Shanghai, China – More than a million people were moved to safety across eastern China as powerful Typhoon Dolphin made landfall, bringing torrential rain, destructive winds and fears of widespread flooding and landslides.
Wenzhou, a coastal city in Zhejiang province, said it relocated more than 900,000 people and opened more than 1,500 emergency shelters. In neighbouring Fujian, 98,900 people were moved from high-risk areas.
Shanghai also expanded its evacuation effort. By Sunday evening, 215,600 people had been moved from areas considered at risk, substantially higher than an earlier figure of 30,300.
Key developments:
- Evacuations: More than 1 million people moved to safety across eastern China
- Wenzhou: More than 900,000 people relocated and over 1,500 shelters opened
- Shanghai: 215,600 people evacuated from at-risk areas
- Record rainfall: A central Shanghai station recorded nearly 313mm in 24 hours
- Highest rainfall: Another Shanghai station recorded nearly 400mm
- Transport disruption: More than 1,300 flights cancelled at Shanghai's two airports
- Heavy rain threat: Some areas forecast to receive 200–400mm of rain
- Hong Kong heat: The city recorded an official record of 36.9C
- Taiwan: More than 180 flights cancelled and ferry services suspended
- Japan: Six people injured in Okinawa and power cut to more than 50,000 buildings
A weather station in central Shanghai recorded nearly 313mm of rain in the 24 hours to 7am on Monday, its highest 24-hour rainfall in more than 150 years of records. Another station in the city recorded nearly 400mm.
The hashtag “Shanghai turns into the sea” began trending on the Chinese social media platform Weibo as videos circulated showing flooded streets around Wukang Mansion, one of the city's best-known tourist landmarks.
The average rainfall recorded across Zhejiang from Friday evening to Monday morning reached 173mm, reportedly surpassing levels seen during previous major typhoons including Lekima and Bavi.
Storm Weakens but Heavy Rain Continues
Dolphin weakened rapidly to a tropical storm by 5am on Monday. But as the storm continued moving northwards and farther inland, heavy rain was forecast across large parts of eastern and central China, extending north into Shandong and affecting Henan, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai.
Authorities maintained an orange alert for heavy rain and warned that days of intense rainfall could trigger widespread flooding and landslides through Wednesday. People were urged to stay indoors during heavy downpours.
Forecasters in China predicted that some areas could receive 200–400mm (7.9–15.7 inches) of rainfall over the coming days.
Hong Kong Records Hottest Day Ever
Elsewhere, Dolphin fuelled intense heat over Hong Kong on Sunday, pushing the city to its highest ever official temperature of 36.9C.
The Hong Kong Observatory said the temperature recorded at its headquarters was the highest since records began in 1884. The previous official record was 36.6C, recorded on 22 August 2017, before Typhoon Hato hit.
Temperatures elsewhere in the densely built city climbed even higher. A weather station in Sheung Shui recorded 39.8C, the highest temperature logged in Hong Kong since automatic weather stations were introduced in the 1980s.
The approaching storm's outer subsiding air was expected to maintain extremely hot conditions through Tuesday. The observatory issued a “very hot weather warning” and advised residents to drink water and avoid vigorous outdoor activity.
Landfall in Zhejiang
Typhoon Dolphin made landfall near Yuhuan in Zhejiang province at about 5:30pm on Sunday, according to China's meteorological authorities. Maximum sustained winds near the centre reached 94mph (151 km/h), equivalent to a category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
The storm forced Shanghai's two airports to cancel more than 1,300 flights. Public transport services, including many local trains, were suspended across the financial hub.
Zhejiang's Ningbo international airport, about 150km south of Shanghai, was scheduled to resume flight operations from midday Monday, although passengers were warned that some journeys could still be delayed or cancelled.
Provincial capital Hangzhou resumed subway services on Monday morning after halting some train operations on Sunday.
Regional Impact Across East Asia
In Taiwan, ferry services were suspended and more than 180 flights were cancelled as the storm brought torrential rain and strong winds.
Dolphin earlier swept through Japan's southern Okinawa prefecture, injuring six people and cutting power to more than 50,000 buildings.
In the Philippines, the typhoon did not make landfall in the country's north but intensified seasonal monsoon rains. Flooding affected many areas of the main northern Luzon region, including areas around Manila.
Extreme Weather and Climate Risk
Scientists say global warming has made extreme weather more likely, including more powerful typhoons. Human-driven climate change is also making extreme heat events more frequent and more intense worldwide.
🌪️ The Big Picture
Typhoon Dolphin has caused a major disruption across eastern China and neighbouring parts of East Asia. More than a million people were evacuated, Shanghai experienced extraordinary rainfall, and transport networks were heavily disrupted. Although Dolphin weakened after making landfall in Zhejiang, the threat was far from over as heavy rain continued moving inland. Hong Kong simultaneously experienced its hottest official day on record, highlighting the unusual combination of destructive rainfall and extreme heat associated with the storm's wider circulation.
What's Next
Key developments to watch:
- Flooding: Continued rainfall could increase flood and landslide risks through Wednesday
- Shanghai: Authorities continue monitoring record rainfall and transport disruption
- Eastern China: Heavy rain is expected across several provinces as the storm moves inland
- Hong Kong: Extremely hot conditions are expected to persist into Tuesday
- Regional recovery: Taiwan, Okinawa and the Philippines face continuing weather-related disruption
- Climate risk: Scientists continue to assess the connection between warming and increasingly extreme weather
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