Current Situation
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), as of 12:00 JST on 27 July, Tropical Depression 12W was located near the Midway Islands (13.1°N, 177.6°E), moving westward at 13 kt. The system has a central pressure of 1002 hPa, maximum sustained winds of 30 kt, and gusts up to 45 kt. It is forecast to strengthen into a tropical storm within the next 12 hours.
If the system develops into a typhoon, it will be named Dolphin and become the 13th named typhoon of the 2026 Pacific typhoon season.
Forecast Track and Intensity
Tropical Depression 12W is expected to continue moving west for the next 24 hours before turning northwest. The system is forecast to pass over waters with sea surface temperatures around 30°C—approximately 2°C above normal, providing highly favorable conditions for rapid intensification.
The system is forecast to reach maximum sustained winds of 85 kt near Wake Island by the 30th.
Beyond the current forecast period, it is projected to continue moving northwest and could approach Japan in early August.
A Note on Uncertainty
Considerable uncertainty remains regarding 12W's precise track and rate of intensification. The situation may evolve quickly — please monitor the latest official forecasts as conditions develop.
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Disclaimer
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