East Asia

Japan, Taiwan and China Brace for Typhoon Dolphin

Is the typhoon expected given the weather patterns — or is this a rather unusual occurrence?

AUG 7·Updated AUG 8

Japan, Taiwan and China Brace for Typhoon Dolphin

Story

Above: Staff at a port in Wenzhou in China's Zhejiang province strengthen moorings on Aug. 5, 2026. Image credit: Cai Kuanyuan/Xinhua/Getty Images

The Facts

Evacuation orders were issued for nearly 260,000 people and over 500 flights were canceled in Japan's southern islands ahead of the arrival of Typhoon Dolphin.
Reuters
Independent
The Straits Times
The Japan Meteorological Agency said that, as of Friday afternoon, the westward-moving typhoon was nearing the strip of islands between Okinawa and Kyushu and was traveling with maximum winds of 144 kph (89 mph).
Reuters
The Associated Press
Taipei Times
Officials said that three men, each in their 70s, were injured at this stage. It comes as the island of Kyushu is still recovering from a 7.1-magnitude earthquake last week in which 38 people were killed and there was damage to a large number of houses.
Independent
The Associated Press
The Associated Press
Taiwanese officials said the typhoon is expected to pass through the waters to the north of the island over the weekend. Nonetheless, officials are taking precautions, warning that high sea swells and torrential downpour are expected.
Focus Taiwan
Taipei Times
Meanwhile, Chinese meteorologists forecast that the typhoon is expected to make landfall between the regions of Zhejiang and Fujian some time between Sunday afternoon and Monday.
China Daily
South China Morning Post
Though it was given a yellow warning — the third-strongest on the scale behind red and orange — forecasters warned of high waves, heavy downpours and potential flooding.
China Daily
South China Morning Post

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

Typhoon Dolphin is already the fifth Category 5 typhoon of this year and this is what one can expect during the warm waters of a strong El Niño event. For instance, the very strong El Niño year of 1997 saw 11 super typhoons in the Northwest Pacific.

Yale Climate Connections

Narrative B

While this is the 13th typhoon of 2026, this is a rare event because Typhoon Dolphin developed just west of the International Date Line. It is very unusual for typhoons to travel that distance and still reach mainland China.

China Daily