Typhoon Dolphin Forces Over 1 Million Evacuations in China

What Happened

Typhoon Dolphin weakened after making landfall in China's Zhejiang province on Sunday, but continued to bring heavy rain and disrupt transportation on Monday. Authorities reported that over one million people had been evacuated in the preceding days. The National Meteorological Centre lowered its typhoon alert to the least severe level on Monday morning but cautioned that east and central China would continue to experience significant rainfall over the next 24 hours.

The storm prompted the most severe flash flood alert for areas in eastern and southern Zhejiang on Monday. In Shanghai, 943 flights were cancelled at the city's two major airports, and public transportation, including many local trains, was suspended. While some eastern cities began restoring services, Ningbo International Airport in Zhejiang resumed operations at midday but warned of ongoing delays and cancellations due to the typhoon's lingering effects. Hangzhou, the provincial capital, restarted its subway services on Monday morning after a temporary halt.

Northern China also faced extreme weather warnings, with five districts in Beijing issuing red alerts for heavy rain, including potential landslide and flooding risks.

Key Facts

• Over one million people were evacuated in China over the past few days due to Typhoon Dolphin.
• Typhoon Dolphin made two landfalls along the coast of Zhejiang province on Sunday.
• The National Meteorological Centre issued its least severe typhoon alert on Monday morning.
• Authorities issued their most severe flash flood alert for parts of eastern and southern Zhejiang on Monday.
• Shanghai's two main passenger airports saw 943 flights cancelled.
• More than 900,000 people were relocated in the port city of Wenzhou, Zhejiang.
• Over 1,500 emergency shelters were opened in Wenzhou.
• More than 150,000 people were evacuated in Fujian province.
• More than 200,000 people were evacuated in Shanghai.
• Five districts in Beijing issued red alerts for heavy rain on Monday.
• Typhoon Dolphin triggered a top-level alert over the weekend, leading to over 1,000 flight cancellations.
• The date provided for these events is Monday, August 10, 2026.

Background

Typhoon Dolphin followed two weeks after Typhoon Noul, which authorities identified as the year's strongest storm to hit China when it struck southern Guangdong province. In the preceding month, extreme weather events impacted southern and central China, including devastating floods in Guangxi caused by Typhoon Maysak, which resulted in 39 fatalities. Typhoon Maysak also led to thunderstorms and gale-force winds in Hubei province, causing 11 deaths and injuring 331 people.