FUZHOU, CHINA / RankWire.AI / – Typhoon Dolphin prompted the evacuation of approximately 167,900 individuals from vulnerable zones within Fujian Province amid widespread severe weather across eastern China. The authorities completed the evacuation process in Fujian by 7 a.m. Monday, relocating residents from coastal and inland communities exposed to flooding and strong winds. Separately, Shanghai evacuated about 215,600 residents from high-risk areas by late Sunday. Dolphin initially impacted neighboring Zhejiang Province before pushing further inland and weakening over central China.
In response to the storm, Fujian officials suspended 686 passenger routes and 658 train services, disrupting travel throughout the province. Additionally, 234 major tourist sites were closed, and numerous cultural and tourism activities were canceled. Transport disruptions were also significant in Shanghai, with over 900 flights canceled at its two main airports on Monday. Heavy rainfall across the Yangtze River Delta and adjacent coastal regions caused flooding in parts of the city and interrupted public transit systems.
Dolphin became the 13th typhoon to hit 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 data indicating maximum sustained winds near 42 meters per second, roughly 151 kilometers per hour. The typhoon later made another landfall in Zhejiang before moving further inland. Its extensive circulation drew heavy rainfall into Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui, and neighboring provinces.
Dolphin Moves Further Inland After Coastal Impact
By 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dolphin had reached Huanggang in Hubei Province, weakening to tropical-storm intensity. The National Meteorological Center maintained a blue typhoon warning while the system continued its west-northwest trajectory. Maximum winds near the storm’s center decreased to 18 meters per second, and the central pressure was recorded at 995 hectopascals. Moving at approximately 15 kilometers per hour, Dolphin’s rainbands persisted in impacting extensive regions beyond its initial landfall zone.
Rainfall shifted towards central and northern China, prompting an expansion of flood response measures. The Ministry of Water Resources declared 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 government authorities allocated 120 million yuan to Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, and Jiangxi for rescue efforts, temporary shelters, hazard clearance, safety checks, and repairs to damaged homes.
Regional Heavy Rainfall Forecasts and Ongoing Risks
Forecasts from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday indicated widespread heavy rain across eastern, central, and northern parts of China. Areas such as Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, Hubei, Shandong, and Hebei remained under threat. Beijing and Tianjin also experienced periods of intense rainfall. Predicted totals ranged from 250 to 350 millimeters in some regions of southwestern Shandong and central and eastern Henan. Strong winds persisted along parts of the eastern coast, adjacent seas, the Yangtze River estuary, and Hangzhou Bay.
Authorities continued monitoring rivers, mountainous districts, and low-lying areas as Dolphin moved further inland. The 167,900 evacuations reported specifically pertain to Fujian Province and do not encompass the entire eastern China region. Shanghai also reported more than 215,000 precautionary relocations, with Zhejiang relocating large numbers of residents prior to landfall. By Tuesday morning, Dolphin had lost much of its coastal strength, but its residual circulation kept producing heavy rainfall across multiple central and eastern provinces of China.