Typhoon Dolphin moved west of Wake Island on Thursday. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Typhoon Dolphin was located at latitude 18.6°N and longitude 161.5°E which put the center about 315 miles (510 km) west-southwest of Wake Island. Dolphin was moving toward the west-northwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 155 m.p.h. (250 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 190 m.p.h. (305 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 924 mb.
Typhoon Dolphin appeared to go through another eyewall replacement cycle. A circular eye with a diameter of 30 miles (50 km) was present at the center of Dolphin’s circulation on Thursday evening. 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 in the upper levels was nearly equal to the convergence of mass in the lower levels of the atmosphere. So, the surface pressure did not change much on Thursday.
The completion of another eyewall replacement cycle increased the size of the circulation around Typhoon Dolphin. Winds to typhoon force extended out 60 miles (95 km) from the center of Dolphin’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 175 miles (280 km) from the center of Typhoon Dolphin.
The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Dolphin is 33.3. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 21.0 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 54.3. Typhoon Dolphin is similar in intensity to Hurricane Ian when Ian hit Southwest Florida in 2022. Typhoon Dolphin is larger than Ian 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 is likely to maintain its intensity on Friday. 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 west-northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, the center of Typhoon Dolphin will move toward Iwo To.