Typhoon Dolphin causes widespread flooding and flight cancellations across eastern China

Typhoon Dolphin, the strongest storm to hit China in 2026, wreaks havoc across eastern provinces after making landfall in Zhejiang with 151 km/h winds. The storm triggers the preemptive evacuation of over one million people and causes massive travel disruptions, including the cancellation of over 2,200 flights at Shanghai airports and the suspension of key rail and metro lines. As the weakening system moves north, it brings record-breaking rainfall and severe flooding to Beijing.

Typhoon Dolphin landfall intensity

• ▪Typhoon Dolphin made a second landfall near Wenzhou in Zhejiang province after traveling approximately 6,000 kilometers.
• ▪Typhoon Dolphin made landfall near Yuhuan in Zhejiang province on August 9, 2026, with maximum sustained winds of 151 kilometers per hour.
• ▪Typhoon Dolphin was the strongest storm to hit China in 2026, featuring an ultra-large cloud system and a life cycle three times longer than an ordinary typhoon.

Mass evacuations eastern provinces

• ▪Authorities in eastern China preemptively evacuated more than one million people, including over 390,000 in Taizhou, 210,000 in Shanghai, and 160,000 in Fujian province due to Typhoon Dolphin.
• ▪The city of Wenzhou in Zhejiang province relocated more than 900,000 residents and opened over 1,000 emergency shelters ahead of Typhoon Dolphin.

Flight cancellations Shanghai airports

• ▪Shanghai's Hongqiao and Pudong airports cancelled more than 900 flights on August 10, 2026, following approximately 1,300 flight cancellations the previous day due to Typhoon Dolphin.
• ▪Ningbo International Airport in Zhejiang province planned to resume flight operations on August 10, 2026, while warning of potential delays or cancellations due to Typhoon Dolphin.

Metro train service suspensions

• ▪Hangzhou resumed subway services on August 10, 2026, after halting some train operations on August 9, 2026, due to Typhoon Dolphin.
• ▪Shanghai authorities suspended several metro lines, and China Railway Chengdu Group suspended 115 trains on August 10, 2026, due to Typhoon Dolphin.

Flooding rescue operations

• ▪Suburban districts of Shanghai, including Jiading and Qingpu, experienced severe street flooding that left neighborhoods waterlogged following heavy rainfall from Typhoon Dolphin.
• ▪Typhoon Dolphin's heavy rainfall caused widespread flooding in Zhejiang province, with Wugang recording a record 209.5 mm of rain in a single day.
• ▪Emergency authorities in Yueqing, Zhejiang province, conducted search operations for residents trapped in homes flooded by Typhoon Dolphin.

Storm movement toward Beijing

• ▪Beijing authorities issued the city's second-highest rainstorm warning and closed 150 tourist attractions as Changping district recorded 90.7 mm of rain in one hour on August 12, 2026.
• ▪The remnants of Typhoon Dolphin moved north toward Beijing on August 12, 2026, bringing heavy rain that flooded roads and suspended 250 bus routes.

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