XIANGYANG, China, Aug 11 – Typhoon Dolphin pushed deeper into central China on Tuesday, bringing torrential rain, widespread flooding and renewed warnings of dangerous weather across several provinces. Streets were inundated in parts of Hubei, tourist attractions were closed and authorities suspended dozens of high-risk construction projects as the weakening storm continued to carry large amounts of moisture inland.
Flooding was also reported in parts of Beijing, where heavy rain was expected to intensify overnight. Authorities in four districts on the capital’s outskirts activated the highest level of emergency flood response as forecasters warned that the city could receive more than one-third of its average annual rainfall within a 24-hour period.
Dolphin, which was downgraded to a tropical depression on Tuesday afternoon, has maintained an unusually broad reach despite losing much of its strength. The storm travelled nearly 6,000 kilometres before making landfall in China over the weekend, first soaking the country’s eastern coastline before its extensive cloud system moved inland.
The National Meteorological Center renewed an orange alert for heavy rain, the country’s second-highest warning level. Hubei was forecast to receive as much as 250 millimetres of rain within 24 hours, raising concerns about further flooding, landslides and rising water levels in rivers and reservoirs.
The storm’s influence has extended far beyond its original landfall area. Beijing, located more than 1,000 kilometres north of Hubei, was already experiencing intense rainfall by Tuesday evening, with authorities preparing for a particularly wet period overnight.
In the capital’s northeastern Shunyi district, rainfall became especially heavy. Authorities said the highest hourly rainfall recorded in Beijing was measured in Houshayu, where 88.5 millimetres fell between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. local time.
Videos and photographs circulating on China’s Rednote social media platform showed vehicles struggling through flooded roads in Shunyi. Several cars and buses were partially submerged, while one image showed a delivery worker attempting to move through deep water with only the handles of his motorbike and the top of his delivery box visible above the surface.
The rainfall raised concerns about further disruption to transportation and daily life as more rain was expected.
Hubei Faces Rising Flood Threat
Hubei, home to more than 58 million people, has been particularly vulnerable to the latest round of severe weather. The central province is an important manufacturing centre for automobiles and high-tech electronics, but it has also been dealing with the effects of severe storms in recent weeks.
The province was still recovering from two unusual tornadoes last month that followed Typhoon Maysak. Those storms killed at least 11 people and caused significant damage in several areas.
Xiangyang was among the Hubei cities affected by Dolphin’s heavy rainfall. Local authorities issued a yellow warning for floods and landslides, while water-covered roads made movement increasingly difficult.
Pedestrians were seen wading through flooded streets, with shared electric scooters partly submerged in the water. At one busy intersection, motorists slowed down as they attempted to cross water more than 30 centimetres deep. Some drivers turned back rather than risk taking their vehicles through the flooded section.
For 60-year-old Huang, the worsening conditions brought concerns about her home. She had postponed a grocery trip earlier in the day because of the rain and later watched the rising water around the neighbourhood.
“This area always gets flooded when it rains. If it continues like this, the waters could reach my home,” she said.
In another part of Xiangyang, rainwater poured from elevated motorbike paths onto a lower section of highway. Workers wearing brightly coloured safety clothing were deployed to clear sections of concrete and help the water drain more quickly.
The flooding has also placed pressure on reservoirs across the city. By Tuesday morning, water levels at 35 reservoirs in Xiangyang had risen above flood-control thresholds. Authorities responded by relocating 9,705 residents from areas considered vulnerable to flooding.
The provincial government has also taken steps to limit risks at tourist destinations and construction sites. Several scenic areas across Hubei were temporarily closed, including the popular tourist area around the Three Gorges Dam in Yichang.
In Xiangyang, only two of the city’s 59 major scenic attractions remained open as authorities tightened safety measures.
Of 107 major highway and waterway construction projects operating across Hubei, 26 projects classified as high-risk were suspended because of the severe weather.
Hubei authorities also issued yellow weather warnings for several other cities, including Huanggang and Suizhou, as rainfall spread across the province.
The continuing threat is partly linked to the province’s mountainous terrain. Wang Xiaoling, deputy director of the Hubei provincial meteorological observatory, told local newspaper Hubei Daily that Dolphin’s peripheral airflow would be forced upward as it encountered mountains in western Hubei. That process could significantly strengthen rainfall in the area, increasing the risk of flash flooding and other weather-related hazards.
Rain Spreads North as Japan Prepares
The effects of Dolphin are not limited to Hubei and Beijing. Neighbouring Henan province issued a red flash-flood alert as the storm’s moisture continued moving northward.
Forecasters warned that some areas of Henan could receive as much as 350 millimetres of rain through Wednesday afternoon. The combination of saturated ground, swollen waterways and additional rainfall could increase the risk of sudden flooding in low-lying areas.
Authorities in affected regions have been monitoring rivers, reservoirs and vulnerable communities while urging residents to remain alert as the storm system continues to move inland.
The storm’s unusual longevity has contributed to its wide-reaching impact. Although Dolphin weakened after reaching land, its large circulation continued transporting moisture across central and northern China. The result has been heavy rainfall well away from the storm’s original path.
Beijing is now facing its own significant flood risk. Several districts on the city’s outskirts have already moved to the highest level of emergency response, while residents have been warned to prepare for worsening conditions.
The expected rainfall could place additional pressure on the capital’s drainage systems, particularly in areas where roads and underpasses are prone to water accumulation.
Dolphin has also affected weather preparations beyond mainland China. Japan, which experienced the storm’s effects before it reached China, was preparing for possible landslides, flooding and strong winds.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said Typhoon No. 15, Chan-hom, could move across Japan’s mainland later Tuesday, adding another weather threat to communities already dealing with the effects of recent storms.
For central China, however, the immediate concern remains the continuing rainfall from Dolphin. Even as the system has weakened to a tropical depression, its large moisture field is producing dangerous conditions across a broad area.
Authorities in Hubei and other affected provinces are expected to maintain heightened flood monitoring as additional rainfall moves through the region. With reservoirs already above control thresholds in parts of Xiangyang and thousands of people relocated, officials face the challenge of preventing further flooding while protecting roads, construction sites, tourist areas and densely populated communities.
The situation in Beijing is also being closely watched as heavier rain moves into the capital. Officials have urged residents in vulnerable districts to take precautions, particularly in areas susceptible to flooding, landslides and transportation disruptions.
The storm’s progression illustrates how a weakening tropical system can continue to pose serious risks long after losing its typhoon classification. Dolphin’s long journey across China has left a broad trail of heavy rain, and forecasters expect the threat from excessive rainfall to continue even as the storm itself gradually dissipates.