Typhoon Dolphin Nears China as Ports and Airports Close

Typhoon Dolphin moved toward China's eastern coast on Sunday after disrupting southern Japan and bringing rain to Taiwan, prompting mass evacuations, airport cancellations and widespread closures across Zhejiang and Shanghai.

The storm had maximum sustained winds estimated at about 162 kilometres per hour, or 101 miles per hour, on Sunday morning. Forecasters expected it to reach Zhejiang and northern Fujian late Sunday, with heavy rain creating serious risks of flash flooding and landslides.

Shanghai cancelled more than 1,300 flights at its two main airports as the city prepared for strong winds and flooding from the storm's outer circulation. Authorities also moved residents from vulnerable coastal and low lying areas while emergency teams prepared for transport disruption and water related hazards.

Zhejiang evacuates residents and closes coastal operations

Zhejiang province carried out some of the largest precautionary measures. Authorities in Taizhou evacuated approximately 390,000 people by Saturday evening as the storm approached the coast. Shanghai separately relocated more than 30,000 residents from areas considered especially vulnerable.

All water based activities in Zhejiang were suspended, including ferry and cruise services. Tourist sites were closed, and vessels were ordered to return to sheltered waters. In Ningbo, one of the province's largest port cities, officials halted educational activities and closed schools and training facilities for the weekend.

Around 800 ships had been secured at port as authorities worked to reduce risks to crews and vessels. The measures reflected concern not only about damaging winds but also high waves, storm surge and intense rainfall along a heavily populated and economically important coastline.

Shanghai's Hongqiao and Pudong airports each cancelled about 60 percent of their expected Sunday flights, according to Chinese state media cited by the Associated Press. Airlines and passengers faced further disruption as the storm's track affected routes across eastern China and nearby parts of East Asia.

Flooding and landslides are the primary threat

Chinese forecasters said some areas could receive between 200 and 400 millimetres of rain over several days. The heaviest rainfall was expected in parts of Zhejiang, where saturated slopes and steep terrain increase the danger of landslides.

Rainfall totals can vary significantly over short distances during a typhoon, particularly when bands of moisture repeatedly pass over the same location. Authorities therefore warned residents to follow local alerts rather than rely only on the storm's forecast centre line.

Flooding can continue after the strongest winds have passed. Rivers, drainage systems and reservoirs may respond more slowly than the atmosphere, while damaged roads and fallen trees can delay emergency access. Coastal communities also face risks from high waves and seawater pushed inland by strong onshore winds.

Dolphin disrupted Okinawa before turning toward China

Typhoon Dolphin crossed the region near Japan's southern islands before moving over the East China Sea. Naha Airport on Okinawa closed on Friday, grounding domestic and international flights, while hundreds of residents sought shelter from strong winds, heavy rain and high waves.

Okinawa authorities reported that three men in their seventies suffered minor injuries. Two were caught by strong winds, while another fell while preparing for the storm. About 240 people had entered evacuation centres by midday Friday.

The Japan Meteorological Agency estimated winds near Okinawa at 144 kilometres per hour on Friday afternoon. Dolphin had been considerably stronger earlier in its journey across the western Pacific, reaching Category 5 equivalent super typhoon intensity according to United States based storm tracking, before weakening on its approach to the Ryukyu Islands and China.

The difference between those measurements is not contradictory. Tropical cyclone intensity changes over time, and agencies use different averaging periods when reporting sustained wind. What matters for residents is the latest local warning and the conditions expected at their location.

Taiwan and regional travel also affected

The storm's outer bands brought heavy rain to northern Taiwan, including Taipei, on Saturday. Some Taiwanese airlines cancelled Sunday services to China as weather conditions and airport restrictions affected regional schedules.

Although the centre of Dolphin was forecast to pass toward eastern China, its broad circulation extended impacts across a much wider area. Tropical cyclones can produce damaging rainfall, coastal waves and sudden wind gusts hundreds of kilometres from their centre.

The disruption also affected supply chains and tourism during a busy travel period. Port suspensions delay cargo handling, while airport cancellations can take days to clear because aircraft and crews are displaced from their planned routes.

Forecast remains time sensitive

As of Sunday morning, the most recent forecast placed landfall in Zhejiang or northern Fujian late Sunday. The precise location and intensity could still change before the centre reached the coast, and rainfall impacts were expected beyond the immediate landfall area.

Residents in Zhejiang, Fujian, Shanghai and nearby regions were advised to monitor official meteorological and emergency notices, avoid coastal areas, and follow evacuation instructions. People should not travel through flooded roads or approach rivers and slopes during intense rainfall.

Typhoon Dolphin has already demonstrated how a storm can affect several countries at different stages of its life. After reaching exceptional strength over the open Pacific, it weakened near Okinawa but remained powerful enough to disrupt one of China's busiest coastal regions. The next concern is whether prolonged rain compounds the damage after landfall.