Extreme　weather　events　and　anthropogenic　activity　have　severely　impacted　the　Minjiang　estuary　(MJE)　with　evolution　patterns　in　recent　decades.　Determining　the　estuarine　alluvial　evolution　pattern　is　crucial　for　the　sustainable　development　of　densely　populated　coastal　areas.　Using　chart　data,　this　paper　analyzed　how　the　MJE＇s　flushing　and　siltation　changed　over　time　(1950–2019).　The　findings　indicate　that,　in　the　past　70　years,　the　MJE　has　evolved　through　seven　stages　of　flushing　and　siltation　under　the　condition　of　decreasing　incoming　sediment:　＇significant　siltation　-　siltation　-　minor　siltation　-　significant　erosion　-　significant　siltation　-　minor　siltation　-　significant　erosion＇.　Despite　decreased　incoming　material,　the　estuary　underwent　substantial　siltation　from　1998　to　2005.　Extreme　meteorological　conditions　were　the　cause　of　this　anomaly.　The　＇severe　flushing＇　phenomenon　occurred　in　the　study　area　from　2011　to　2019,　and　the　comparison　of　pre-dam　and　post-dam　at　the　estuary　revealed　that　extreme　weather　can　only　adjust　in　stages　and　cannot　change　the　overall　state　of　the　estuary　flushing　due　to　the　reduction　of　incoming　sediment　in　the　basin.　According　to　the　EOF　(Empirical　Orthogonal/Eigen　Function)　study　of　four　sections　of　the　estuary,　it　is　most　impacted　by　incoming　sediment　from　the　watershed,　followed　by　severe　weather　conditions.　Our　research　is　crucial　for　comprehending　how　human　behavior　and　harsh　weather　might　affect　the　development　of　MJE,　and　it　offers　sound　advice　for　the　long-term　management　of　MJE.　©　2023　Elsevier　Ltd