Tropical Storm Dolphin has impacted eastern China with severe weather conditions, including intense rainfall and powerful winds across multiple provinces. The system made landfall in Zhejiang province on Sunday evening with maximum sustained winds reaching 151 kilometers per hour, prompting authorities to issue the nation’s highest-level weather alert. The storm subsequently weakened as it moved inland but continued to drench eastern regions including Anhui, Jiangsu, and Shandong provinces.
Significant precipitation is expected to persist through August 10 across numerous areas, with some parts of Zhejiang potentially receiving between 250 and 500 millimeters of rainfall. The severe weather has disrupted transportation and daily life, with Shanghai’s airports canceling approximately 943 flights and reducing capacity by nearly 40 percent. Authorities have advised residents to remain indoors and work remotely where feasible.
The evacuation efforts have been substantial, with over one million people relocated from threatened areas. Wenzhou saw the largest displacement with more than 900,000 residents evacuated, while Shanghai and Fujian province each evacuated tens of thousands. Search and rescue operations are underway for a child reported missing in Wenling.
Looking ahead, forecasters predict Dolphin will continue moving inland toward the central provinces of Hubei and Henan. Meanwhile, Beijing authorities have heightened rainfall alerts as the system pushes moisture northward, with the capital expecting significant precipitation and potential flooding risks through Thursday.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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