Full Breakdown
Typhoon Dolphin’s Landfall in Eastern China: Impacts and Response
8/12/2026, 3:54:43 AM
Core Event – Landfall and Immediate Effects
On August 9, 2026, Typhoon Dolphin struck China’s eastern coast near Yuhuan in Zhejiang Province with maximum sustained winds of about 150 km/h (93 mph) and gusts exceeding 200 km/h, according to the National Meteorological Centre (NMC). An hour later the storm made a second landfall in Wenzhou. The NMC issued a red-level typhoon alert—the highest warning in China’s system—along with orange rain-storm and red flash-flood warnings.
Background & Context
Dolphin formed as a tropical depression on July 26, 2026, became a severe tropical storm by July 28, and traveled roughly 6,000 km across the Central Pacific. Before reaching China, it passed the Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands on August 4 and hit Japan’s Okinawa prefecture, injuring six people and cutting power to tens of thousands of buildings.
Data & Statistics
- Evacuations: Authorities moved more than 1 million residents from high-risk areas, including > 900,000 in Wenzhou, ? 390,000 in Taizhou, ? 30,300 in Shanghai, and ? 98,900 in Fujian.
- Flight disruptions: Cancellations range from 943 flights at Shanghai’s airports (Reuters) to nearly 1,500 (Independent).
- Rainfall forecasts: Expected 250–500 mm of rain across central and eastern Zhejiang, with some models projecting up to 600 mm locally. Heavy rain was forecast through August 10 for Zhejiang, Shanghai, northern Fujian, Jiangsu and surrounding provinces.
- Wind intensity: Maximum sustained winds of 151 kph near the centre were reported by the NMC; Okinawa experienced gusts up to 216 kph.
Official Statements & Responses
- The red alert prompted mass evacuations, relocation of offshore workers, suspension of ferry services, and halting of construction projects in Zhejiang and Fujian.
- Shanghai’s Yangshan port cleared vessels and waived parking fees to facilitate sheltering.
- Beijing’s flood-control authority raised an orange rain-storm alert and prepared to activate Level II emergency response for anticipated flash floods.
- Wang Haiping, chief forecaster at the NMC, warned that the storm’s slow inland movement could prolong heavy rainfall and increase landslide risk.
On-the-Ground Reports
- Residents in Shanghai described ankle-deep water in streets of the French Concession and widespread waterlogging.
- A resident of Changning district waded through floodwaters on August 9.
- In Okinawa, six injuries were reported and power outages affected more than 50,000 buildings.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Flight cancellations: Numbers range from 943 to roughly 1,500; no consolidated tally is available.
- Casualties: Chinese officials have reported no confirmed deaths, but state media mentioned a missing nine-year-old boy from Wenling. The exact death toll remains unverified.
What’s Next
- Forecasts indicate Dolphin will weaken to a tropical storm and continue northwestward, bringing continued heavy rain to Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui and Hubei through August 10.
- Beijing expects significant rainfall and flash-flood risk through Thursday, with authorities ready to activate additional flood-control measures.
- The NMC warned of heightened landslide danger in mountainous regions as the storm’s remnants move inland.
