Typhoon Dolphin hits Okinawa, cancels flights, alerts

A powerful typhoon is bearing down on Japan's southern islands, disrupting travel and prompting safety preparations as meteorologists also track its potential to influence weather patterns across Asia, including India's vital monsoon. Typhoon Dolphin, a large and intense storm, is forecast to impact the Daito and Ryukyu island chains, including Okinawa, on August 6 and 7, bringing destructive winds, torrential rain, and dangerous waves.

The storm, which originated as a tropical depression on July 26, intensified rapidly over the Pacific Ocean, reaching super typhoon strength multiple times last week. As of August 6, it was located east of Minamidaito Island, packing sustained winds of approximately 175 kilometers per hour. The Japan Meteorological Agency has issued warnings and advisories, with the typhoon expected to unleash rainfall totals of 100 to 200 millimeters, and isolated amounts up to 350 millimeters, alongside waves reaching 10 to 11 meters.

The immediate impact is severe disruption across Okinawa Prefecture, a major tourism destination. Multiple airlines, including Hong Kong Airlines, HK Express, Greater Bay Airlines, China Airlines, and Starlux Airlines, have...