Typhoon Dolphin: Record Shanghai Rain Forces Evacuation of 1M

More than a million people had been moved to safety across eastern China by Sunday evening as Typhoon Dolphin battered the coast, unleashing record-breaking rainfall on Shanghai and raising the alarm over severe flooding and landslides across a large inland area. The storm, which made landfall with formidable power, has since weakened to a tropical storm, but its slow journey inland is still carrying dangerous amounts of rain to some of the country’s most populated provinces.

Shanghai’s Record Deluge

Shanghai, China’s largest city and a global financial hub, bore the brunt of Dolphin’s fury. More than 215,000 people were evacuated from at-risk areas by Sunday evening, a number far higher than the earlier reported figure of 30,300. A weather station in central Shanghai recorded nearly 313 millimeters (12.3 inches) of rain in the 24 hours leading up to Monday morning — the highest 24-hour rainfall in more than 150 years of record-keeping. Another station in the city logged close to 400 millimeters (15.7 inches). The deluge turned streets into rivers, and videos of knee-deep water around the iconic Wukang Mansion, a popular tourist landmark, flooded social media under the hashtag “Shanghai turns into the sea.”

Elsewhere in eastern China, the evacuation effort reached extraordinary scale. In Wenzhou, a coastal city in Zhejiang province, authorities relocated more than 900,000 people and opened more than 1,500 emergency shelters. Neighboring Fujian province moved nearly 99,000 people from high-risk zones. Across Zhejiang, average rainfall from Friday evening to Monday morning reached 173 millimeters (6.8 inches), reportedly surpassing levels seen during previous major typhoons including Lekima and Bavi.

Storm’s Inland Threat

By Monday at 5 a.m. local time, Dolphin had been downgraded to a tropical storm, but meteorologists stressed that the threat was far from over. The storm’s continued northward and inland movement will bring heavy rain to large parts of eastern and central China, including Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai itself. Some areas could see an additional 200 to 400 millimeters (7.9 to 15.7 inches) of rain over the coming days. The National Meteorological Center has maintained an orange alert for heavy rain, warning that days of intense precipitation could trigger widespread flooding and landslides through Wednesday. Residents have been urged to stay indoors during the heaviest downpours and avoid low-lying areas.

Disruption and Regional Impacts

The storm’s impact extended well beyond mainland China’s coastline. Shanghai’s two airports canceled more than 1,300 flights, and many local train services were suspended in the city. Ningbo’s international airport, located about 150 kilometers (93 miles) south of Shanghai, said it would resume operations from midday Monday, though passengers were advised that delays and cancellations could still occur. In Hangzhou, the provincial capital, subway services resumed on Monday morning after being halted on Sunday.

Across the region, Dolphin’s peripheral effects were sharply felt. In Hong Kong, the typhoon fueled intense heat on Sunday, pushing the city to its highest ever recorded temperature of 36.9°C (98.4°F), with officials warning that the scorching conditions would likely persist into Tuesday. Taiwan suspended ferry services and canceled more than 180 flights as the storm brought downpours and strong winds. In Japan’s southern Okinawa prefecture, six people were injured and more than 50,000 buildings lost power. In the Philippines, although the typhoon did not make landfall, it intensified the seasonal monsoon, causing flooding in many areas of northern Luzon, including parts of the capital region around Manila.

Preparing for a Warming World

The overwhelming rainfall and storm surge associated with Dolphin underscore a troubling trend identified by climate scientists: global warming is making extreme weather events more frequent and more intense. Warmer ocean temperatures and increased atmospheric moisture can supercharge typhoons, leading to heavier rains and higher wind speeds. As communities in China and across Asia face a future with more powerful storms, the emphasis on early warning systems, evacuation planning and resilient infrastructure has never been more critical. For now, the immediate priority is protecting lives, but the aftermath of Dolphin will likely become a case study in how to prepare for the storms of a warming planet.