– EASTERN CHINA
Typhoon Dolphin, the most intense tropical cyclone to strike China in 2026, made landfall on the country's east coast on the afternoon of Sunday, August 9 near Yuhuan, Zhejiang Province at approximately 5:30 local time. The storm packed maximum sustained winds of 150–151 kilometers per hour and made a second landfall near the city of Wenzhou about an hour later. Chinese meteorological authorities had previously issued a red alert the highest level reflecting the system's intensity following an unusually long path across the Pacific that had earlier affected Okinawa, Japan.
As a precautionary measure, authorities evacuated more than a million people from high-risk areas in eastern China. In Zhejiang Province alone, Wenzhou relocated over 900,000 residents and opened more than 1,000 emergency shelters, while Taizhou evacuated approximately 390,000 people. Fujian Province moved nearly 99,000 residents from vulnerable areas, and Shanghai evacuated at least 30,300 people from at-risk locations, although updated figures indicated higher totals for the municipality. These large-scale operations were coordinated under Level III emergency response protocols across several provinces.
Transportation networks throughout the region suffered severe disruptions. Shanghai's two main airports cancelled approximately 1,400 to 1,500 flights, while additional cancellations affected Hangzhou and other cities. Ferry services, offshore construction projects, and numerous rail routes were suspended. Ports cleared their docks and directed vessels toward sheltered waters. By the morning of Monday, August 10, the system had weakened to a tropical storm as it moved inland however, residual rainbands continued to bring heavy precipitation and localized flooding, particularly in Shanghai, where some stations recorded 24-hour rainfall totals approaching record levels.
Meteorologists warned that parts of Zhejiang could receive between 250 and 500 millimeters of rain in the coming days, raising the risk of severe flooding, landslides, and river surges across eastern and central provinces, including Jiangsu and Anhui. Authorities maintained orange alerts for heavy rain and urged residents to stay indoors during the downpours, at least until Wednesday. Chinese officials reported no serious casualties in initial assessments, though monitoring of flood-prone rivers and mountainous areas continued.
The weakened system continued moving inland toward central provinces while dumping moisture further north. Recovery efforts focused on restoring transport links and managing residual flood risks, meanwhile, local governments set up temporary shelters and suspended non-essential outdoor activities. The event highlighted the challenges of managing powerful late-season storms affecting densely populated coastal and inland regions of eastern China.