FUZHOU, CHINA / RankWire.AI / – Typhoon Dolphin prompted approximately 167,900 individuals to evacuate at-risk zones in Fujian Province as severe weather conditions spread across eastern China. Emergency services completed evacuations in Fujian by 7 a.m. Monday, relocating residents from coastal and inland areas vulnerable to flooding and high winds. Separately, Shanghai evacuated about 215,600 residents from high-risk locations by late Sunday. Dolphin made landfall in Zhejiang Province before moving inland and weakening over central China.
Officials in Fujian shut down 686 passenger routes and halted 658 train services as the storm disrupted transportation across the region. Authorities also closed 234 key tourist sites and canceled numerous cultural and tourism events. In Shanghai, over 900 flights were canceled at its two main airports on Monday due to severe disruptions. Heavy rain caused flooding in parts of the city and affected public transport services as the rain persisted across the Yangtze River Delta and surrounding coastal zones.
Dolphin became the 13th typhoon to impact China in 2026. It reached Zhejiang on Sunday, bringing powerful winds. The storm made landfall near Yuhuan in Taizhou around 5:30 p.m. Local measurements recorded maximum winds near 42 meters per second, approximately 151 kilometers per hour. Dolphin then hit another part of Zhejiang before moving further inland. Its wide circulation caused heavy rainfall in Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui, and neighboring provinces.
Dolphin shifts inland after coastal damage
By 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dolphin reached Huanggang in Hubei Province and weakened to tropical-storm strength. The National Meteorological Center maintained a blue typhoon warning as the system continued moving west-northwest. Maximum winds near the storm’s center decreased to 18 meters per second. The central pressure was 995 hectopascals. Dolphin traveled at about 15 kilometers per hour while its rain bands still affected large areas beyond where it originally made landfall.
China increased its flood response measures as rainfall shifted toward 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 river and flood risks. Central authorities allocated 120 million yuan to Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, and Jiangxi for rescue operations, temporary shelters, hazard removal, safety inspections, and home repairs damaged by the storm.
Regional heavy rain warnings issued as storm continues
Forecasts for Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday indicated persistent heavy rain across eastern, central, and northern China. Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, Hubei, Shandong, and Hebei remained affected. Beijing and Tianjin also experienced periods of intense rain. Predicted totals ranged from 250 to 350 millimeters in parts of southwestern Shandong and central/eastern Henan. Strong winds persisted along the eastern coast, nearby seas, the Yangtze River estuary, and Hangzhou Bay.
Authorities monitored rivers, mountainous regions, and low-lying communities as Dolphin moved further inland. The 167,900 evacuations mentioned refer specifically to Fujian Province and do not include the entire eastern China region. Shanghai reported over 215,000 precautionary relocations. Zhejiang also moved many residents before landfall. Dolphin lost much of its coastal strength by Tuesday morning, but its circulation still produced heavy rain across several provinces in central and eastern China.