Tropical Storm Dolphin Impacts China with Heavy Rains and Winds

Tropical Storm Dolphin has unleashed severe weather on eastern China, bringing torrential rains and strong winds that have necessitated the evacuation of over a million residents. The storm made landfall as a typhoon in Yuhuan, Zhejiang province, with peak winds reaching 151 km/h, prompting the highest alert level in the nation's weather warning system.

As the storm moved inland, it weakened but continued to drench regions including Anhui, Jiangsu, and Shandong. The National Meteorological Center forecasts continued heavy rainfall until August 10, particularly impactful in Zhejiang where rainfall might reach up to 500mm in some areas. Major disruptions include nearly 40% of flights cancelled at Shanghai airports.

The storm’s trajectory suggests a continued path towards the central provinces of Hubei and Henan while precipitation is expected to move northward. Beijing authorities have preemptively raised flood warnings, bracing for potential flash floods and landslides as heavy rains are anticipated in the coming days.