near the center reached force 14 in the extended Beaufort scale (equivalent to 42m/s (150km/h; 94mph), classified as a strong typhoon), with a minimum central pressure of 965hPa (28.50inHg).[66]
↑ "8號風球料清晨前維持 改發9號風球機會低"[No.8 Signal to remain in force until early morning, chance of issuing No. 9 Signal is low] (in Cantonese). TDM. October 5, 2025. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
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