Typhoon Dolphin brought wind and rain to Iwo To on Monday.  The center of Dolphin’s circulation was still east of Iwo To.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Typhoon Dolphin was located at latitude 25.1°N and longitude 142.6°E which put the center about 105 miles (1650 km) east of Iwo To.  Dolphin was moving toward the west at 11 m.p.h. (17 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 115 m.p.h. (185 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 145 m.p.h. (235 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 947 mb.

Typhoon Dolphin maintained its intensity after it completed another eyewall replacement cycle.  A circular eye with a diameter of 30 miles (50 km) was at the center of Dophin’s circulation.  The eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and 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 mass away from the typhoon.  The removal 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 Monday.

Multiple eyewall replacement cycles have turned Dolphin into a large typhoon.  Winds to typhoon force extended out 90 miles (145 km) in the northern side of Dolphin’s circulation. Winds to typhoon force only extended out 35 miles (55 km) in the southern side of Typhoon Dolphin.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 265 miles (425 km) from the center of Dolphin’s circulation.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Dolphin is 20.6. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 25.1 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 45.7.  Typhoon Dolphin is similar in size and intensity to Hurricane Irma was when Irma hit South Florida in 2017.

Typhoon Dolphin will move through an environment that will be favorable for intensification 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 intensify on Tuesday unless another  eyewall replacement cycle occurs.

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 during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, the center of Typhoon Dolphin will cross Iwo To during the next few hours.  The center of Dolphin’s circulation will approach Minami Daito Jima in 48 hours.  The center of Typhoon Dolpin will be near Okinawa in 3 days,

Typhoon Dolphin will continue to bring strong winds and heavy rain to Iwo To on Tuesday.  Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods.  Typhoon Dolphin will be capable of causing major damage.

Typhoon Dolphin will bring strong winds and heavy rain to Minami Daito Jima and to the central Ryukyu Islands including Okinawa later this week.