FUZHOU, CHINA / RankWire.AI / – The widespread evacuations across eastern China were prompted by Typhoon Dolphin, which displaced approximately 167,900 residents in Fujian Province as severe weather conditions expanded inland. Authorities had completed the evacuations in Fujian by 7 a.m. Monday, relocating those in coastal and inland areas vulnerable to flooding and high winds. Separately, Shanghai moved about 215,600 residents from high-risk zones by late Sunday. Dolphin initially struck neighboring Zhejiang Province before moving inland and weakening over central China.
In response to the storm, Fujian officials suspended 686 passenger routes and halted 658 train services as travel disruptions spread across the province. Additionally, 234 major tourist sites were closed, and numerous cultural and tourism events were canceled. The city of Shanghai experienced significant transportation interruptions, including over 900 canceled flights at its primary airports on Monday. Heavy rainfall across the Yangtze River Delta and surrounding coastal regions also caused flooding and disrupted public transit in parts of the city.
Dolphin became the 13th typhoon to impact China in 2026, reaching Zhejiang on Sunday with fierce winds. The storm made landfall near Yuhuan in Taizhou around 5:30 p.m., with local measurements indicating maximum winds of approximately 42 meters per second, equivalent to roughly 151 kilometers per hour. The typhoon subsequently made another landfall in Zhejiang before progressing further inland. Its extensive circulation carried intense rainfall into Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui, and neighboring regions.
Dolphin advances inland following coastal impact
By 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dolphin had reached Huanggang in Hubei Province, where it had weakened to tropical-storm strength. The National Meteorological Center maintained a blue typhoon warning as the system continued moving west-northwest. Wind speeds near the storm’s 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 still affected large regions beyond the initial landfall zone, bringing persistent heavy rain.
Flood response measures in China have been intensified as rainfall shifted toward central and northern parts of the country. The Ministry of Water Resources activated 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. The central government allocated 120 million yuan to Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, and Jiangxi for rescue operations, emergency shelters, hazard removal, safety inspections, and repairs to damaged residences.
Widespread heavy rainfall forecast prompts regional alerts
Projections from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday indicate heavy rain across eastern, central, and northern China. Areas including Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, Hubei, Shandong, and Hebei are expected to remain impacted. Beijing and Tianjin are also likely to experience periods of intense rainfall. Predicted totals range from 250 to 350 millimeters in parts of southwestern Shandong and central and eastern Henan. Strong winds persisted along the eastern coast, nearby seas, the Yangtze River estuary, and Hangzhou Bay.
Authorities continued monitoring rivers, mountain regions, and low-lying communities as Dolphin moved further inland. The 167,900 evacuations reported specifically for Fujian Province do not represent the total across eastern China. Shanghai’s precautionary relocations exceeded 215,000, with Zhejiang also relocating many residents before landfall. By Tuesday morning, Dolphin had significantly weakened along the coast, but its residual circulation persisted, producing heavy rainfall across several central and eastern provinces.