Typhoon Dolphin, the strongest typhoon of the year, has lashed wide swathes of northern and central China, setting new rainfall records in central and eastern provinces. In Beijing, the storm brought bouts of intense rain that flooded key roads and stranded vehicles.
In response to the weather, thousands of people have been evacuated from areas at risk of flooding and landslides in the capital. Beijing declared its second-highest rainstorm warning, resulting in the suspension of 250 bus routes and the closure of 150 tourist attractions, while 10 subway lines ran at reduced speed.
Forecasters warned that Beijing could receive more than 150mm of rain over 24 hours, with some districts expected to exceed 200mm, representing more than one-third of the city's average annual rainfall of 528mm. Additionally, an orange alert for heavy rain was issued for northwestern Hubei, which is expected to receive as much as 250mm of rain in 24 hours.