FUZHOU, CHINA / RankWire.AI / – Severe weather caused by Typhoon Dolphin has prompted the evacuation of approximately 167,900 residents from vulnerable zones in Fujian Province as the storm’s reach expanded across eastern China. Local authorities finalized the evacuation efforts in Fujian by 7 a.m. on Monday, relocating communities along the coast and inland that faced risks of flooding and destructive winds. In addition, Shanghai evacuated around 215,600 people from high-risk areas by late Sunday. The storm initially struck neighboring Zhejiang Province before moving inland and weakening over central China, bringing widespread impacts.
Due to the storm’s disruption, officials in Fujian suspended 686 passenger routes and halted 658 train services, affecting travel throughout the province. Furthermore, 234 major tourist sites were closed, and dozens of cultural and tourism activities were canceled to ensure public safety. Shanghai faced significant transportation disturbances, including over 900 canceled flights at its two main airports on Monday. Heavy rains caused flooding in several city districts and hindered public transit, with the heavy precipitation persisting across the Yangtze River Delta and neighboring coastal regions.
Typhoon Dolphin became the 13th typhoon to impact China in 2026, reaching Zhejiang on Sunday with strong wind forces. The storm made landfall near Yuhuan in Taizhou around 5:30 p.m., with recorded maximum winds approaching 42 meters per second, approximately 151 kilometers per hour. It then made another landfall in Zhejiang before continuing inland. The storm’s extensive circulation pattern brought intense rainfall into Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui, and adjacent provinces, causing widespread weather impacts.
Dolphin transitions inland following coastal landfall
By 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dolphin had moved into Huanggang in Hubei Province and had diminished to tropical-storm strength. The National Meteorological Center maintained a blue typhoon warning as the system continued its west-northwest trajectory. The maximum sustained winds near the storm’s center decreased to 18 meters per second, with a central pressure of 995 hectopascals. Traveling at approximately 15 kilometers per hour, Dolphin’s rainbands still affected large regions beyond the initial landfall zone, contributing to ongoing weather hazards.
In response to shifting rainfall patterns, China heightened its flood management measures, particularly in central and northern areas. The Ministry of Water Resources activated a Level IV flood emergency response in Hubei, Henan, Hebei, and Shandong. Zhejiang maintained a Level III response due to persistent river and flood risks. Additionally, central government authorities allocated 120 million yuan to Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, and Jiangxi to support rescue operations, emergency shelters, hazard mitigation, safety checks, and repairs of damaged structures.
Regions face increasing threat from heavy rainfall
Forecasts extending from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday indicated widespread heavy rainfall across eastern, central, and northern parts of China. Areas including Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, Hubei, Shandong, and Hebei remained vulnerable to intense rainfall. Beijing and Tianjin also experienced periods of heavy rain, with expected totals reaching between 250 and 350 millimeters in southwestern Shandong and central and eastern Henan. The eastern coast, along with nearby seas, the Yangtze River estuary, and Hangzhou Bay, continued to endure strong winds, exacerbating the storm’s impact.
As Dolphin moved further inland, authorities kept a close watch on rivers, mountainous regions, and low-lying communities. The 167,900 evacuations reported specifically pertain to Fujian Province and do not encompass the total number of people displaced across eastern China. Shanghai reported over 215,000 precautionary relocations, while Zhejiang also moved substantial numbers of residents before the storm made landfall. By Tuesday morning, Dolphin had lost much of its coastal force, yet its lingering circulation continued to generate heavy rain over several central and eastern provinces, posing ongoing weather risks.