3 weeks ago
China issues red alert as Typhoon Dolphin hits eastern coast
A very big storm called Typhoon Dolphin struck China on Sunday.
It is the 13th typhoon to hit the country this year.
The storm came ashore in Zhejiang province on China's eastern coast.
Its winds blew at 42 metres per second, which made it a severe typhoon.
China's weather experts issued a red alert, their highest-level warning.
They warned that many places would get very heavy rain for several days, and that strong winds could batter the coast.
Because of the storm, thousands of plane flights were cancelled at airports in Shanghai and Hangzhou.
Sadly, a nine-year-old boy was swept into the sea by a huge wave on Friday, and rescuers were still searching for him on Sunday.
Experts say the storm will get weaker as it moves inland, but the heavy rain could still cause floods and landslides.
Officials told everyone to stay safe and to leave dangerous areas if needed.
Typhoon Dolphin, the 13th typhoon of the year in China, made landfall on Sunday afternoon with maximum sustained winds of 42 metres per second, making it a severe typhoon.
China's national observatory issued a red alert, the highest level in the country's typhoon warning system, citing the storm's heavy rainfall intensity, extensive impact range and prolonged duration.
Heavy downpours are forecast from Sunday to Wednesday across ten regions, with severe torrential rain in central-eastern Zhejiang and southern Anhui, and further heavy rain expected in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, northern Shandong and Liaoning from Thursday to Sunday.
Shanghai's two main airports cancelled over 2,230 flights (more than 80 per cent of daily flights), Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport cancelled 500 inbound and outbound flights, and more than 720 flights were called off for Monday.
A nine-year-old boy was swept into the sea by a massive wave in Shitang, Wenling, Zhejiang on Friday, and the search continued into Sunday despite dangerous conditions.
- Who
- China's National Meteorological Centre (NMC) and its chief forecaster Wang Haiping, Zhejiang Communist Party secretary Wang Hao, local authorities and rescue teams.
- What
- Typhoon Dolphin, the 13th typhoon of the year in China, made landfall as a severe typhoon, triggering the country's highest red alert, mass flight cancellations and warnings of heavy rain, gale-force winds and secondary disasters.
- Where
- Zhejiang province on China's eastern coast, making landfall from Sanmen in Zhejiang to Fuding in Fujian, with impacts across Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei, Henan, Shandong and other regions.
- When
- Sunday afternoon, August 9, 2026, with heavy rain expected through Wednesday and further rainfall forecast from Thursday to Sunday.
- Why
- Because the typhoon's heavy rainfall intensity, extensive impact range and prolonged duration posed serious risks of flooding, mountain torrents, mudslides, geological disasters and urban waterlogging.
Key facts
- Typhoon
- Dolphin, the 13th typhoon of the year in China
- Maximum sustained wind
- 42 metres per second (severe typhoon at landfall)
- Warning level
- Red alert, the highest in China's typhoon warning system
- Landfall
- Sunday afternoon, August 9, 2026, from Sanmen, Zhejiang to Fuding, Fujian
- Emergency response
- Upgraded from Level III to Level II for severe meteorological disasters
- Flight cancellations
- Shanghai: over 2,230; Hangzhou Xiaoshan: 500; over 720 more called off for Monday
- Missing child
- Nine-year-old boy swept into the sea in Shitang, Wenling, Zhejiang on Friday
- Expected winds
- Force 9-12 over the East China Sea and coastal areas, with gusts near the typhoon centre reaching Force 15-16
- Heavy rain period
- Sunday to Wednesday across ten regions; Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, northern Shandong and Liaoning from Thursday to Sunday
Quotes
Wang Haiping
Chief forecaster, National Meteorological Centre
“"Public safety was the top priority. I urge strict precautions against mountain torrents, mudslides and other disasters that could be triggered by heavy rainfall."”
rediff.com
“"The red alert was required due to the typhoon's heavy rainfall intensity, extensive impact range and prolonged duration."”
rediff.com
Sources
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