Typhoon Dolphin hurtles towards Japan: Tracker, updates and what to expect

Typhoon Dolphin has traversed thousands of kilometres across the Pacific Ocean and is approaching Japan with significant intensity. The storm originated as a tropical depression on July 26 before progressively strengthening through multiple weather classifications, briefly reaching super typhoon status before settling at very strong typhoon strength. As of Tuesday at 05:00 GMT, the system was moving at 185 kilometres per hour across open Pacific waters.

The outer Ogasawara Islands, Japan's first territory to experience the typhoon's effects, encountered strong winds on Tuesday. The Japan Meteorological Agency has issued warnings and advisories for affected regions and continues monitoring the system's westward progression. Okinawa Island, home to approximately 1.4 million residents and the largest island in Okinawa prefecture, faces expected landfall on Friday morning.

Local authorities have instructed residents to secure homes, avoid coastal areas, and prepare for potential evacuations and power outages. Ferry and flight services are anticipated to experience disruptions. Beyond Japan, Taiwan's northern and eastern regions are expected to face heavy rainfall, strong winds, and elevated coastal swells. The typhoon's name derives from Hong Kong's Chinese white dolphins, selected from the World Meteorological Organization's rotating naming lists for western North Pacific storms, which feature regional animals, plants, and cultural references.