FUZHOU, CHINA / RankWire.AI / – As severe weather conditions spread across eastern China, Typhoon Dolphin prompted approximately 167,900 residents to evacuate vulnerable zones in Fujian Province. By 7 a.m. Monday, authorities had completed the evacuations in Fujian, which included both coastal and inland communities at risk of flooding and strong winds. Separately, Shanghai relocated around 215,600 people from high-risk locations by late Sunday. Dolphin initially struck Zhejiang Province before pushing inland and weakening over central China.
Fujian officials halted 686 passenger routes and 658 train services as the storm disrupted transportation within the province. Additionally, 234 major tourist sites closed, and numerous cultural and tourism events were canceled. The storm caused significant disruptions in Shanghai’s transportation network, with over 900 flight cancellations at its two main airports on Monday. Floodwaters affected several parts of the city, disrupting public transit as heavy rainfall persisted across the Yangtze River Delta and surrounding coastal regions.
Dolphin became the 13th typhoon to impact China in 2026, making landfall in Zhejiang on Sunday with strong winds. The storm made landfall near Yuhuan in Taizhou around 5:30 p.m., with maximum wind speeds recorded at approximately 42 meters per second, equivalent to about 151 kilometers per hour. Afterward, Dolphin made another landfall in Zhejiang before moving further inland. Its expansive circulation carried intense rainfall into Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui, and neighboring provinces.
Dolphin advances inland following coastal impact
By 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dolphin had reached Huanggang in Hubei Province, where it weakened to tropical-storm strength. The National Meteorological Center maintained a blue typhoon warning as the system continued heading west-northwest. Wind speeds near the storm’s center dropped to 18 meters per second, with a central pressure of 995 hectopascals. Moving at roughly 15 kilometers per hour, Dolphin’s rain bands kept impacting large areas beyond the original landfall zone.
As rainfall shifted toward central and northern regions, China expanded its flood management efforts. The Ministry of Water Resources activated a Level IV flood emergency response for Hubei, Henan, Hebei, and Shandong. Zhejiang maintained a Level III alert due to ongoing river and flood risks. Central authorities allocated 120 million yuan to Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, and Jiangxi for rescue operations, temporary shelters, hazard mitigation, safety inspections, and repairs to damaged homes.
Intense rainfall danger spreads across multiple areas
Forecasts from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday indicate heavy rain extending across eastern, central, and northern China. Affected regions include Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, Hubei, Shandong, and Hebei. Beijing and Tianjin are also expected to experience periods of heavy rain. Rain totals are predicted to reach between 250 and 350 millimeters in parts of southwestern Shandong and central and eastern Henan. Winds of high strength persisted along the eastern coast, adjacent seas, the Yangtze River estuary, and Hangzhou Bay.
Authorities continue monitoring rivers, mountain districts, and low-lying communities as Dolphin moves further inland. The 167,900 evacuations reported are specific to Fujian Province and do not account for the entire eastern China region. Shanghai alone relocated more than 215,000 residents as a precaution, while Zhejiang also moved significant numbers of people prior to landfall. By Tuesday morning, Dolphin had largely lost its coastal strength, yet its residual circulation still caused heavy rains across several provinces in central and eastern China.