Super Typhoon Dolphin Forecast to Ride Heatwave Into City Late Next Week

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, August 1, 2026

Super Typhoon Dolphin, with sustained winds of about 250 km/h, is expected to bring extreme heat to southeastern China, including Hong Kong, later next week as it moves toward the East China Sea. Its unusual formation near the International Date Line and rapid intensification are linked to the ongoing strong El Niño, though its exact path and potential for further strengthening remain uncertain.

A super typhoon named Dolphin, currently located over the western North Pacific, is expected to influence weather conditions along the southeastern coast of China later next week, according to forecasts from the Hong Kong Observatory. The typhoon, which has already reached super typhoon status, is anticipated to bring very hot weather to Hong Kong as it moves closer to the region.

Kong Yu-chau, a senior scientific officer at the Observatory, indicated that while Dolphin is projected to travel toward the waters south of Japan in the coming days, its future path remains uncertain. "We expect it will have a higher chance of moving towards the vicinity of the East China Sea," he said. The outer subsiding eastern portion of the storm is likely to cause extreme heat in coastal areas of southeastern China by the latter part of next week.

The Observatory cautioned that it is too early to determine if Dolphin will cause rainstorms in Hong Kong due to the unpredictable nature of its trajectory. Artificial intelligence-based forecast models have suggested that Dolphin could intensify further, potentially reaching unprecedented wind speeds. However, the forecasters emphasized that such predictions carry uncertainties and actual developments may vary.

Dolphin has already achieved super typhoon intensity with sustained winds around 250 kilometers per hour as of Wednesday morning, measured by the United States’ Joint Typhoon Warning Centre. The typhoon is notable for forming near the International Date Line — an imaginary line in the Pacific Ocean that marks the change of calendar dates and separates typhoons from hurricanes in the North Pacific. This proximity is unusual, making Dolphin the strongest typhoon recorded so close to this boundary.

The storm’s rapid intensification is regarded by experts as consistent with the effects of the current strong El Niño event, which affects weather patterns across the Pacific. Yale Climate Connections, an environmental news service affiliated with Yale University, noted Dolphin’s compact size as a factor contributing to its potential for swift strengthening.

While Dolphin could potentially become one of the strongest typhoons recorded in the western North Pacific, forecasters remain uncertain if it will surpass historical records. The strongest typhoons in the region’s history include Tip in 1979 and Nancy in 1961, both of which reached sustained wind speeds near 305 kilometers per hour.

The name "Dolphin" was contributed by Hong Kong and refers to the Chinese white dolphins found in local waters. The name has been used since 2005 as part of the regional typhoon naming system, alongside other Hong Kong submissions such as "Lionrock," named after a prominent peak in Kowloon symbolizing the city’s resilience and cultural identity. The Observatory continues to monitor the typhoon’s development closely as it approaches the region.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.