FUZHOU, CHINA / RankWire.AI / – The Fujian authorities have evacuated approximately 167,900 residents from vulnerable zones as Typhoon Dolphin moved across eastern China, bringing severe weather conditions. The evacuations in Fujian were completed by 7 a.m. Monday, involving both coastal and inland communities at risk of flooding and strong winds. Meanwhile, Shanghai relocated about 215,600 residents from high-risk areas by late Sunday. Dolphin initially impacted 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 caused widespread disruption. The storm also led to the closure of 234 major tourist sites and the cancellation of numerous cultural and tourism events. In Shanghai, transportation was heavily affected, with more than 900 flights canceled at its two main airports on Monday. Heavy rainfall caused flooding in parts of the city and interrupted public transit, as the rain persisted across the Yangtze River Delta and adjoining coastal regions.
Dolphin became the 13th typhoon to impact China in 2026, reaching Zhejiang on Sunday with formidable winds. The storm made landfall near Yuhuan in Taizhou around 5:30 p.m., with local readings indicating maximum winds of approximately 42 meters per second, roughly 151 kilometers per hour. Dolphin subsequently 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 after 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 continued its west-northwest trajectory. Wind speeds near the storm’s center decreased to 18 meters per second, with central pressure at 995 hectopascals. The storm was moving at approximately 15 kilometers per hour, while its rainbands persisted in impacting large regions beyond the original landfall zone.
Rainfall shifted to central and northern parts of China, prompting an expanded flood response. The Ministry of Water Resources activated a Level IV flood emergency response for Hubei, Henan, Hebei, and Shandong. Zhejiang retained a Level III alert due to ongoing river and flood risks. Additionally, central 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 homes.
Regions face increasing threat of heavy rainfall
Forecasts from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday indicate heavy rain across eastern, central, and northern China. Areas affected include Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, Hubei, Shandong, and Hebei. Beijing and Tianjin are also expected to experience periods of intense rainfall, with totals reaching between 250 and 350 millimeters in parts of southwestern Shandong and central and eastern Henan. Strong winds persisted along the eastern coast, adjacent seas, the Yangtze River estuary, and Hangzhou Bay.
As Dolphin moved further inland, authorities continued monitoring rivers, mountainous regions, and low-lying communities. The 167,900 evacuations reported specifically pertain to Fujian Province and do not encompass the total evacuations across eastern China. Shanghai reported more than 215,000 precautionary relocations, and Zhejiang also transferred large numbers of residents before the storm’s landfall. By Tuesday morning, Dolphin had lost much of its coastal strength, yet its circulation still generated heavy rain across several central and eastern provinces.