Typhoon Dolphin strengthened to the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale as it moved over the Western North Pacific Ocean south of Wake Island on Wednesday.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Typhoon Dolphin was located at latitude 16.0°N and longitude 166.3°E which put the center about 240 miles (390 km) south of Wake Island.  Dolphin was moving toward the northwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 165 m.p.h. (265 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 200 m.p.h. (320 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 915 mb.

Typhoon Dolphin strengthened to the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane on Wednesday.  A  circular eye with a diameter of 20 miles (32 km) was present at the center of Dolphin’s circulation.  The eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms. The strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms revolved around the core of Typhoon Dolphin.  Storms near the core of Dolphin generated strong upper level divergence that pumped large amounts of mass from the typhoon. The removal of large amounts of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.

The distribution of wind speeds in Typhoon Dolphin was symmetrical.  Winds to typhoon force extended out 40 miles (65 km) from the center of Dolphin’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 125 miles (200 km) from the center of Typhoon Dolphin.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Dolphin is 36.7.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 15.5 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 52.2.  Typhoon Dolphin is similar in intensity to Hurricane Otis when Otis hit Mexico in 2023.  Typhoon Dolphin is larger than Otis was.

Typhoon Dolphin will move through an environment favorable for a powerful typhoon during the next 24 hours.  Dolphin will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C.  It will move under the middle of an upper level ridge that is over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The upper level winds are weak near the middle of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Typhoon Dolphin could continue to intensify during the next few hours.  Eyewall replacement cycles are likely to cause fluctuation in the intensity of Typhoon Dolphin during the next few days.

Typhoon Dolphin will move around the southern side of a high pressure system that is over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Dolphin toward the northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, the center of Typhoon Dolphin will be east of Iwo To by the end of the weekend.