Super Typhoon Dolphin Makes Historic Landfall in China After Epic Pacific CrossingZhejiang, China — August 10, 2026
Typhoon Dolphin, one of the most remarkable tropical cyclones of 2026, made landfall on China’s eastern coast on Sunday evening after an unusually long and intense journey across the Pacific Ocean, prompting the evacuation of more than one million people and widespread disruption across East Asia.
The storm, the 13th named system of the Pacific typhoon season, struck near Yuhuan County in Zhejiang Province around 5:30 p.m. local time on August 9 with maximum sustained winds of approximately 151 km/h (94 mph), equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane. A second landfall followed shortly afterward near Wenzhou. Chinese authorities described it as the strongest typhoon to hit the country this year.
Dolphin’s path was extraordinary. Forming as a tropical depression near the International Date Line around July 26–27, the system rapidly intensified over exceptionally warm ocean waters of 29–30°C. Within roughly 36–48 hours it exploded into a Category 5-equivalent super typhoon, peaking with sustained winds near 165 mph (270 km/h) and a central pressure of about 910 hPa on July 29–30. Meteorologists noted it as among the strongest typhoons on record to develop so close to the Date Line.
The cyclone then embarked on a marathon westward track covering more than 6,000 kilometers and lasting over two weeks—more than three times the lifespan of a typical typhoon. It maintained super-typhoon or severe-typhoon strength for extended periods while remaining over open water, a feat aided by low wind shear and persistently warm seas linked in part to developing El Niño conditions.
Impacts Across the RegionBefore reaching China, Dolphin brushed Japan’s southern islands. In Okinawa and surrounding prefectures, the storm caused several injuries, left tens of thousands without power, forced the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of residents, and led to the cancellation of more than 500 flights.
Taiwan experienced strong winds and heavy rain as the system passed to the north. Authorities reported limited structural damage, a handful of injuries, localized flooding that quickly receded, and dozens of flight cancellations. By Sunday night, Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration had lifted its sea warning after the storm weakened and moved inland over Zhejiang.
China, preparations were extensive. Shanghai canceled roughly 1,000–1,500 flights, ports halted operations, and authorities relocated hundreds of thousands of people in Zhejiang alone—more than 900,000 in Wenzhou and nearly 390,000 in Taizhou. Red alerts were issued for the strongest winds and torrential rain. Forecasts warned of 250–500 mm of rainfall in parts of Zhejiang, with significant rain spreading into Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui, Jiangxi, and further inland. Flooding, landslides, and transport disruption remained major concerns into Monday.
