BEIJING — Authorities in eastern China shut down schools and tourist sites on Saturday as Typhoon Dolphin advanced toward the coast, posing a significant threat of flooding and landslides across multiple provinces.

The storm's maximum sustained winds were estimated at approximately 162 kilometers per hour (101 mph). Typhoon Dolphin is expected to make landfall in Zhejiang province and the northern areas of neighboring Fujian province late Sunday, with Shanghai also lying in the storm's projected path. The targeted region encompasses some of China's most economically productive coastline, including major manufacturing centers, export-processing zones, and three of the world's busiest container ports.

Forecasters warned that affected regions could receive between 200 and 400 millimeters (7.9–15.7 inches) of rainfall over the coming days, elevating the risk of severe flooding and landslides. The storm arrives during China's peak typhoon season, which typically runs from June through October, when warm western Pacific waters frequently generate tropical systems that track toward the densely populated eastern seaboard.

National authorities declared a Level III emergency response, the second-lowest tier in China's four-level disaster response system.

In Zhejiang, numerous tourist destinations were closed for Saturday and Sunday, along with all water-based activities, including ferry services and cruises. Authorities in Ningbo, one of the province's largest cities, ordered the closure of schools and other educational facilities for the weekend and suspended all water-related operations. Ningbo-Zhoushan port, consistently ranked as the world's busiest port by total cargo throughput, faces potential disruption to shipping schedules. Approximately 800 ships were docked at the port as a precautionary measure.

An aerial photograph released by Xinhua News Agency showed fishing boats taking shelter at a port in Wenling, Zhejiang Province, on August 5, ahead of the approaching storm.