Typhoon Dolphin (DOLPHIN), currently moving westward over the Pacific Ocean, is forecasted by major meteorological agencies from South Korea, the United States, Japan, China, and Taiwan to bypass the Korean Peninsula.
On August 3, an online community shared the latest typhoon path forecasts released by various meteorological agencies, including the U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), China Meteorological Administration, Taiwan Central Weather Bureau, and the Korea Meteorological Administration.
According to the projected path, Typhoon Dolphin is expected to continue moving northwest to west, passing south of Okinawa and heading toward the eastern coasts of Taiwan and China.
The JTWC's forecast, issued on August 2 at 18Z (3 a.m. KST on August 3), indicates that the typhoon will maintain its central pressure and wind radius while continuing its northwestward trajectory. By 06/18Z (3 a.m. KST on August 7), it is predicted to pass near Okinawa (Kadena, etc.), and by 07/18Z (3 a.m. KST on August 8), it will enter the waters northeast of Taiwan and south of Shanghai, China.
Additionally, the JMA reported on August 3 at 06:00 that the typhoon will maintain a westward path from 18:00 on August 3 through August 5, 6, 7, and 8. It is expected to pass southwest of Okinawa between 03:00 and 03:00 on August 7 and 8, moving toward the waters northeast of Taiwan.
According to the China Meteorological Administration's forecast released on August 3 at 06:00 (120-hour path), the typhoon is expected to maintain its 'super typhoon' status while moving westward until 17:00 on the same day. It is projected to pass south of Okinawa at 05:00 on August 6 (48 m/s), 05:00 on August 7 (45 m/s), and 05:00 on August 8 (42 m/s), moving into the waters between Taiwan and the eastern coast of China.
The Taiwan Central Weather Bureau and the Korea Meteorological Administration, based on analysis from 02/18UTC (3 a.m. KST on August 3), predict that the typhoon will pass south of Okinawa by 06/18Z (3 a.m. KST on August 7) and exit into the waters northeast of Taiwan by 07/18Z (3 a.m. KST on August 8).
While the U.S. and Taiwan meteorological agencies estimate the timing of the typhoon's passage near Okinawa to be about a day earlier than Japan and China, all five countries agree on the overall trajectory.
Typhoon Dolphin is expected to continue moving westward without veering northeast toward the Korean Peninsula. As a result, South Korea is projected to be completely outside the direct influence and wind radius of the typhoon. However, between August 6 and 8, when the typhoon passes south of Okinawa and through the waters near Taiwan, there may be indirect effects such as swells and changes in atmospheric pressure along the southern coast and Jeju Island.
Experts warn that as Typhoon Dolphin moves westward, it may exacerbate the heat wave in South Korea rather than alleviate it. The east winds flowing into the Korean Peninsula could trigger a Foehn effect as they cross the Taebaek Mountains, potentially raising temperatures in the capital region and western areas such as Chungcheong and Honam.
Moreover, the 'double heat dome' created by the North Pacific High and the Tibetan High is expected to remain intact, preventing the typhoon from breaking through and instead pushing hot air into the Korean Peninsula. As the typhoon passes southward, it will continuously supply hot and humid winds, leading to an intensification and persistence of extreme heat and tropical nights across the country.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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