The latest typhoon bulletin on the afternoon of August 5th from the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said that tropical depression 96W has strengthened into a tropical storm, internationally known as Chanhom. Typhoon Chanhom is currently having winds of 65 km/h.
Typhoon Chanhom is storm No. 15 named in the Western Pacific Basin (WPAC) in the 2026 storm season and is the 2nd storm named in August.
From the beginning of the year to August 5, the Western Pacific basin recorded the highest number of named storms since 1971.
Typhoon Chanhom is proposed by Laos, used to refer to a type of sandalwood in Lao.
JMA forecasts that the latest storm of the typhoon season will not enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
However, the US Navy's Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) has not yet upgraded Tropical Depression 96W in the Western Pacific to a storm. The maximum sustained wind power of this system according to JTWC calculations is about 50-60 km/h.
Before Typhoon Chanhom, Typhoon Dolphin had formed for many days in the Western Pacific basin. Typhoon Dolphin is currently located 943km east of Kadena Air Base and has moved northwest at a speed of 17 km/h in the past 6 hours.
It is forecast that Typhoon Dolphin will continue to move west towards the Ryukyu Islands. The speed of movement is forecast to remain stable for the next 36 to 48 hours.
After moving into the East China Sea, Hurricane Dolphin will weaken rapidly and continue to expand.
After making landfall in China, Hurricane Dolphin will weaken rapidly due to the impact of the mainland.
All forecast models show the path of Typhoon Dolphin heading northwest when making landfall in China, with the landing position within the range between Shanghai and northern Taiwan (China).
Along with Typhoon Dolphin is East Sea Typhoon Kujira (nickname Maymay in the Philippines). The typhoon is currently 415km north-northwest of Manila, Philippines and has moved north-northeast at a speed of 7 km/h in the past 6 hours. In the past 24 hours, Typhoon Kujira has moved slowly north in weak wind conditions and is still almost standing still.
In the next 12 to 18 hours, storm Kujira in the East Sea is forecast to be pushed east. The storm will make landfall on the northern coast of Luzon and gradually weaken.
