China issues blue alert as Typhoon Dolphin approaches

BEIJING -- China's National Meteorological Center renewed a blue typhoon alert on Thursday as Typhoon Dolphin approaches the country's eastern coastal regions.

As of 5:00 am (Beijing Time) Thursday, the center of Dolphin, the 13th typhoon of 2026, was located about 1,360 km east of Wenzhou, in East China's Zhejiang province, over the northwestern Pacific Ocean. The strong typhoon packs a maximum wind force of 42 meters per second near its center.

According to the forecast, Dolphin will move westward at a speed of 15 to 20 km per hour, with its intensity remaining stable or slightly strengthening. It will enter the East China Sea on Friday, and gradually approach the coastal areas of East China.

From 8:00 am Thursday to 8:00 am Friday, strong winds are expected in most parts of the East China Sea, southeastern Yellow Sea, waters east of Taiwan, eastern coast of Taiwan Island, Bashi Channel, as well as the central and southern South China Sea.

Residents in East China coastal regions are advised to closely follow the latest typhoon forecast and early warning information, and make preparations for the impact of the typhoon in advance.

China has a four-tier color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe, followed by orange, yellow and blue.