Typhoon Dolphin Impacts China, Causes Closures and Alerts

XIANGYANG, China — On Tuesday, Typhoon Dolphin moved further inland to China’s central Hubei province. This led to the closure of tourist sites and suspension of construction projects. The typhoon threatened heavy rainfall in the province’s mountainous northwest.

Dolphin is the strongest typhoon to hit China this year. It traveled more than 3,700 miles before it landed on the eastern coast last weekend, bringing extensive cloud cover.

Hubei, home to over 58 million people and a major auto and electronics hub, recently faced two tornados after Typhoon Maysak. Those tornados resulted in at least 11 fatalities.

The National Meteorological Center issued an orange alert for heavy rain. Northwestern Hubei might receive up to 9.8 inches of rain in 24 hours. Authorities warned cities like Xiangyang, Huanggang, and Suizhou about potential flooding and landslides due to the weather risks.

Scenic sites, including the Three Gorges Dam in Yichang, have temporarily closed. Out of 107 highway and waterway construction projects, 26 identified as high-risk have been paused.

Wang Xiaoling, deputy director of Hubei’s provincial meteorological observatory, explained that the typhoon’s airflow will rise against Hubei’s mountains, intensifying rainfall multiple times.

Adjacent Henan province issued a red flash-flood alert as the storm continues to push moisture northward. The storm’s effects could extend to Beijing, which is over 600 miles from Hubei. The outskirts of the capital activated Level I emergency flood responses, expecting significant rainfall within 24 hours starting late Tuesday.

Japan is also on alert. The Japan Meteorological Agency warned of landslides, flooding, and strong winds from Typhoon Chan-hom, which might cross Japan’s mainland on Tuesday.