Typhoon Dolphin churned deeper inland towards the central Chinese province of Hubei on Tuesday, forcing the closure of tourist attractions and the suspension of construction projects as forecasters warned of extreme rainfall, flooding and landslides.

The storm was also funnelling moisture more than 1,000 km (620 miles) north towards Beijing, where parts of the densely populated capital could receive more than one-third of the city’s average annual rainfall within 24 hours.

Dolphin, the strongest typhoon to hit China this year, retained an unusually resilient storm system after travelling nearly 6,000 km (3,728 miles) before making landfall over the weekend. It drenched China’s eastern coast and carried a sprawling field of rain clouds inland.

China’s National Meteorological Centre renewed an orange alert for heavy rain on Tuesday, the second-highest warning level, with northwestern Hubei forecast to receive as much as 250 mm (9.8 inches) of rain within 24 hours.

Roads and village houses partially submerged in floodwaters in Yantou town, Yongjia county, Wenzhou, Zhejiang province – China Daily via REUTERS

Hubei authorities issued a yellow warning for cities including Xiangyang, Huanggang and Suizhou, citing an increased risk of flooding and landslides.

The province, a major centre for automotive and high-tech electronics manufacturing, is home to more than 58 million people. It was struck by two rare tornadoes last month in the wake of Typhoon Maysak, which killed at least 11 people.

Scenic attractions across Hubei announced temporary closures, including the popular Three Gorges Dam tourist area in Yichang. Of 107 major highway and waterway construction projects under way in the province, 26 considered to be at high risk were suspended.

Dolphin’s peripheral airflow is expected to rise as it encounters the mountains of western Hubei, sharply intensifying the rainfall, Wang Xiaoling, deputy director of the provincial meteorological observatory, told the Hubei Daily newspaper.

In neighbouring Henan province, authorities issued a red flash-flood alert as the storm continued to channel moisture northwards.

Beijing braces for torrential rain

In Beijing, moisture from Dolphin was expected to converge with cool air over northern China, bringing intense downpours from Tuesday evening through Thursday.

Most parts of the capital were forecast to receive more than 100 mm (3.9 inches) of rain within six hours and over 150 mm (5.9 inches) in 24 hours, according to the city’s meteorological service.

Rainfall in the districts of Tongzhou, Daxing, Fangshan, Mentougou, Huairou and Fengtai could exceed 200 mm (7.9 inches) over 24 hours — more than one-third of Beijing’s average annual rainfall of 528 mm (20.8 inches).

Most of the capital’s annual rainfall usually falls between June and September.

Four districts on Beijing’s outskirts activated Level I emergency flood responses. Authorities in the mountainous western district of Mentougou issued the highest level of flood emergency alert and advised residents to remain indoors unless necessary and to avoid mountainous areas and rivers.

Elsewhere in the region, Japan was preparing for landslides, flooding and strong winds after its meteorological agency said Typhoon Chan-hom, also designated Typhoon No. 15, could move across the country’s main island later on Tuesday.