FUZHOU, CHINA / RankWire.AI / – Severe weather from Typhoon Dolphin prompted the evacuation of approximately 167,900 residents in Fujian Province as it moved through eastern China. Emergency teams completed the evacuation process in Fujian by 7 a.m. Monday, relocating communities along the coast and inland that faced threats of flooding and strong winds. Additionally, Shanghai evacuated around 215,600 people from high-risk zones by late Sunday. The storm initially hit Zhejiang Province before heading inland and losing strength over central China.
Travel disruptions were widespread in Fujian, with authorities suspending 686 passenger routes and canceling 658 train services due to the storm’s impact. Over 234 major tourist sites were closed, and dozens of cultural and tourism activities were canceled. In Shanghai, transportation was heavily affected, with more than 900 flights canceled at its two main airports on Monday. Heavy rainfall also caused flooding in parts of the city and disrupted public transit as the Yangtze River Delta and nearby coastal regions experienced persistent heavy rain.
Dolphin became the 13th typhoon to impact 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 readings indicating maximum winds near 42 meters per second, approximately 151 kilometers per hour. The cyclone then made another landfall in Zhejiang before moving further inland, with its broad circulation bringing intense rain into Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui, and surrounding provinces.
Dolphin shifts inland after coastal landfall
By 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dolphin had reached Huanggang in Hubei Province and weakened to tropical-storm strength. The National Meteorological Center maintained a blue typhoon warning as the system continued moving west-northwest. The maximum winds near the storm’s center had decreased to 18 meters per second, with central pressure measured at 995 hectopascals. Moving at approximately 15 kilometers per hour, Dolphin’s rainbands persisted in affecting large regions beyond its initial landfall zone.
Rainfall shifted into central and northern parts of China, prompting the Ministry of Water Resources to activate a Level IV flood emergency response for Hubei, Henan, Hebei, and Shandong. Meanwhile, Zhejiang maintained a Level III response due to ongoing river and flood dangers. Central authorities allocated 120 million yuan to Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, and Jiangxi for rescue operations, temporary shelters, hazard removal, safety inspections, and repairing damaged homes.
Regional heavy rain warnings intensify
Forecasts from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday predicted heavy rain across eastern, central, and northern China. Areas such as Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, Hubei, Shandong, and Hebei remained under threat. Beijing and Tianjin experienced periods of intense rainfall, with totals reaching 250 to 350 millimeters in parts of southwestern Shandong and central and eastern Henan. Strong winds persisted along the eastern coast, including nearby seas, the Yangtze River estuary, and Hangzhou Bay.
Authorities kept a close watch on rivers, mountain regions, and low-lying communities as Dolphin moved further inland. The reported evacuation figure of 167,900 pertains specifically to Fujian Province and does not encompass the entire eastern China area. Shanghai reported over 215,000 precautionary relocations, and Zhejiang also moved significant numbers of residents before the storm’s landfall. By Tuesday morning, Dolphin had lost much of its coastal strength, yet its remaining circulation continued to produce heavy rainfall across multiple provinces in central and eastern China.