Authorities in Beijing have initiated mass evacuations in response to severe weather conditions stemming from the remnants of Typhoon Dolphin, which continues to deliver heavy rainfall across northern and central China. The Chinese capital faces forecasted precipitation exceeding 150mm over a 24-hour period, with some districts potentially receiving more than 200mm—representing over one-third of the city’s typical annual rainfall total of 528mm. An orange rainstorm warning, the second-highest alert level, remained in effect on Wednesday morning, with the most intense rainfall anticipated during morning hours.
The impact on Beijing’s infrastructure and residents has been substantial. Hundreds of tourist attractions and campsites were closed on Wednesday, resulting in over 1,300 tourists being evacuated or turned away. Additionally, approximately 5,000 elderly people were relocated from care facilities, and roughly 1,800 residents from construction zones in mountainous and riverside areas were moved to safety. Transportation infrastructure experienced significant disruptions, with 250 bus routes suspended and metro services operating at reduced capacity across 10 lines.
The severe weather has extended well beyond Beijing. Hebei province activated emergency protocols for flooding and geological hazards, deploying 623 response teams to mountainous regions and equipping more than 2,100 at-risk villages with communication equipment. In Henan province, authorities escalated the rainfall warning to the highest red alert level on Wednesday morning, as downpours continued affecting extensive areas. Forecasts indicated up to 350mm of rainfall over 24 hours in some Henan locations, prompting suspensions of classes, business operations, and non-essential outdoor activities.
Typhoon Dolphin, characterized as the strongest typhoon affecting China this year, made landfall in Zhejiang province on Sunday before weakening. However, its remnants have continued channeling tropical moisture inland, affecting central and northern regions. Rainfall records have been surpassed at multiple locations, including Wugang in Henan with 209.5mm and Xiangyang in Hubei with 169.1mm recorded in single days—both August records for their respective areas. Scientists attribute China’s increasing vulnerability to destructive weather events to climate change, with the current El Niño weather pattern contributing to elevated temperatures and more frequent and intense typhoons.
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