Typhoon Dolphin has triggered widespread torrential rain and severe coastal flooding across eastern China, grounding nearly 950 flights in Shanghai and prompting emergency flood warnings in Beijing, according to state broadcaster CCTV and reports from CNBC and The Straits Times. The storm made landfall in Zhejiang province with maximum sustained winds of 151 kilometers per hour before weakening into a tropical storm.
Shanghai Airports Cancel 943 Flights as Streets Flood
Shanghai’s two main airports canceled a total of 943 flights, reducing operational capacity by nearly 40 percent, according to CCTV. Many streets in the city’s suburban Jiading and Qingpu districts remained waterlogged with knee-high murky water, based on unverified social media live-streams cited by Reuters. Hou Lina, a 39-year-old sales worker living in Jiading, told Reuters she had never experienced such widespread flooding or inconvenience during her decade living in the city. In the Jinshan district, local authorities advised non-essential businesses, classes, outdoor events, and transit services to temporarily halt operations. Meanwhile, China Eastern Airlines stated it was working to resume flights to Shanghai and Zhejiang in an orderly manner.
Zhejiang Landfall and Infrastructure Impact
Dolphin made landfall on the evening of August 9 in Zhejiang province, packing peak sustained winds of 151 km/h near its center, according to verified reports. Video footage posted on TikTok showed strong winds and heavy lashing rain flipping over a truck in Zhejiang’s Wenzhou, though the status of the driver remains unclear. Regional rail hubs like Hangzhou Railway Station took precautionary measures, applying tape in cross patterns to windows in temporary waiting rooms. Rain clouds from the weakening storm system continued to soak neighboring eastern provinces, including Anhui, Jiangsu, and Shandong.
Did you know? Typhoon Dolphin traveled approximately 6,000 kilometers before making landfall, giving it a life cycle three times longer than a typical typhoon and generating an ultra-large cloud system over eastern China, as reported by CCTV.
Beijing Prepares for Heavy Rain and Flash Flood Risks
Authorities in Beijing raised torrential rain warnings and announced preparations to activate flood control responses on August 11. The capital expects significant rainfall lasting through August 13 as the storm system pushes north and interacts with colder air masses. City officials warned of potential flash floods within urban areas and landslides in surrounding mountainous regions. Broadcaster CCTV noted that neighboring Tianjin and Hebei must also brace for severe weather as the system moves inland toward central provinces such as Hubei and Henan. Meteorologists and analysts have compared Dolphin’s expansive reach and potential impact to Doksuri in 2023, which similarly caused severe damage in Fujian province and triggered record-breaking rainfall in Beijing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How strong was Typhoon Dolphin when it made landfall?
The typhoon packed maximum sustained winds of 151 km/h near its center when it hit Zhejiang province.
What disruptions did the storm cause in Shanghai?
Shanghai’s two airports canceled 943 flights, reducing capacity by roughly 40 percent, while suburban districts experienced severe street flooding.
Where is Typhoon Dolphin heading next?
The storm is forecast to move deeper inland into Hubei and Henan provinces while pushing moisture north toward Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei.
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