Dolphin becomes Super Typhoon after passing Guam
Featured image: Super Typhoon "Dolphin" on May 16, 2015. Credit: NASA Terra/MODIS.
Typhoon "Dolphin" passed through the Rota Channel between Guam and Rota on May 15, 2015 forcing more than 1 100 people to seek cover in shelters.
It was packing maximum winds of about 177 km/h (109 mph) taking down trees, power lines and grounding flights on both islands.
As expected, Dolphin intensified as it moved away and reached Super Typhoon strength on May 16. According to JTWC's Tropical Cyclone Warning issued 21:00 UTC on May 16, Dolphin's maximum sustained winds were 259 km/h (161 mph) with wind gusts to 315 km/h (195 mph).
At the time, Dolphin was located approximately 633 km (393 miles) west of Anatahan, uninhabited volcanic island in the Northern Mariana Islands, and has tracked NW at 18.5 km/h (11.5 mph). Maximum significant wave height at 18:00 UTC was 15.2 meters (50 feet).
The system is expected to further intensify over the next 12 hours.
Super Typhoon "Dolphin" on May 16, 2015. Image credit: NASA Terra/MODIS.
Satellite imagery shows the system has a symmetrical 55-km (34-miles) wide eye with deep convective banding wrapping tightly into the low level circulation center.
Dolphin will track more to the NNW over the next 12 hours as it crosses the ridge axis before recurving to the NE.
Super Typhoon "Dolphin" forecast track by JTWC on May 16, 2015.
Satellite animations
- Storm-Centered Infrared (MTSAT; NOAA/SSD)
- Storm-Centered Infrared (Aviation Color Enhancement) (MTSAT; NOAA/SSD)
- Storm-Centered Water Vapor (MTSAT; NOAA/SSD)
- Storm-Centered Visible (MTSAT; NOAA/SSD)
- Storm-Centered Visible (Colorized) (MTSAT; NOAA/SSD)
- Storm-Centered Infrared (MTSAT2; CIMSS)
- Storm-Centered Enhanced Infrared (MTSAT2; CIMSS)
- Storm-Centered Water Vapor (MTSAT2; CIMSS)
- Storm-Centered Visible (MTSAT2; CIMSS)
- Tropical West Pacific Infrared (MTSAT2; NOAA)
- Tropical West Pacific Enhanced Infrared (MTSAT2; NOAA)
- Tropical West Pacific Water Vapor (MTSAT2; NOAA)
- Tropical West Pacific Visible (MTSAT2; NOAA)
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