Typhoon Dolphin's Inland Push Brings Flood Threat to Central China

Typhoon Dolphin, the strongest storm to hit China this year, has moved deep into the central province of Hubei, prompting authorities to close tourist sites and suspend high-risk construction projects as forecasters warn of extreme rainfall.

The storm, which traveled nearly 6,000 km before making landfall over the weekend, has brought a sprawling cloud field that continues to drench the region. Hubei, home to more than 58 million people and a major hub for auto and electronics manufacturing, is now bracing for up to 250 mm of rain in a 24-hour period in its mountainous northwest.

The National Meteorological Center has renewed an orange alert, the second-highest warning level, for heavy rain. Local authorities have issued yellow warnings for cities including Xiangyang, Huanggang, and Suizhou, citing an elevated risk of flooding and landslides.

In response, scenic areas across the province, including the popular Three Gorges Dam tourist site in Yichang, have been temporarily closed. Of the 107 major highway and waterway construction projects underway, 26 deemed high-risk have been suspended.

Officials say the storm's peripheral airflow will intensify as it rises over the mountains in western Hubei, potentially multiplying rainfall several times over. In neighboring Henan province, a red flash-flood alert has been issued as the storm channels moisture northward.

The storm's reach extends far beyond Hubei. Beijing, more than 1,000 km to the north, is preparing for the onset of heavy rain expected to bring over one-third of its annual rainfall in a single day. Four districts on the capital's outskirts have activated Level I emergency flood responses.

Meanwhile, Japan is also on alert, with the Japan Meteorological Agency warning that Typhoon Chan-hom could move across the mainland, bringing landslides, flooding, and strong winds.