Typhoon Dolphin made two landfalls on the eastern coast of Zhejiang province on Sunday, bringing destructive winds and heavy rainfall [1].
The storm's unusual size and duration indicate a shift in weather patterns, as it maintained strength far longer than typical typhoons in the region.
Local authorities issued a red alert, the highest warning level, as the storm struck at approximately 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. local time [1]. The typhoon brought maximum wind speeds of 42 m/s [1]. Rainfall reached approximately 300 mm in affected areas [1].
In response to the threat, officials evacuated approximately 1 million residents [1]. The storm also paralyzed transportation in nearby Shanghai, where nearly 1,500 passenger flights were canceled [1]. Train and ferry services in the city were also suspended [1].
The impacts of Typhoon Dolphin extended beyond mainland China. In Taiwan, officials reported six people injured and 632 reports of property damage [1]. The storm also affected Okinawa, Japan [1].
Meteorologists noted the storm's extraordinary characteristics. Typhoon Dolphin traveled more than 6,000 km [1]. It maintained its strength for more than 15 days, which is over three times the typical lifespan of such storms [1]. The typhoon's diameter reached approximately 1,300 km, a size larger than the Korean Peninsula [1].
Experts said the storm maintained this strength and size by continuously drawing heat and moisture from the Pacific Ocean [1].
“Typhoon Dolphin's diameter reached approximately 1,300 km, a size larger than the Korean Peninsula.”
The anomalous lifespan and diameter of Typhoon Dolphin suggest that increasing ocean temperatures in the Pacific are providing more sustained energy to tropical cyclones. When storms maintain peak intensity for three times the average duration, it increases the likelihood of multiple landfalls and expands the geographic area of destruction, challenging traditional evacuation and disaster response timelines.
