Shanghai airports were forced to cancel numerous flights on Monday due to tropical storm Dolphin causing heavy rainfall in eastern China. The storm had initially made landfall as a typhoon the day before, leading to widespread disruptions. Shanghai’s Hongqiao and Pudong airports canceled over 900 flights, representing approximately 40% of the scheduled flights, following the previous day’s cancellation of around 1,300 flights, as reported by the Shanghai Airport Group.
In response to the severe weather conditions, Shanghai suspended some metro lines while China Railway Chengdu Group halted 115 trains. Concerns over severe flooding and landslides prompted authorities to issue warnings. The China Meteorological Administration indicated that Dolphin was moving northwest at a speed of 15 to 20 kilometers per hour and was anticipated to weaken further.
Dolphin had made landfall in Taizhou, Zhejiang province, with winds reaching 151 kilometers per hour on Sunday evening. Prior to reaching China, the storm had brought heavy rainfall to northern Taiwan over the weekend. The storm’s impact was evident in Wenzhou, Zhejiang, where strong winds and heavy rain caused a truck to tip over, as depicted in a video shared on TikTok. The fate of the truck driver remained unclear.
The storm led to the preemptive relocation of at least 760,000 individuals, with significant evacuations in Taizhou, Shanghai, and Fujian province. Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang, temporarily closed its popular West Lake scenic spots along with various other attractions. Meanwhile, tropical storm Chan-hom was en route to Japan’s Pacific coast, with forecasts suggesting a slight strengthening before its expected landfall.
Shanghai experienced extensive flooding in its Jiading and Qingpu districts, prompting residents to share livestreams on social media showing waterlogged streets. One resident, Hou Lina, described the unprecedented inconvenience caused by the typhoon, highlighting the widespread flooding in the area.
As Dolphin continued its path, Beijing braced for heavy rainfall and potential flash floods. The storm, noted for its extensive reach, was forecast to move inland towards central provinces, triggering weather alerts in Beijing. Comparisons were drawn between Dolphin and the 2023 typhoon Doksuri, which left a trail of destruction in its wake.
The prolonged life cycle of Dolphin, spanning 6,000 kilometers before landfall, contributed to its massive cloud system impacting regions across China. The storm’s effects extended to areas like Hong Kong, where extreme heat was recorded, setting new temperature records. The northwest Pacific typhoon season was predicted to be highly active, with a notable number of tropical storms and typhoons expected.
Although Dolphin did not directly hit the Philippines, it exacerbated monsoon rains, resulting in flooding and landslides in Luzon. Tragic incidents, including a landslide in Baguio that claimed multiple lives, underscored the destructive impact of the storm. The ongoing monsoon season left a significant number of individuals affected by the adverse weather conditions.