A typhoon that struck the Chinese coast on Sunday is steadily weakening after making landfall, but is set to bring widespread heavy rain through this week that could threaten crops. Typhoon Dolphin has weakened to a tropical storm after making two landfalls in eastern China on Sunday evening, according to the China Meteorological Administration. Powerful winds and intense rains had triggered widespread transport disruptions, including the closure of Shanghai’s two main airports. Heavy rain “at this point in the growing season” can be damaging rather than beneficial, he said. Remnants of the tropical cyclone will interact with colder air as it pushes further north, likely triggering extremely heavy rains around the agriculture-heavy North China Plain from Wednesday into the weekend, the CMA added.