FUZHOU, CHINA / RankWire.AI / – In Fujian Province, eastern China, approximately 167,900 residents were compelled to evacuate vulnerable zones as Typhoon Dolphin brought intense weather conditions across the region. By 7 a.m. Monday, authorities had completed evacuations in Fujian, relocating people from coastal and inland areas prone to flooding and strong winds. Meanwhile, Shanghai evacuated about 215,600 residents from high-risk locations by late Sunday. Dolphin initially struck Zhejiang Province before moving inland and losing strength over central China.
Travel disruptions occurred across Fujian as officials suspended 686 passenger routes and canceled 658 train services due to the storm. Additionally, 234 major tourist sites were shut, and numerous cultural and tourism events were canceled. In Shanghai, more than 900 flights at its two main airports were canceled on Monday, and floodwaters affected parts of the city, halting public transportation as heavy rain persisted across the Yangtze River Delta and adjacent coastal regions.
Dolphin became the 13th typhoon to impact China in 2026, reaching Zhejiang on Sunday with strong winds. The storm made landfall near Yuhuan in Taizhou around 5:30 p.m., with local measurements indicating maximum sustained winds near 42 meters per second, approximately 151 kilometers per hour. After a subsequent landfall in Zhejiang, the typhoon continued inland, with its broad circulation bringing heavy rainfall to Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui, and nearby provinces.
Dolphin advances inland following coastal impact
By 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dolphin had reached Huanggang in Hubei Province, weakening to tropical-storm strength. The National Meteorological Center maintained a blue typhoon warning as the system moved west-northwest at about 15 kilometers per hour. The maximum winds near the storm’s center had decreased to 18 meters per second, with a central pressure of 995 hectopascals. Its rainbands continued to impact large areas beyond the original landfall zone.
China increased its flood response measures as rainfall shifted towards the central and northern parts of the country. The Ministry of Water Resources activated a Level IV flood emergency response in Hubei, Henan, Hebei, and Shandong. Zhejiang maintained a Level III response due to ongoing river and flood risks. Central government authorities allocated 120 million yuan to Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, and Jiangxi for rescue efforts, temporary shelters, hazard mitigation, safety inspections, and repairs to damaged properties.
Extensive rainfall threat spreads across multiple regions
Forecasts for Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday indicated heavy rain across eastern, central, and northern China. Affected areas included Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, Hubei, Shandong, and Hebei. Additionally, Beijing and Tianjin experienced periods of intense rainfall, with expected totals reaching 250 to 350 millimeters in parts of southwestern Shandong and central and eastern Henan. Strong winds persisted along the eastern coast, nearby seas, the Yangtze River estuary, and Hangzhou Bay.
Authorities continued monitoring rivers, mountainous districts, and low-lying communities as Dolphin moved further inland. The 167,900 evacuations are specific to Fujian Province and do not encompass the entire eastern China region. Shanghai reported over 215,000 precautionary relocations, and similar measures were taken in Zhejiang before the storm’s landfall. Although Dolphin had lost much of its coastal strength by Tuesday morning, its circulation persisted in producing heavy rainfall across several provinces in central and eastern China.