Typhoon “White Dolphin” made landfall twice on the night of August 9th in Kanmen, Yuhuan, Zhejiang and Wengxiang Street, Leqing City, Wenzhou. The typhoon traveled a long distance of 6000 kilometers, setting a record for the longest ocean-going typhoon to make landfall in China. It is expected to continue bringing windy and rainy conditions to several provinces. Prior to the typhoon’s landfall, Shanghai experienced severe flooding, sparking heated discussions among netizens.
According to official reports from the mainland, the center of Typhoon “White Dolphin” made its first landfall around 5:30 pm on August 9th in Kanmen, Yuhuan, Zhejiang with maximum sustained winds near the center reaching level 14. Later in the evening around 6:40 pm, it made a second landfall in Wengxiang Street, Leqing City, Wenzhou, Zhejiang with maximum winds near the center reaching level 13.
Chief forecaster Dong Lin from the Beijing Central Meteorological Observatory introduced that “White Dolphin” became the first typhoon in meteorological history to generate near the International Date Line and make landfall in China with tropical storm strength or above.
Dong Lin explained that “White Dolphin” has three significant characteristics: first, it covers a long distance, with an exceptionally long lifespan. It developed west of the International Date Line on July 27th, and its total travel distance before landfall is expected to exceed 6000 kilometers, with a lifespan of over 15 days, more than three times the lifespan of an average typhoon. Second, it rapidly intensified into a super typhoon within 48 hours of formation, showing explosive strengthening. Third, it has a large circulation, causing wide-ranging impacts with wind and rain. The storm’s 7th-grade wind circle has a radius of 420 to 450 kilometers, and its circulation diameter reaches 1300 kilometers.
Due to its massive size, with a cloud system diameter exceeding 1200 kilometers and an area of over 1 million square kilometers, “White Dolphin” is capable of covering the entire eastern region of China. Apart from strong winds and rains near the landing points, the typhoon is expected to linger and bring continuous wind and rain effects in the border areas of Jiangxi, Hubei, and Anhui provinces.
As a result of Typhoon White Dolphin, Shanghai experienced heavy rainfall on August 9th, leading to flooding in various parts of the city. Over a hundred road sections in the city were submerged. Videos shared by Shanghai netizens depicted the city transformed into an expanse of water. Netizens commented, “It’s already flooded before the typhoon makes landfall… way ahead of time.”
Affected by the strong winds and heavy rains, Shanghai issued a red alert for heavy rainfall. Shanghai Disney Resort had to adjust operations and closed early at 8:00 pm on the 9th. Disney Town ceased operations at 9:00 pm. All long-distance bus services in Shanghai were suspended, and the Shanghai Long-Distance Bus Terminal was temporarily closed.
Shanghai, being China’s largest city, faced similar flooding in July during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference. The sudden downpour caused roads to resemble rivers, leading to vehicle breakdowns, submerging streets, supermarkets, schools, and hospitals, creating a sea-like scenario. The contrast between the high-tech event and the city’s inundation sparked heated discussions online, with many netizens using the situation for satire.
Following previous instances of heavy rainfall causing internal flooding and building leaks in Shanghai, public concerns and media discussions arose regarding the city’s underground network, high-speed rail stations, and high-end shopping malls’ flood prevention capabilities. Despite reflections on construction standards and insufficient infrastructure capacity to withstand extreme weather conditions as early as 2013 due to Typhoon “Fitow” and severe flooding, Shanghai, touted as China’s premier city under Xi Jinping’s leadership for over a decade, still struggles to address internal flooding issues.
After Typhoon “White Dolphin” made landfall in Yuhuan, Zhejiang around 5:30 pm on August 9th, it is expected to gradually move inland. However, mainland experts emphasize the importance of remaining vigilant during the typhoon’s impact to mitigate the potential compounded risk of the “Three Collisions.”
The “Three Collisions,” also known as the “Wind, Rain, and Tide Collisions,” refer to the extreme situation when strong winds, heavy rainfall, and astronomical high tides converge in the same coastal area to amplify destructive power exponentially.
Chen Si, Deputy Director and Senior Engineer of the Fujian Strait Meteorological Science Research Institute, stated that the combined impact of wind, rain, and tide significantly magnifies the destructive force of each element. When these factors converge, the damage potential increases drastically, posing one of the most extreme risks to coastal areas in typhoon prevention efforts.
Experts explain that the harm from the “Three Collisions” mainly manifests in three aspects: first, relentless violent winds with immense destructive power. Secondly, torrential rainfall leading to a sharp increase in flood risks. Thirdly, high tides backing up sea water, raising the risk of sea water surges.
With the formidable approach of Typhoon “White Dolphin” and the potential risks of the “Three Collisions,” meteorological experts advise the public to heighten vigilance and take necessary precautions.