China’s Zhejiang Province activated a high-level emergency response and halted key maritime operations as Typhoon Dolphin approaches the east coast. The typhoon is forecast to make landfall between Zhejiang and northern Fujian between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning, with sustained winds of up to 151 km/h, equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane [1, 2, 3].
By Friday morning, Typhoon Dolphin was located about 763 to 820 kilometers off the Zhejiang coast, moving westward at speeds of 15 to 20 km/h [1, 3]. The storm’s size was nearly 13 times larger than Zhejiang Province itself, posing a significant threat to the region [1, 3]. The National Meteorological Centre issued a yellow alert for strong wind and rain across Zhejiang, Fujian, and Taiwan [1, 3].
Zhejiang authorities raised the emergency response level to either Level II or Level III, with sources differing on the exact tier but agreeing it is among the top three levels in a four-tier system [1, 3]. As part of precautionary measures, the province suspended 162 passenger ferry routes and 193 offshore construction projects, while docking 474 ships. At least 15 tugboats were placed on standby for emergency operations [1, 3]. Lou Xiaofen, chief forecaster at Zhejiang Meteorological Observatory, said the typhoon "stands a high chance of making direct landfall in Zhejiang, which is located between Shanghai and Fujian, creating substantial disaster risks across the region" [3].
Major ports near Shanghai, including Zhoushan, Ningbo, and Changjiangkou, closed to maritime traffic earlier this week in preparation for the approaching storm [2]. Zhejiang maritime authorities issued around 86,000 early warning messages and inspected 24,000 vessels to ensure readiness [3].
Beyond coastal areas, heavy rain and flash flood warnings have been issued inland for provinces such as Jiangxi, Anhui, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangsu, Henan, and Shandong [1, 2]. An artificial intelligence forecasting system is being used to predict the typhoon’s path and intensity up to 10 days in advance to aid in disaster preparation [1].
Typhoon Dolphin’s anticipated landfall from August 9 to 10 marks the next critical phase, prompting local governments and maritime agencies to maintain heightened vigilance and restrict coastal activities to reduce risks [1, 2, 3].
