China’s capital Beijing is preparing for a spell of potentially severe rainfall, with some areas forecast to receive more than 200 mm of rain within 24 hours as moisture from Typhoon Dolphin moves north and interacts with a cooler air mass over northern China.

The rainfall is expected to begin late Tuesday and continue through Thursday, raising concerns over urban flooding, waterlogging, landslides and disruption to road and public transport networks.

Meteorologists have warned that the intensity of the rainfall could put pressure on drainage systems in the densely populated capital, while mountainous districts face additional risks from flash floods and landslides.

More Than 150 mm Forecast

The Beijing Meteorological Service has forecast more than 150 mm of rainfall across large parts of the city's urban and suburban areas within 24 hours.

Some locations could record more than 100 mm in just six hours, indicating the possibility of intense downpours over short periods.

The heaviest rainfall is expected across several suburban and mountainous districts, including Tongzhou, Daxing, Fangshan, Mentougou, Huairou and Fengtai.

Some of these areas could receive more than 200 mm in a single day.

Months of Rain in One Day

The forecast rainfall is significant compared with Beijing's annual precipitation.

The Chinese capital typically receives around 528 mm of rainfall over an entire year. If some areas receive more than 200 mm in 24 hours, the amount would represent a substantial share of the city's annual rainfall in just one day.

Such concentrated rainfall can rapidly increase runoff, overwhelm drainage infrastructure and raise the risk of flooding in low-lying areas.

Typhoon Dolphin Drives Moisture

The developing weather system is linked to moisture associated with Typhoon Dolphin, which recently affected parts of China.

As moisture moves northward, it is converging with a cooler air mass over northern China. The interaction is helping create conditions favourable for widespread and intense rainfall over Beijing.

The system is being closely monitored as forecasters assess how its track and intensity could affect the capital and surrounding areas.

Flooding and Landslide Concerns

Authorities are particularly concerned about flooding in urban areas and landslides in Beijing's mountainous districts.

Heavy rain can quickly overwhelm drainage networks, causing water to accumulate on roads, underpasses and other low-lying locations. Rising water levels in rivers and waterways are another concern.

Districts such as Mentougou and Fangshan face additional risks because of their mountainous terrain. Intense rainfall in these areas can trigger flash floods and landslides with limited warning.

Flood-control teams, emergency services and municipal drainage departments have been placed on heightened alert.

Residents Asked to Limit Travel

Authorities have urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel during the most intense period of rainfall.

People have been advised to stay away from low-lying areas, underground passages and roads that are vulnerable to waterlogging.

Residents in mountainous areas have also been warned to avoid locations at risk of flash floods and landslides.

Public transport and road traffic could face disruptions if rainfall becomes intense enough to affect major routes.

Rain to Continue Through Thursday

The heaviest rainfall is expected from Tuesday night through Thursday, keeping emergency agencies on alert for possible flooding and other weather-related incidents.

Officials are monitoring rainfall patterns and preparing response teams in vulnerable districts.

With some locations potentially receiving more than 200 mm of rain in 24 hours, authorities are focusing on drainage, flood prevention, emergency response and public safety as Beijing prepares for the approaching weather system.

Typhoon Dolphin has brought intense rainfall, flooding and widespread disruption to parts of eastern China, while its influence is also being felt thousands of kilometres away in India. Although the storm is not expected to make landfall in India, its large-scale atmospheric circulation could temporarily affect the development of rain-bearing systems over the Bay of Bengal.

The typhoon made landfall in China on Sunday evening, August 9, and continued to bring heavy rain to several provinces on Monday. Authorities warned of further flooding and landslide risks as the system moved northward.

For India, however, the concern is different. Meteorologists are watching whether Dolphin's interaction with the broader Asian atmospheric circulation could reduce the moisture available over the Bay of Bengal, potentially weakening monsoon systems over central, eastern and northern parts of the country.

Typhoon Hits China

Typhoon Dolphin made its first landfall near Yuhuan in Zhejiang province at around 5:30 pm local time on Sunday before making another landfall near Wenzhou roughly an hour later, according to Chinese meteorological authorities.

The storm weakened after moving inland but continued to produce torrential rainfall across several regions, including Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui, Hubei, Henan and Shandong. Shanghai was also badly affected, with flooding reported in several areas.

The extreme weather disrupted transportation across the region. Shanghai's two major passenger airports cancelled hundreds of flights, while some railway and public transport services were temporarily suspended.

Authorities had taken precautionary measures before the storm arrived. More than one million people were evacuated from parts of Shanghai, while large-scale evacuations were also carried out in Wenzhou and Taizhou.

Several tourist attractions and public facilities were closed as authorities warned residents to avoid unnecessary outdoor movement.

Wider Regional Impact

The effects of Dolphin have extended beyond mainland China. Hong Kong experienced unusually high temperatures as warm air associated with the storm moved across the region.

Parts of Japan's Okinawa region also experienced strong winds, while the Philippines reported a landslide in Baguio that resulted in people being rescued and others reported missing.

These developments highlight how powerful tropical systems can influence weather patterns well beyond their immediate path.

Why India Is Watching Dolphin

India is not directly in the path of Typhoon Dolphin. The concern is instead linked to the storm's influence on the wider atmospheric circulation across Asia.

Large tropical cyclones can draw substantial amounts of heat and moisture towards their circulation. When such a system becomes active in the western Pacific, it can alter the distribution of moisture and atmospheric energy across the region.

For India's monsoon, this matters because the Bay of Bengal is an important source of moisture for low-pressure areas and depressions that move inland and produce widespread rainfall.

If the atmospheric conditions over the Bay of Bengal become less favourable for the formation of these systems, rainfall activity over parts of central, eastern and northern India could temporarily weaken.

Monsoon Moisture Under Pressure

Weather experts have described the situation as a competition for atmospheric moisture and energy.

Typhoon Dolphin is concentrating significant moisture around its circulation. At the same time, changes in upper-level winds associated with the storm could influence the position and behaviour of the monsoon trough.

The result could be a temporary disruption in the sequence of low-pressure systems normally responsible for transporting moisture from the Bay of Bengal into the Indian subcontinent.

However, this does not mean that the Indian monsoon is disappearing or that Dolphin has directly "stolen" India's rainfall.

The monsoon is controlled by a complex interaction involving ocean temperatures, atmospheric circulation, pressure patterns, the monsoon trough and weather systems developing across the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal.

What Happens Next?

The key question is whether another low-pressure system will develop over the Bay of Bengal in the coming days.

If favourable conditions return, rainfall activity could strengthen again across parts of India. If the broader atmospheric pattern remains disturbed, some regions could experience a temporary reduction in rainfall.

The impact of Typhoon Dolphin therefore needs to be viewed as part of a much larger Asian weather pattern rather than as a direct cause of India's monsoon behaviour.

For now, the storm's immediate threat remains concentrated in China, where authorities continue to monitor flooding and landslide risks. In India, weather agencies and meteorologists will be watching the Bay of Bengal closely for signs of the next monsoon system.

Typhoon Dolphin made landfall on China’s eastern coast, forcing the evacuation of more than one million people and causing widespread disruption to flights, ports and ferry services.

The storm crossed the coast near Yuhuan in Zhejiang province with sustained winds of approximately 151 kilometres per hour. Chinese authorities described it as the most powerful tropical cyclone to hit the country this year.

Parts of central and eastern Zhejiang were forecast to receive between 250 mm and 500 mm of rainfall, increasing the risk of flash floods, river flooding and landslides.

Shanghai Flights and Port Operations Disrupted

Around 1,500 flights were reportedly cancelled in Shanghai. Authorities also evacuated at least 30,300 people from the city.

Shanghai’s Yangshan port cleared vessels from its berths, while more than 500 small and medium-sized boats were moved to safer locations.

Wenzhou in Zhejiang relocated more than 900,000 residents and opened over 1,000 emergency shelters. Nearly 99,000 people were also evacuated from high-risk areas in Fujian province.

Authorities suspended dozens of coastal ferry routes and halted offshore construction projects.

Storm Previously Hit Okinawa

Before reaching China, Dolphin passed through Japan’s Okinawa prefecture, where six people were injured and more than 50,000 buildings lost electricity.

Although the typhoon is expected to weaken while moving inland, its slower movement could produce prolonged rainfall. Residents in flood-prone and mountainous areas have been asked to follow local evacuation instructions.