FUZHOU, CHINA / RankWire.AI / – As severe weather swept across eastern China, Typhoon Dolphin prompted approximately 167,900 residents in Fujian Province to evacuate from vulnerable zones. Authorities completed the evacuations in Fujian by 7 a.m. Monday, relocating populations 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 neighboring Zhejiang Province before pushing further inland and weakening over central China.
Travel disruptions across Fujian included the suspension of 686 passenger routes and 658 train services as the storm disrupted transportation. Additionally, 234 major tourist sites were closed, and numerous cultural and tourism events were canceled. The city of Shanghai experienced significant transit delays, with over 900 flights canceled at its two main airports on Monday, as heavy rain and flooding affected several districts and interrupted public transport in the Yangtze River Delta and nearby coastal regions.
Dolphin became the 13th typhoon to impact China in 2026, arriving in Zhejiang on Sunday with strong 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 roughly 151 kilometers per hour. After another Zhejiang landfall, Dolphin moved further inland, with its broad circulation bringing intense rainfall into Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui, and neighboring provinces.
Dolphin penetrates inland after coastal hit
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 continued moving west-northwest, with maximum winds decreasing to 18 meters per second. The central pressure was measured at 995 hectopascals. Moving at approximately 15 kilometers per hour, the storm’s rain bands continued to produce heavy rainfall across large areas beyond the initial landfall zone.
In response to shifting rainfall patterns, China escalated flood control efforts in central and northern regions. The Ministry of Water Resources activated a Level IV flood emergency response for Hubei, Henan, Hebei, and Shandong, while maintaining a Level III alert in Zhejiang 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 checks, and repairs to damaged homes.
Regional heavy rain threat persists
Forecasts from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday indicate that heavy rain will extend across eastern, central, and northern China. Areas such as Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, Hubei, Shandong, and Hebei remain under threat, with Beijing and Tianjin also experiencing periods of intense rainfall. Predicted totals include 250 to 350 millimeters in parts of southwestern Shandong and central and eastern Henan. The eastern coast, nearby seas, the Yangtze River estuary, and Hangzhou Bay continue to face strong winds.
Authorities kept a close watch on rivers, mountainous districts, and low-lying communities as Dolphin moved further inland. The 167,900 evacuations refer solely to Fujian Province and do not account for the entire eastern China region. Shanghai alone reported over 215,000 precautionary relocations, while Zhejiang also moved many residents ahead of the storm’s landfall. By Tuesday morning, Dolphin had lost much of its coastal strength, but its remaining circulation continued to cause heavy rainfall across several provinces in central and eastern China.