Super Typhoon 'White Dolphin' Rivals 'Bavi' as Strongest; Taiwan, Japan Foresee Westward Path

Typhoon "White Dolphin" has rapidly intensified, now matching "Bavi" as the strongest typhoon of the year, with forecasters predicting a westward trajectory towards Taiwan and Japan within five days.

The storm's center was located at 16.4 degrees North latitude and 165.7 degrees East longitude on July 30, moving northwest at 17 kilometers per hour. With a central pressure of 895 millibars and maximum sustained winds of 60 meters per second, "White Dolphin" is currently tied with "Bavi" for the title of this year's most powerful typhoon. The Central Weather Administration forecasts that by early morning on July 31, "White Dolphin" will strengthen further to a central pressure of 890 millibars and maximum sustained winds of 63 meters per second, with its storm radius expanding from 220 kilometers to 250-280 kilometers.

Weather analysis pages indicate that "White Dolphin" is developing in an exceptionally favorable environment and is expected to continue strengthening over the next 30 hours, potentially surpassing "Bavi" to become the sole "typhoon king." Path predictions from various meteorological agencies show a continued westward shift. Both Taiwan's Central Weather Administration and Japan's Meteorological Agency anticipate the typhoon will be heading west in five days, around August 4.

However, the Central Weather Administration emphasized that the typhoon's path remains uncertain once it reaches the waters southeast of Japan. Residents are advised to stay updated with the latest information.