Dolphin to Become a Typhoon, Threaten Guam Later This Week

By Eric Leister, Meteorologist

May 11,2015; 8:55PM,EDT

 

 

Tropical Storm Dolphin has been meandering across the western Pacific Ocean since developing last week.
The tropical system has become better organized, and this trend will continue over the next week as Dolphin tracks westward from Micronesia toward Guam.
From Tuesday into Wednesday, Dolphin will pick up speed passing to the north of Fananu and Chuuk while likely reaching typhoon status.

From Thursday into Friday, strengthening will continue as the expected typhoon approaches Guam from the southwest. While the center of Dolphin will likely stay 120-160 km (75-100 miles) south of Guam on Thursday and Friday, the size of the storm will still result in gale-force winds and downpours.
After departing Guam, Dolphin will turn to the northwest and continue strengthening as it moves over the open waters east of the Philippines and south of Japan. During this time, it is possible that Dolphin could achieve super typhoon status with sustained winds over 240 km/h (150 mph).
A trough that will move from eastern Asia into Japan will then lift Dolphin northward next week, keeping the cyclone away from the Philippines, where former Super Typhoon Noul lashed northeastern Luzon over the weekend.
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This trough will pull Dolphin toward Japan; however, depending on how quickly the trough advances eastward, Dolphin could miss Japan entirely. If the trough is slower, then Dolphin may be pulled further west allowing heavy rain and strong winds to impact Japan.
Anyone with interests in Guam or Japan should closely monitor the forecast for Tropical Storm Dolphin over the next 5-10 days as it moves across the Western Pacific Ocean.