One Million Evacuated and 1,500 Flights Canceled Due to Typhoon Dolphin
According to The Guardian, Typhoon Dolphin, the most powerful tropical cyclone to hit China during 2026, made landfall near Yuhuan, in Zhejiang province, on Sunday, August 9, 2026, at 5:30 PM local time.
For those unfamiliar with the region, Zhejiang is a coastal province located just south of Shanghai, one of the world's most populous financial hubs. The system brought maximum sustained winds of 151 km/h (94 mph) to its center, which is equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
Impact on China
Chinese authorities took massive preventive measures to protect the densely populated east coast. In Shanghai, at least 30,300 people were evacuated and approximately 1,500 flights were canceled, according to data provider VariFlight.
In the neighboring Zhejiang province, the city of Wenzhou relocated more than 900,000 people and opened over 1,000 emergency shelters. Meanwhile, in Fujian province, located further south along the coast, 98,900 residents were evacuated from high-risk areas, 55 coastal ferry routes were suspended, and 115 offshore construction projects were halted.
Passage Through Japan and Rain Forecast
Before reaching China, Dolphin swept across the southern part of Japan's Okinawa prefecture. Okinawa is a chain of islands in the southernmost part of Japan. The storm left 6 people injured and cut off the electricity supply to more than 50,000 buildings.
For Monday, torrential rains are forecasted across Zhejiang, Shanghai, northern Fujian, northeastern Jiangxi, central and southern Anhui, and much of Jiangsu. Accumulations of between 250 and 500 mm are expected in parts of Zhejiang, significantly increasing the risk of flooding and landslides in mountainous areas.
What is a Typhoon and the Saffir-Simpson Scale?
A typhoon is a mature tropical cyclone that develops in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. The Saffir-Simpson scale classifies hurricanes and typhoons from 1 to 5 based on wind speed. Dolphin reached Category 1, with winds of 119 to 153 km/h, capable of damaging roofs and breaking tree branches.
Scientists warn that global warming has made extreme weather events, including more powerful typhoons, more likely in the present day.
Despite the severity of the event, the rapid response from authorities and the preventive evacuations demonstrate a remarkable effort to safeguard the population. A stranded tourist from Guangdong province mentioned: 'For us, this typhoon is as common as eating and feeling the wind. It is part of everyday life.'