Mohan Sinha
11 Aug 2026

SHANGHAI/BEIJING, China: Heavy rain and strong winds left behind by Typhoon Dolphin flooded large parts of eastern China, soaking coastal areas and submerging streets in Shanghai. Around 40 percent of flights in the city were canceled on August 10 due to the bad weather.

The typhoon made landfall in Zhejiang province, south of Shanghai, on the evening of August 9 with winds reaching 151 km per hour. After landfall, it weakened into a tropical storm, but its rain clouds continued to move across eastern provinces such as Anhui, Jiangsu and Shandong the next day.

Shanghai, one of China's largest cities, experienced severe flooding across many areas, including busy business districts. State media reported that the city's two main airports canceled 943 flights, cutting operations by nearly 40 percent. Airlines said they were working to gradually restart services.

Flooding was also reported in suburban districts like Jiading and Qingpu. Videos shared online showed people walking through knee-deep water, although these clips were not independently verified. Residents said the rain had lasted through the night, leaving streets badly flooded by morning.

One resident described how unusual the situation was after years of living in the city. Hou Lina said, "I've lived in Shanghai for 10 years, and this is the first time I've experienced such inconvenience from a typhoon. This is the first time I've encountered such widespread flooding."

Authorities in parts of Shanghai, including Jinshan district, allowed non-essential businesses, schools and transport services to temporarily shut down as strong winds and heavy rain were expected to continue.

In Zhejiang province, strong winds overturned a truck in Wenzhou, according to a video posted online. Officials also warned that dozens of rivers in the Taihu Lake area and coastal Zhejiang had risen above safe levels, increasing the risk of flooding, especially in smaller rivers.

Typhoon Dolphin is the strongest storm to hit China this year. It is expected to move further inland towards central provinces such as Hubei and Henan, while also pushing moisture northwards.

In Beijing, authorities issued warnings for heavy rain and said flood-control measures could be activated. The city is expected to see significant rainfall between August 11 and August 13, raising concerns about flash floods and landslides in nearby mountainous regions.

The storm has already traveled about 6,000 km, making its lifespan much longer than a typical typhoon. Its large cloud system has spread across eastern China. Its impact has been compared to Typhoon Doksuri in 2023, which caused severe damage and record rainfall in Beijing.

As the storm system moves northward and encounters cooler air, areas including Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei are expected to experience heavier rain in the coming days.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong experienced extreme heat linked to the storm, recording its highest-ever temperature of 36.9 degrees Celsius, the hottest since records began in 1884.

Experts say the 2026 typhoon season in the northwest Pacific could be one of the most active on record. They expect around 28 tropical storms, 20 typhoons and 13 very intense storms. Factors such as a strong El Niño, high storm activity so far, and weaker trade winds are contributing to this active season.