Typhoon Dolphin was still moving toward Iwo on Saturday evening. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Typhoon Dolphin was located at latitude 22.9°N and longitude 152.8°E which put the center about 785 miles (1265 km) east of Iwo To. Dolphin was moving toward the west-northwest at 16 m.p.h. (26 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 931 mb.
Typhoon Dolphin’s intensity fluctuated a little on Saturday, but Dolphin essentially maintained it strength. A circular eye with a diameter of 35 miles (55 km) was at the center of Dolphin’s circulation. The eye was surrounded a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds occurred 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 the same as the convergence of mass in the lower levels of the atmosphere. So, the surface pressure remained almost constant on Saturday.
The completion of multiple eyewall replacement cycles caused the circulation around Typhoon Dolphin to become very large. Winds to typhoon force extended out 90 miles (145 km) from the center of Dolphin’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 275 miles (445 km) from the center of Typhoon Dolphin.
The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Dolphin is 29.9. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 26.7 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 56.6. Typhoon Dolphin is bigger and stronger than Hurricane Helene was 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 Sunday. Eyewall replacement cycles are likely to continue to cause fluctuation in the intensity of Typhoon Dolphin during the next several 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 will be near Iwo To in 48 hours,