Typhoon Dolphin Hits China: Over 1 Million Evacuated Amid Heavy Flooding and Travel Chaos

A powerful tropical cyclone made landfall in eastern Zhejiang province as Typhoon Dolphin hits China , forcing the relocation of more than one million residents and causing widespread transportation disruptions across major commercial hubs. Packing maximum sustained winds of 151 km/h (93 mph) near its core, the storm crossed the coast near Yuhuan and Taizhou on Sunday evening, August 9, 2026, before weakening into a tropical storm as it moved inland on Monday. Consequently, municipal officials in Zhejiang, Fujian, and Shanghai enacted emergency protocols, suspending local transit systems and canceling over 1,300 commercial flights. (To review global climate patterns and storm tracking protocols, read our internal Global Extreme Weather and Cyclone Tracker(report).

Torrential Rain and Flash Flood Warnings as Typhoon Dolphin Hits China

As the storm progressed inland on August 10, China’s National Meteorological Center issued flash flood and landslide alerts across Zhejiang, Anhui, and surrounding coastal districts. Furthermore, emergency crews in cities like Yueqing conducted boat rescues to extract residents trapped by rising floodwaters in low-lying neighborhoods.

Typhoon Dolphin Impact Sequence

(Progression of storm effects across eastern China)

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Coastal Landfall Near Yuhuan

(Dolphin makes landfall in Zhejiang with Category 1-equivalent 151 km/h winds)

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Preemptive Mass Relocation

(Over 1,000,000 residents evacuated across Zhejiang, Shanghai, and Fujian)

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Transit Halts & Air Travel Suspensions

(Shanghai and Hangzhou cancel over 1,300 flights while high-speed rail lines pause)

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Inland Weakening & Heavy Rain Alerts

(Storm downgrades to a tropical depression while dumping torrential rainfall inland)

Although the storm’s central wind speeds dropped significantly after landfall, meteorologists warned that lingering convective rainbands continue to pose a severe risk for urban flooding and hill slumping across central and northern China.

“In areas along the typhoon’s path, commercial activities and transportation were suspended in several locations as coastal communities prepared for the storm’s arrival.”

—China Meteorological Administration (CMA), official storm bulletin reported byWAFA News Agency

Widespread Transport Disruption and Regional Aftermath

In Shanghai, the nation’s primary financial hub located north of the landfall zone, airport authorities reported the cancellation of over 940 flights at Pudong and Hongqiao international airports. Meanwhile, regional rail operators suspended train lines, and major highways along the Zhejiang coastline were closed to non-essential vehicles.

Beyond China’s borders, the broader weather system associated with Typhoon Dolphin triggered heavy monsoon rains across the Philippines, causing deadly landslides in Baguio City, while altering atmospheric moisture flows across the Western Pacific.

Storm Parameter / Metric	Incident Details & Operational Impact
Landfall Location	Yuhuan / Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, Eastern China.
Peak Wind Speeds	151 km/h (93 mph, Category 1 equivalent).
Evacuation Volume	Over 1,000,000 residents preemptively relocated.
Flight Cancellations	1,300+ flights canceled across Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Ningbo.
Current Advisory Status	Downgraded to tropical storm; red flash flood warnings active inland.

Sources

• AP News– Tropical Storm Dolphin causes flooding in eastern China
• CBC News– Typhoon Dolphin hits China’s east coast, over 1 million evacuated
• SBS News– More than one million evacuated, flights cancelled, as Typhoon Dolphin hits China
• WAFA News Agency– Typhoon Dolphin hits eastern China, forcing cancellation of more than 1,000 flights