FUZHOU, CHINA / RankWire.AI / – As Typhoon Dolphin advanced further inland in China, approximately 167,900 residents in Fujian Province were forced to evacuate from vulnerable zones amid widespread severe weather across eastern regions. The evacuations in Fujian were completed by 7 a.m. Monday, encompassing coastal and inland communities exposed to flooding and high winds. Meanwhile, Shanghai relocated roughly 215,600 residents from high-risk areas by late Sunday. Dolphin initially struck Zhejiang Province before progressing inland and weakening over central China.
Fujian authorities halted 686 passenger routes and 658 train services as the storm disrupted transportation across the region. Additionally, 234 major tourist sites were closed, and numerous cultural and tourism activities were canceled. The city of Shanghai experienced significant transit disruptions, including over 900 canceled flights at its two primary airports on Monday. Floodwaters impacted several city districts, disrupting public transport services amid persistent heavy rainfall in the Yangtze River Delta and neighboring coastal areas.
Dolphin became the 13th typhoon to influence China in 2026, reaching Zhejiang on Sunday with formidable winds. The storm made landfall near Yuhuan in Taizhou at around 5:30 p.m., with local measurements indicating maximum winds of approximately 42 meters per second, roughly 151 kilometers per hour. Dolphin subsequently made another landfall in Zhejiang before heading further inland. Its extensive circulation drew intense rainfall into Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui, and adjacent provinces.
Dolphin Continues Moving Inland After Coastal Impact
By 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dolphin had reached Huanggang in Hubei Province, diminishing to tropical-storm strength. The National Meteorological Center maintained a blue typhoon alert as the system persisted on a west-northwest trajectory. Winds near the storm’s core decreased to 18 meters per second, with the central pressure recorded at 995 hectopascals. Moving at approximately 15 kilometers per hour, Dolphin’s rain bands continued to influence broad regions beyond its initial landfall zone.
In response to shifting rainfall patterns, China intensified its flood control efforts, activating a Level IV flood emergency response in Hubei, Henan, Hebei, and Shandong. Zhejiang maintained a Level III response due to ongoing river and flood risks. Additionally, the central government allocated 120 million yuan to Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, and Jiangxi for rescue operations, temporary shelters, hazard mitigation, safety inspections, and repairs for damaged homes.
Region-Wide Heavy Rainfall Continues as Threat Mounts
Forecasts from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday project heavy rainfall across eastern, central, and northern China. Areas including Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, Hubei, Shandong, and Hebei are expected to experience substantial precipitation. Beijing and Tianjin are also vulnerable to periods of intense rainfall. Estimated totals range from 250 to 350 millimeters in parts of southwestern Shandong and central and eastern Henan. Meanwhile, strong winds persisted along the eastern coast, adjacent seas, the Yangtze River estuary, and Hangzhou Bay.
Authorities continued monitoring rivers, mountain districts, and low-lying communities as Dolphin moved deeper inland. The 167,900 evacuations mentioned earlier pertain specifically to Fujian Province and do not reflect the total affected across eastern China. Shanghai reported more than 215,000 precautionary relocations, with Zhejiang also moving a significant number of residents ahead of landfall. By Tuesday morning, Dolphin had lost much of its coastal intensity, yet its residual circulation kept producing heavy rainfall in multiple provinces across central and eastern China.