FUZHOU, CHINA / RankWire.AI / – As severe weather conditions spread across eastern China, Typhoon Dolphin prompted the evacuation of approximately 167,900 residents in Fujian Province from vulnerable zones. Emergency efforts concluded by 7 a.m. Monday, relocating people from coastal and inland communities at risk of flooding and strong winds. Meanwhile, Shanghai evacuated about 215,600 residents from areas with high flood danger by late Sunday. After impacting Zhejiang Province, Dolphin moved further inland and weakened over central China.
The storm disrupted transportation across Fujian, resulting in the suspension of 686 passenger routes and 658 train services. Authorities also shut down 234 major tourist sites and canceled numerous cultural and tourism-related events. In Shanghai, transportation was heavily affected, with over 900 flights canceled at the city’s two primary airports on Monday. Heavy rainfall across the Yangtze River Delta and nearby coastal regions caused flooding in several parts of the city and interrupted public transit systems.
Dolphin became the 13th typhoon to impact China in 2026, making landfall near Yuhuan in Taizhou at around 5:30 p.m. It brought maximum wind speeds of about 42 meters per second, roughly 151 kilometers per hour, according to local measurements. The storm then struck Zhejiang again before moving deeper inland. Its broad circulation delivered intense rainfall into Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui, and surrounding areas.
Dolphin’s inland progression following coastal impact
By 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dolphin had reached Huanggang in Hubei Province and weakened to tropical-storm force. The National Meteorological Center maintained a blue typhoon alert as the system continued its northwestward movement. Wind speeds near the storm center decreased to 18 meters per second, with a central pressure of 995 hectopascals. Moving at approximately 15 kilometers per hour, Dolphin’s rain bands persisted, impacting large regions beyond its initial landfall point.
In response to shifting rainfall patterns, China escalated its flood control measures in central and northern zones. The Ministry of Water Resources activated a Level IV flood emergency response for Hubei, Henan, Hebei, and Shandong. Zhejiang remained under a Level III alert due to ongoing river and flood dangers. Additionally, central authorities allocated 120 million yuan to Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, and Jiangxi for rescue operations, temporary shelters, hazard mitigation, safety inspections, and repairs to affected homes.
Prolonged heavy rain threat across multiple regions
Forecasts from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday indicated widespread heavy rain across eastern, central, and northern parts of China. Areas including Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, Hubei, Shandong, and Hebei remained at risk. Beijing and Tianjin also experienced periods of intense rainfall, with totals reaching between 250 and 350 millimeters in parts of southwestern Shandong and central and eastern Henan. Persistent strong winds affected the eastern coast, nearby seas, the Yangtze River estuary, and Hangzhou Bay.
Authorities continued monitoring rivers, mountainous regions, and low-lying communities as Dolphin moved further inland. The evacuation figures of 167,900 apply solely to Fujian Province and do not account for the full extent across eastern China. Shanghai reported more than 215,000 evacuations, and large numbers of residents were relocated in Zhejiang before landfall. Although Dolphin had largely lost coastal strength by Tuesday morning, its circulation persisted, generating heavy rainfall across several central and eastern provinces.