Typhoon Dolphin threatens central China as Beijing braces for one-third of its annual rainfall in the next 24 hours

Typhoon Dolphin churned deeper inland to the central Chinese province of Hubei on Tuesday, as forecasters warned of the danger of extreme rainfall in the province’s mountainous northwest.

XIANGYANG, China — Typhoon Dolphin churned deeper inland to the central Chinese province of Hubei on Tuesday, prompting the closure of tourist areas and suspension of construction projects, as forecasters warned of the danger of extreme rainfall in the province’s mountainous northwest.

The strongest typhoon to hit China this year, Dolphin packed an unusually resilient storm system that traveled more than 3,700 miles before making landfall over the weekend, drenching the country’s eastern coast and bringing with it a sprawling cloud field.

Hubei, a major auto and high-tech electronics manufacturing hub that is home to more than 58 million people, was struck by two rare tornados last month in the wake of Typhoon Maysak, which killed at least 11 people.

People visiting the Bund amid heavy rain Monday, a day after Typhoon Dolphin made landfall in Shanghai.Hector Retamal / AFP via Getty ImagesOn Tuesday, the National Meteorological Center renewed an orange alert for heavy rain, the second-highest warning level, with northwestern Hubei expected to receive as much as 9.8 inches of rain in a 24-hour period.

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