FUZHOU, CHINA / RankWire.AI / – In eastern China, Typhoon Dolphin prompted the evacuation of approximately 167,900 residents from vulnerable zones in Fujian Province as severe weather conditions expanded across the region. The authorities finalized the evacuation process in Fujian by 7 a.m. Monday, relocating communities both on the coast and inland that faced risks from flooding and strong winds. Meanwhile, Shanghai evacuated roughly 215,600 people from high-risk areas by late Sunday. Dolphin initially struck Zhejiang Province before progressing inland and weakening over central China.
During the storm, Fujian officials halted 686 passenger routes and suspended 658 train services to mitigate disruptions across the province. In addition, 234 key tourist sites were closed, and numerous cultural and tourism events were canceled. Shanghai experienced significant transportation disturbances, including over 900 canceled flights at its two primary airports on Monday. Heavy rains caused flooding in several districts and disrupted public transit as persistent rainfall affected the Yangtze River Delta and adjacent coastal regions.
Typhoon Dolphin became the 13th typhoon to impact China in 2026, reaching Zhejiang on Sunday with intense winds. The storm made landfall near Yuhuan in Taizhou around 5:30 p.m., with wind speeds recorded at approximately 42 meters per second, or about 151 kilometers per hour. The storm later made another landfall in Zhejiang before progressing further inland. Its extensive circulation brought heavy rainfall to Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui, and neighboring provinces.
Dolphin advances inland following coastal impact
By 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Dolphin had reached Huanggang in Hubei Province and had diminished to tropical-storm strength. The National Meteorological Center continued to issue a blue typhoon warning as the system moved west-northwestward. Wind speeds near the storm’s core decreased to 18 meters per second, with a central pressure of 995 hectopascals. Traveling at approximately 15 kilometers per hour, Dolphin’s rainbands persisted in affecting broad regions beyond its original landfall area.
In response to shifting rainfall patterns, China intensified its flood mitigation efforts in central and northern regions. 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 risks from rivers and flooding. Additionally, authorities allocated 120 million yuan to Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, and Jiangxi to support rescue operations, provide temporary shelter, eliminate hazards, conduct safety inspections, and repair damaged homes.
Regional heavy rainfall warnings issued as storm persists
Forecasts extending from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday indicated widespread heavy rain across eastern, central, and northern parts of China. Regions such as Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, Hubei, Shandong, and Hebei remained under threat. Beijing and Tianjin also experienced periods of intense rainfall, with expected totals reaching between 250 and 350 millimeters in southwestern Shandong and central and eastern Henan. Strong winds persisted along the eastern coast, seas nearby, the Yangtze River estuary, and Hangzhou Bay.
Monitoring of rivers, mountainous areas, and low-lying zones continued as Dolphin moved further inland. The 167,900 evacuations reported specifically pertain to Fujian Province and do not reflect the total number across eastern China. Shanghai recorded over 215,000 precautionary relocations, while Zhejiang also moved large groups of residents ahead of the storm’s landfall. By Tuesday morning, Dolphin had weakened significantly along the coast, yet its lingering circulation continued to cause heavy rainfall across multiple provinces in central and eastern China.