Matmo heads for southern China and Hong Kong with strong winds

A tropical cyclone that crossed the northern Philippines and regained strength over the South China Sea is expected to bring strong winds, heavy rain and travel disruption to southern China and Hong Kong this weekend, authorities said. Tropical Cyclone Matmo was forecast to pass near Hainan and make landfall in Guangdong on Sunday after moving across Luzon on Friday, prompting flight cancellations, school and transport suspensions and the staged issuance of typhoon warnings in Hong Kong.

Matmo moved west northwest at about 22 kph as it approached Luzon and was reported to have intensified into a typhoon after emerging into the South China Sea. Wind estimates vary by agency: Hong Kong forecasters predicted gusts at the storm core of up to 145 kph as it approaches within about 400 km south of the city, while China’s National Meteorological Center put sustained winds at roughly 118 kph on Saturday and warned the storm could reach peak speeds near 160 kph before landfall. Forecasters cautioned that intensity remains uncertain as the system develops.

Philippine authorities said Matmo may have made landfall over southern Isabela or northern Aurora provinces on Friday and warned of a...