Typhoon Dolphin has brought intense rain to Beijing and large parts of China, turning roads into rivers and disrupting daily life across the country. As the strongest typhoon of the year, it first made landfall in Zhejiang province before its remnants pushed heavy moisture deep inland. Central and eastern regions have seen record rainfall, while the capital faced severe flooding that left vehicles stranded and traffic at a standstill.
Authorities in Beijing issued their second-highest rainstorm warning. Around 250 bus routes were suspended, 150 tourist sites closed, and ten subway lines operated at reduced speed. In the northern Changping district, rainfall hit 90.7 mm in a single hour after 9 am. Video footage showed multi-lane roads completely submerged, with cars and buses partially underwater. Similar scenes played out in Henan and other provinces, where bridges remained crowded with vehicles seeking higher ground amid rising water.
Meteorologists note that an emerging El Niño pattern is raising temperatures and increasing the frequency of powerful storms. Scientists link these more destructive weather events to climate change. State media reported broken rainfall records in Zhejiang, Henan, and Hubei. The city of Wugang recorded 209.5 mm in one day, while Xiangyang saw 169.1 mm. In coastal Yuhuan, nearly 200 mm of rain flooded streets, forcing people to move cars to safer locations.
Residents describe the practical difficulties clearly. Zhao Junxia in Luohe, Henan, said the rain makes work and daily routines extremely inconvenient, especially for food and transport. She moved her car two kilometers away in advance to avoid the serious waterlogging that often occurs near her apartment. Many others across northern and central China are preparing for additional days of rain as the storm’s moisture bands continue to affect the region.
Extreme rainfall each year causes billions of dollars in losses by disrupting manufacturing and damaging crops. Chinese weather agencies are now turning to advanced artificial intelligence models to improve forecasts and strengthen resilience against such events. The impact of Typhoon Dolphin highlights how increasingly intense storms are testing infrastructure and daily life across the world’s second-largest economy.
