Typhoon Dolphin Breaks Records with Historic Rainfall Across Eastern China
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago5 MIN
Summary
Typhoon Dolphin made landfall in Zhejiang province on September 9, bringing catastrophic rainfall that broke multiple historical records across eastern China. The storm dropped 215 millimeters of rain on average across Zhejiang, making it the most intense typhoon to affect the province since 1949. Fourteen national weather stations recorded their highest ever daily rainfall, while the remnants continue to threaten northeastern provinces.
Key Points
- Typhoon Dolphin made landfall in Yuhuan and Yueqing, Zhejiang on September 9, crossing through Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, and Hubei provinces
- Zhejiang recorded an average rainfall of 215 millimeters, surpassing previous records set by Typhoon烟花 and Typhoon利奇马
- Fourteen national-level weather observation stations in Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Hubei, Henan, and Hebei broke their all-time daily rainfall records
- Changxing in Zhejiang experienced 430 millimeters of extreme rainfall in just 12 hours, while Zhili in Huzhou recorded 232.4 millimeters in a single hour, exceeding Zhengzhou's previous record of 201.9 millimeters
- Accumulated rainfall reached 500 to 800 millimeters in Ningbo, Shanghai's Jinshan district, and Xiangyang in Hubei, with landslides reported in Yixing and Changxing
- Although Dolphin has been officially downgraded, its residual circulation will move eastward and then northward, bringing heavy rain to eastern Heilongjiang and southern Liaoning by September 16-17
Why It Matters
Typhoon Dolphin has demonstrated the increasing intensity of extreme weather events in China, with its residual forces still active days after official dissipation. The storm's unprecedented rainfall in multiple provinces highlights vulnerabilities in flood prevention infrastructure, while its path affecting Hong Kong's neighboring regions serves as a reminder of the city's exposure to severe tropical cyclones during the peak season.