Typhoon Dolphin brings record rainfall, evacuations, and disruptions to China and surrounding regions

Consensus Summary

Typhoon Dolphin, the strongest typhoon to hit China this year, made landfall in Zhejiang province near Yuhuan on Sunday evening, bringing record-breaking rainfall, strong winds, and widespread disruptions. The storm originated thousands of kilometres away in the Pacific, travelling nearly 6,000km before reaching China, and had already caused damage in Japan and the Philippines. By Sunday, more than a million people had been evacuated across eastern China, including 900,000 in Wenzhou (Zhejiang), 215,600 in Shanghai, and 98,900 in Fujian, as authorities opened emergency shelters and suspended transport services to mitigate risks of flooding and landslides. The Guardian and ABC both confirm that over 1,300 flights were cancelled in Shanghai, grounding thousands of passengers and disrupting travel plans.

The typhoon’s impact extended far beyond its immediate landfall, with Beijing experiencing more than one-third of its average annual rainfall—528mm—within 24 hours, prompting orange and red alerts for heavy rain. Forecasters warned of up to 350mm of rainfall in some areas, breaking August records in Henan and Hubei, where Wugang and Xiangyang recorded their highest single-day rainfall totals. The storm’s prolonged effects were attributed to the El Niño weather pattern, which has intensified typhoon activity this year. Meanwhile, the typhoon arrived just two weeks after Typhoon Noul struck southern Guangdong, further straining China’s resources as it battled back-to-back extreme weather events.

Authorities across affected regions took swift action to protect residents, suspending construction projects, halting ferry services, and evacuating vulnerable populations. In Beijing, over 5,000 elderly individuals and 1,800 people near high-risk construction sites were relocated, while transport networks were disrupted, including the suspension of 250 bus routes and reduced metro services. The Guardian reports that 26 high-risk construction projects in Hubei were paused, and Henan province issued its highest-level red alert for torrential rain. Officials also dispatched emergency teams to mountainous areas and equipped at-risk villages with satellite communication devices to maintain safety during the storm’s passage.

While the Guardian, ABC, and SBS all agree on the scale of evacuations and flight cancellations, discrepancies arise in specific figures, such as the number of people evacuated in Shanghai (ranging from 30,300 to 215,600) and the exact count of flights grounded. The ABC provides additional details on the typhoon’s impact in Japan and Taiwan, including injuries and power outages in Okinawa, as well as record temperatures in Hong Kong. Meanwhile, the Guardian offers more granular data on rainfall records, construction suspensions, and the storm’s trajectory inland, highlighting its prolonged threat to central and northern China. These differences reflect varying emphases in reporting but do not undermine the consensus on the typhoon’s severity.

As Typhoon Dolphin weakened but continued to dump heavy rain across central and eastern China, officials warned of ongoing risks through Wednesday, including widespread flooding and landslides. The Guardian notes that classes, business operations, and non-essential activities were suspended in affected areas, while residents were advised to avoid floodwaters and evacuate immediately if vehicles stalled. The storm’s legacy extends beyond immediate damage, with scientists linking its intensity to broader climate patterns like El Niño, which are expected to fuel more frequent and severe typhoons in the coming years. With the typhoon’s remnants lingering, authorities remain on high alert, monitoring rivers, reservoirs, and geological hazards to prevent further loss of life or property.