Typhoon Dolphin moved toward Iwo To on Friday. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Typhoon Dolphin was located at latitude 20.5°N and longitude 157.8°E which put the center about 1080 miles (1740 km) east-southeast of Iwo To. Dolphin was moving toward the west-northwest at 11 m.p.h. (17 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 145 m.p.h. (235 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 175 m.p.h. (280 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 933 mb.
Typhoon Dolphin appeared to be in the middle of another eyewall replacement cycle on Friday evening. A circular eye with a diameter of 20 miles (32 km) was at the center of Dolphin’s circulation. The eye was surrounded by two circular eyewalls. 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 slightly less than the convergence of mass in the lower levels of the atmosphere. So, the surface pressure increased gradually on Friday.
The size of the circulation around Typhoon Dolphin increased on Friday. Winds to typhoon force extended out 60 miles (95 km) from the center of Dolphin’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 230 miles (370 km) from the center of Typhoon Dolphin.
The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Dolphin is 29.9. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 23.3 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 53.2. Typhoon Dolphin is similar in size and intensity to Hurricane Helene when Helene hit Florida in 2022.
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 Saturday. Eyewall replacement cycles are likely to continue 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 continue to move toward Iwo To. The center of Dolphin could be near Iwo To in 72 hours,