Typhoon Dolfin Path Forecasts Diverge... Impact on Heatwave?

[Anchor]

It would be nice to have some refreshing rain to cool down this heat even a little, but no rain is forecast for the time being. However, Typhoon Dolfin, the 13th typhoon, could be a variable. Meteorological agencies in various countries are offering conflicting forecasts on whether the typhoon will head toward China or approach South Korea.

Reporter Jeong Gu-hui has the story.

[Reporter]

This is the 13th typhoon, "Dolfin."

Located in the distant open seas south of Japan, about 1,800 kilometers away from Jeju Island, it does not yet have any impact on South Korea.

Winds of 43 meters per second are blowing near its center, and the typhoon has weakened from the maximum level 5 to level 3.

Countries are issuing conflicting predictions on whether this typhoon will head to China or move northward toward the west coast.

First, there is no disagreement that it will move westward toward Okinawa over the next four days.

The U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center expects the typhoon to approach the southeastern coast of China at a very slow speed around the 9th.

The South Korean Meteorological Administration's forecast is nearly identical, though it views the path as shifting just a bit closer to South Korea.

On the other hand, Japan released a forecast today (the 4th) predicting that the typhoon will change its direction toward South Korea's western sea after passing Okinawa.

South Korea, the U.S., and Japan issue forecasts only up to five days out, and beyond that, there are only predictions from supercomputer simulation models published by other countries.

The European ECMWF prediction model, evaluated as having the highest accuracy in the world, expects the typhoon to dissipate as it makes landfall in China.

The main cause of South Korea's current heatwave is the North Pacific high-pressure system positioned to the east of the country.

If the typhoon makes landfall in China, the heatwave will continue under the influence of the North Pacific high.

The U.S. supercomputer predicts the typhoon will make landfall north of Shanghai, while Google AI and the German model respectively predict it will come toward the Yellow Sea close to the Korean Peninsula, which in this case could bring rain to South Korea.

A more accurate path of Typhoon Dolfin is expected to take shape around the latter half of this week.

(Video Editing: Kim Jun-hee, Video Source: Korea Meteorological Administration, Cheollian Satellite, NOAA, CIRA)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.