Typhoon Dolphin: more than a million people evacuated in China as record rainfall dumped on Shanghai

Record Rainfall and Mass Evacuations as Typhoon Dolphin Batters Eastern China

Wanderstayfinder.com – Eastern China faced one of its most severe weather events in recent memory as Typhoon Dolphin unleashed unprecedented rainfall and forced the evacuation of over one million residents. By Sunday evening, the storm had already made landfall, prompting authorities across multiple provinces to implement emergency measures as fears of catastrophic flooding and landslides grew.

Unprecedented Rainfall Shatters Long-Term Records

The deluge that struck Shanghai was nothing short of historic. A weather monitoring station in the heart of the city captured nearly 313 millimeters of precipitation within a single 24-hour period ending at 7am on Monday. This measurement represents the heaviest 24-hour rainfall recorded in more than 150 years of meteorological data for the region. Another monitoring point within Shanghai’s urban area registered an even more staggering figure of approximately 400 millimeters.

The visual impact was immediate and dramatic. Social media platforms lit up with footage of waterlogged streets surrounding the Wukang Mansion, a beloved architectural landmark that has become synonymous with Shanghai’s historic French Concession district. The hashtag describing the city as transforming into a sea began trending rapidly on Weibo, capturing the public’s reaction to the sudden inundation.

Across Zhejiang province, the cumulative rainfall from Friday evening through Monday morning averaged 173 millimeters. Meteorologists noted that this figure exceeded precipitation levels documented during previous major typhoons that have impacted the region, including storms named Lekima and Bavi.

Mass Evacuation Efforts Across Multiple Provinces

The scale of human displacement was enormous. Wenzhou, a significant coastal municipality within Zhejiang province, led evacuation efforts by relocating more than 900,000 residents and activating over 1,500 emergency shelters to accommodate those displaced from their homes.

Neighbors in Fujian province also mobilized quickly, moving 98,900 individuals from zones identified as particularly vulnerable to storm surge and flooding. Shanghai’s evacuation numbers climbed substantially throughout the day, reaching 215,600 people by Sunday evening—a dramatic increase from an initial estimate of just 30,300 evacuees.

Transportation Networks Grind to a Halt

The financial capital of China saw its infrastructure severely disrupted. Shanghai’s two major airports collectively cancelled more than 1,300 flights as visibility dropped and wind conditions deteriorated. Public transportation systems, including numerous local train lines, suspended operations to ensure passenger safety.

Regional airports began gradual recovery efforts. Ningbo’s international airport, situated approximately 150 kilometers south of Shanghai, planned to resume flight operations from midday on Monday, though officials cautioned that additional delays or cancellations remained possible. Hangzhou, the provincial capital of Zhejiang, restored subway services on Monday morning following partial suspensions implemented on Sunday.

Storm’s Path and Continued Threat

While Typhoon Dolphin weakened to tropical storm status by 5am on Monday, its influence extended far beyond the immediate landfall zone. The system continued tracking northward and inland, bringing heavy rain to extensive portions of eastern and central China. Forecast models indicated the precipitation would reach as far north as Shandong province while also affecting Henan, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai.

Government authorities maintained an orange alert for heavy rainfall, warning that several days of intense precipitation could generate widespread flooding and landslides through Wednesday. Residents were urged to remain indoors during the heaviest downpours. Meteorologists projected that certain areas might receive between 200 and 400 millimeters of additional rainfall over the coming days.

Regional Impact Beyond Mainland China

The storm’s reach extended well beyond China’s borders. Hong Kong experienced intense heat on Sunday, with temperatures climbing to 36.9 degrees Celsius—the highest ever recorded for the territory. Officials indicated that this extreme heat would persist into Tuesday.

Taiwan suspended ferry services and cancelled more than 180 flights as the system delivered heavy downpours and strong winds to the island. Earlier in its journey, Dolphin had swept through Japan’s southern Okinawa prefecture, where six people sustained injuries and power was disrupted to more than 50,000 buildings.

In the Philippines, the typhoon did not make direct landfall in the country’s northern territories but intensified seasonal monsoon rains. This enhancement of monsoon activity flooded numerous areas across the main northern Luzon region, including communities surrounding Manila.

Climate Context and Future Implications

Scientists continue to emphasize the connection between global warming and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events. Research indicates that rising ocean temperatures contribute to more powerful typhoons and heavier precipitation patterns. The record-breaking rainfall in Shanghai and the massive evacuation efforts underscore how climate change is reshaping weather risks for densely populated coastal regions across East Asia.

As recovery efforts begin, communities in Zhejiang, Fujian, and Shanghai will face the challenge of assessing damage, restoring essential services, and preparing for potential secondary threats from saturated ground and continued rainfall forecasts.