Typhoon Dolphin made landfall in eastern China with winds of 151 km/h, forcing widespread evacuations, grounding more than 1,600 flights and prompting communities near the storm’s path to reinforce flood defences.
Typhoon Dolphin struck the coast of Zhejiang province on Sunday after authorities evacuated residents, suspended transport services and issued China’s highest-level typhoon warning.
The storm’s centre crossed the coastline near Yuhuan, a county-level city administered by Taizhou, at approximately 5:30 pm local time on August 9.
🚨 ⚠️ WHAT IS HAPPENING IN CHINA?
— Jeo Albant (@jeoalbant) August 9, 2026
🌀 Typhoon DOLPHIN went beyond expectations!
-It is hitting major Chinese metropolises much harder than predicted.
Wind gusts have exceeded 150 km/h in places, with over 100 mm of rainfall recorded in short periods.
Over 300 million people are… pic.twitter.com/ZsDVUPXNsW
Maximum sustained winds near the centre reached 151 km/h (94 mph) at landfall, according to China’s National Meteorological Centre. The system was expected to weaken while moving northwest across eastern China, but damaging winds and torrential rainfall remained a serious threat.
Dolphin had previously reached super typhoon intensity over the western Pacific. It is the strongest tropical cyclone to make landfall in China so far in 2026.
The National Meteorological Centre issued a red typhoon alert, the highest warning on China’s four-tier system, ahead of landfall.
Rainfall accumulations of 250 to 500 mm (10 to 20 inches) were forecast in the worst-affected parts of Zhejiang. Heavy rain was also expected across Shanghai and areas of Fujian, Anhui and Jiangsu through Monday.
Heavy flooding caused by Typhoon Dolphin in Shanghai, China 🇨🇳 (09.08.2026) pic.twitter.com/B8Ef5SS6ki
— Disaster News (@Top_Disaster) August 9, 2026
Authorities warned that rivers, including the Qiantang and Yong, could rise above official warning levels. Flash floods, urban flooding, landslides and debris flows remained possible, particularly in mountainous districts and locations where repeated downpours affect the same areas.
Communities near landfall reinforce flood defences
Local preparations intensified in Huangyan district, part of Taizhou and close to Dolphin’s landfall area.
According to a community report published through Tide News, Jiasheng Community in Dongcheng Subdistrict deployed local grid workers to inspect rental accommodation, high-rise buildings and underground spaces.
Credit: Xinhua News Agency reporter Xu Yu
Inspections focused particularly on crowded rental properties housing more than 10 people. Workers checked electrical loads, gas use, firefighting equipment and evacuation routes. Landlords and tenants were instructed to correct any hazards immediately and were given information about emergency shelter and typhoon safety.
Underground parking areas were also inspected because of the risk of rapid flooding. Property managers positioned flood barriers and sandbags at garage entrances, while workers tested drainage pumps and checked for blocked drains or equipment failures.
The community also implemented the locally applied “five suspensions” emergency protocol. Staff visited factories, training centres and other premises, asking operators to suspend production, business and teaching activities and to prevent unnecessary gatherings during the storm.
Community official Chen Yixin said teams would continue monitoring the typhoon and addressing weaknesses in local preparations.
More than 1,600 flights cancelled
Nearly 1,400 flights were cancelled at Shanghai’s two main passenger airports on Sunday. A further 270 arrivals and departures were cancelled at Hangzhou airport in Zhejiang.
Train services were suspended on some affected routes, while more than 200 ferry connections in Zhejiang and Fujian were halted.
Offshore work was stopped and 474 construction vessels had been ordered back to port. Authorities also relocated residents from exposed coastal, low-lying and mountainous communities, with evacuation figures across eastern China exceeding one million in the latest reports.
Dolphin’s circulation affected conditions hundreds of kilometres from its centre.
Hong Kong recorded a temperature of 36.9°C (98.4°F), the highest reading at the Hong Kong Observatory’s headquarters since records began in 1884. Temperatures reached 39.8°C (103.6°F) at an automatic station in Sheung Shui.
The extreme heat was caused by sinking air around Dolphin’s outer circulation, which suppressed cloud formation and pushed temperatures sharply higher.
Earlier impacts in Japan and Taiwan
Before reaching China, Dolphin brought powerful winds and heavy rain to Japan’s Okinawa islands. Seven people suffered minor injuries, including a man aged over 100 who was knocked over by a gust. More than 5,000 households temporarily lost electricity.
In Taiwan, more than 180 flights and dozens of ferry services were cancelled as northern areas experienced heavy rain and strong winds. Dolphin had earlier crossed Japan’s southern islands, bringing powerful gusts, injuries and widespread power outages. Follow the storm’s earlier development in our previous report: Category 4 Typhoon Dolphin forecast to gradually weaken.
