Meteorologists said Mekkhala is currently located east of Luzon Island in the Philippines and has begun turning northward. The storm is expected to move along waters east of the Philippines before tracking toward Okinawa and southern Japan.

Over the next 12 to 24 hours, the super typhoon is forecast to move slowly north-northwest at around 5 kilometres per hour while maintaining its current intensity.

Forecasters expect the storm to continue turning north before shifting northeastward toward waters near Japan's Tosa Bay, where it is likely to gradually weaken.

Authorities said they are closely monitoring developments as the storm approaches Japanese waters.

A second tropical system is also drawing attention across the northwestern Pacific. A newly formed tropical depression is expected to strengthen into a named storm within the next 24 hours.

According to forecasters, the system is moving on a path broadly parallel to Mekkhala and is not expected to enter the East Sea.

Meteorologists said the ongoing El Nino pattern is likely to reduce tropical cyclone activity in the East Sea during 2026 compared with the long-term average.

Between eight and 10 storms or tropical depressions are forecast to form in the basin this year, with three to five expected to affect mainland areas.

Storm activity is expected to peak between July and September in northern Vietnam and from October to November in central Vietnam, although forecasters have not ruled out impacts on southern regions later in the year.

Bao Anh