Typhoon Dolphin made landfall in densely populated eastern China on Sunday, bringing powerful winds and torrential rain after authorities cancelled more than 1,000 flights, suspended transport services and evacuated residents from areas considered at risk.
China’s eastern coastline had been preparing for the storm for several days, with work and transport services suspended in some areas along its projected path. Authorities also issued their highest-level warning as the typhoon approached.
Typhoon Hits Zhejiang Coast
China’s National Meteorological Centre (NMC) said the centre of Typhoon Dolphin moved across the coastline near Yuhuan City in Zhejiang Province at around 5:30pm local time on Sunday.
Maximum wind speeds near the centre of the storm were more than 150 kilometres (94 miles) per hour when it made landfall.
The storm was expected to gradually weaken after moving inland in a northwesterly direction across eastern China. However, forecasters warned that heavy rainfall could continue to pose risks, particularly in areas already affected by the storm.
Nearly 1,700 Flights Cancelled
The typhoon caused major disruption to air travel. Nearly 1,400 flights arriving at or departing from Shanghai’s two main passenger airports were cancelled on Sunday, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
Hangzhou Airport in neighbouring Zhejiang Province also cancelled around 270 inbound and outbound flights, further affecting travellers across the region.
Other forms of transport were also disrupted. Some train services in affected areas were suspended to protect passengers, while more than 200 ferry routes in Zhejiang and Fujian provinces were temporarily halted.
Offshore operations were also suspended as authorities moved to protect workers and vessels from dangerous weather conditions. Xinhua reported that 474 construction vessels had been called back to port by Friday morning.
Hong Kong Records Extreme Heat
Although Typhoon Dolphin did not make landfall in Hong Kong, its effects were felt as far away as the territory on China’s southern coast.
Hong Kong’s weather observatory recorded a temperature of 36.9°C, a record high, as warm air associated with the typhoon pushed across the territory.
The Hong Kong Observatory warned that as the storm moved towards Zhejiang and inland, sinking air around its outer circulation could contribute to exceptionally hot conditions through Tuesday.
The unusual combination of a nearby tropical cyclone and extreme heat highlights how storms can influence weather conditions well beyond their immediate path.
Hundreds of Thousands Evacuated as Typhoon Bavi Approaches Eastern China
Okinawa and Taiwan Also Affected
Before reaching China, Typhoon Dolphin brought heavy rain and strong winds to Japan’s Okinawa region.
According to Okinawa’s government, seven people suffered minor injuries. Among them was a man aged over 100 who was knocked down by powerful wind gusts, fell and hit his head.
By Sunday afternoon, around 5,290 households in Okinawa were without electricity, according to regional utility Okinawa Electric Power.
Taiwan was also affected by the storm. Dozens of ferry services were suspended, while more than 180 flights were cancelled as heavy rain and strong winds swept across the island’s northern areas.
China Issues Highest-Level Typhoon Warning
China’s National Meteorological Centre issued a red typhoon alert on Sunday morning, the country’s most severe warning level for tropical cyclones.
The NMC forecast exceptionally heavy rainfall in parts of central and eastern Zhejiang, while Shanghai and areas of Fujian, Anhui and Jiangsu provinces were also expected to receive heavy precipitation through Monday afternoon.
Authorities took precautionary measures before the storm arrived. In Fujian Province, nearly 99,000 people were relocated from areas considered at risk on Saturday evening.
The large-scale evacuations, transport suspensions and flight cancellations were aimed at reducing the risk to residents as the storm moved towards densely populated parts of eastern China.
Storm Follows Typhoon Noul
Typhoon Dolphin’s arrival comes only about two weeks after Typhoon Noul struck southern Guangdong Province. Chinese authorities had described Noul at the time as the strongest storm to hit China this year.
Before reaching China, Noul also caused significant damage in the Philippines, where three people were killed and hundreds of homes were damaged.
The successive storms have again highlighted the vulnerability of coastal communities in East Asia to powerful tropical weather systems. Scientists have also warned that human-driven climate change is contributing to more frequent and intense extreme heat events worldwide, although the influence of climate change on any individual typhoon requires separate scientific analysis.
For now, Chinese authorities are closely monitoring Typhoon Dolphin as it moves inland, with heavy rainfall and flooding risks remaining the main concerns across parts of eastern China.
