Typhoon Dolphin is battering eastern and northern China with unprecedented torrential rains. Shanghai has recorded its highest rainfall in 150 years, while Beijing prepares for a third of its annual rainfall in just 24 hours. Over a million people have already been safely evacuated.

A Historic Typhoon Shakes Asia

Typhoon Dolphin, the strongest storm to hit China so far in 2026, has triggered a massive response from authorities to protect the population. After making landfall on Sunday, August 10, 2026, in the eastern province of Zhejiang, the storm system has moved north, leaving meteorological records in its wake and forcing the evacuation of over a million people to safe zones.

Shanghai Floods: A 150-Year Record

In Shanghai, one of the world's most populous cities with over 24 million residents, 215,600 people were evacuated on Sunday night. A weather station in the city center recorded nearly 313 mm (12.3 inches) of rain in 24 hours, its highest daily precipitation in over 150 years of records. Another station recorded almost 400 mm (15.7 inches). On Chinese social media, the hashtag 'Shanghai turns into the sea' trended, showing completely flooded streets near iconic tourist spots like the Wukang Mansion. Transportation was severely disrupted, with over 1,300 flights canceled at the city's airports.

What is a Typhoon?

A typhoon is the same meteorological phenomenon as a hurricane, but it is called a typhoon when it forms in the northwest Pacific Ocean. These are low-pressure systems with spiraling winds that generate extreme rainfall and dangerous storm surges.

The El Niño Factor

Scientists note that climate change and the El Niño weather pattern are driving higher temperatures and more frequent, intense typhoons, increasing exposure to destructive events globally.

The Storm Threatens Beijing and Henan

By Wednesday, August 12, 2026, the remnants of Dolphin reached northern China. Beijing, the nation's capital, remained under an orange alert (the second-highest warning level). Forecasters warned that the capital could receive more than 150 mm (5.9 inches) of rain in 24 hours, with some districts exceeding 200 mm (7.8 inches). This amount represents more than a third of Beijing's average annual precipitation of 528 mm (20.8 inches).

Beijing authorities have taken extraordinary preventive measures to protect citizens:

  • 5,000 elderly people were relocated from care centers.
  • More than 1,300 tourists were evacuated or turned away from closed attractions and campsites.
  • Around 1,800 residents in risk zones (mountain or riverbank constructions) were moved.
  • 250 bus routes were suspended and speed limits were reduced on 10 subway lines.

Despite the magnitude of the event, the swift action by the Chinese government has been crucial in safeguarding lives. The neighboring province of Hebei deployed 623 response teams in mountainous areas and equipped more than 2,100 villages with satellite phones to maintain communications. Community preparedness and organization are key to overcoming this climate challenge, keeping hope alive that the region will soon return to normal.