According to Vietnam's National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF), as of the morning of August 1, the center of Super Typhoon Dolphin was located near 20.2 degrees north latitude and 158.3 degrees east longitude, more than 3,800 kilometers east of Luzon Island in the Philippines.

Although the storm has weakened slightly over the past 24 hours, it remains an exceptionally powerful Category 16 super typhoon on Vietnam's wind scale, with gusts exceeding Category 17.

Dolphin is the fourth super typhoon to develop over the northwestern Pacific in 2026, following Sinlaku, Bavi, and Mekkhala.

Forecasters expect Dolphin to continue moving west-northwest over the next 24 hours at 20-25 km/h, with little change in intensity.

Beginning on August 3, the storm is forecast to maintain its west-northwest track while gradually weakening to Category 13-14, with gusts of Category 16-17, as it approaches the coastal provinces of Fujian and Zhejiang in eastern China.

Current forecast models continue to indicate that Dolphin will remain outside the East Sea throughout its lifetime.

Stronger southwest monsoon expected

Although Vietnam is unlikely to experience a direct impact from the storm, its expansive circulation is expected to alter regional wind patterns.

Meteorologists say that around August 5, as Dolphin moves closer to northern Taiwan (China), the storm will strengthen the southwest monsoon over the southern East Sea.

By August 6-7, southwesterly winds are forecast to increase to Force 6-7 across much of the northern, central and southern East Sea, including the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) special zones.

Wave heights are expected to reach 2-4 meters, producing rough to very rough seas that could disrupt fishing operations and maritime transport.

Earlier this week, Dolphin intensified to Category 17, with gusts above Category 17, becoming one of the most powerful storms of the 2026 Pacific typhoon season.

While the cyclone has since weakened slightly, forecasters say it remains an extremely dangerous system.

The NCHMF said it will continue closely monitoring the storm and issue updated forecasts and warnings as conditions evolve.

Bao Anh