China issues flood warning in aftermath of Typhoon Dolphin

The Ministry of Water Resources upgraded its flood warning to yellow on Friday as the residual circulation of Typhoon Dolphin, along with cold air and a monsoon trough, is forecast to bring heavy rain to a wide swath of eastern and southern China from Friday to Sunday.

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

Southern Jiangsu province, Zhejiang province, eastern and southern Anhui province, most of Jiangxi province, southern and western Fujian province, and central and eastern Guangdong province, as well as Shanghai municipality, are expected to see moderate to heavy rain, with some areas in southern Jiangsu, northeastern Zhejiang and central Guangdong likely to face torrential downpours, the ministry said in a media release.

The ministry said Taihu Lake is expected to see a relatively large basin-wide flood, while the Chuhe River may see its second numbered flood of 2026. The Shaying River will remain above the warning level, it said.

In China, a numbered flood is determined when a key hydrological station reaches preset warning thresholds in a major body of water.

Rivers and water systems around Taihu Lake, the Chuhe River and the Lixia River area in Jiangsu, the Cao'e and Jiaojiang rivers along Zhejiang's coast, and the Beijiang River in Guangdong are expected to rise markedly. Some small and medium-sized rivers in rain-hit areas may exceed warning levels.

The ministry urged residents in Jiangsu, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Anhui, Henan, Jiangxi, Fujian and Guangdong to stay alert, reduce unnecessary travel during heavy rain, avoid flooded roads, underpasses and mountain valleys, and prepare for evacuation if they live in mountainous or riverside areas.