ResolvedWatchOkinawa and the Ryukyu Islands, Japan

Typhoon Dolphin affecting Okinawa and the Ryukyu Islands, Japan

Typhoon Saudel's closest approach to Okinawa (25-26 August) caused two minor injuries, roughly 150 flight cancellations at Naha airport and power outages to more than 30,000 homes in nearby Kagoshima Prefecture, before the storm pulled away toward the East China Sea and made a double landfall on China's Zhejiang coast on 28 August, weakening steadily thereafter. No new tropical system currently threatens Okinawa or the Ryukyu Islands, and flight and ferry operations have returned to normal. This alert is now considered resolved; it follows Typhoon Dolphin's earlier passage in early August, which injured five people and cut power to roughly 14,000 buildings. Travelers should continue following Japan Meteorological Agency guidance given the active nature of this typhoon season.

First reported August 11, 2026

Timeline

  1. August 29, 2026

    Typhoon Saudel's passage caused two minor injuries in the Ryukyu chain - a 78-year-old woman hurt by wind near Uruma, Okinawa, and a woman in her 70s injured falling during a blackout on Amami Oshima - alongside roughly 150 flight cancellations at Naha airport and power outages to more than 30,000 homes in Kagoshima Prefecture. Saudel has since made landfall in Zhejiang, China (28 August) and continues weakening inland; no new tropical system currently threatens Okinawa or the Ryukyu Islands, and flight and ferry operations have returned to normal. This alert is now considered resolved absent a new system.

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  2. August 28, 2026

    Typhoon Saudel made a double landfall on China's Zhejiang coast on 28 August (Yuhuan/Taizhou around 8:05am, Wenzhou around 9:10am), confirming the storm's departure from the Ryukyu Islands; it is forecast to weaken into a tropical depression by around 9pm the same day. This closes out the direct threat to Okinawa from Saudel, and flight and ferry operations in the islands are expected to normalize as the system moves off. No new tropical system currently threatens Okinawa.

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  3. August 26, 2026

    As of 9pm on 26 August, Typhoon Saudel was positioned in waters north-northwest of Kume Island with a central pressure of 960 hPa, maximum sustained winds of 40 m/s (144 km/h) and gusts to 55 m/s (198 km/h). All Nippon Airways cancelled 119 flights, affecting more than 20,000 passengers. The storm was gradually pulling away from Okinawa and the Amami Islands, with winds and elevated waves expected to ease overnight.

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  4. August 25, 2026

    Typhoon Saudel is making its closest pass to Okinawa today (~146 km from Naha, around 3pm local), still at typhoon strength with sustained winds near 162-184 km/h; no direct landfall on Okinawa is expected as it tracks just north of the island toward the East China Sea. Flights between Taiwan and Okinawa (China Airlines, Tigerair, Starlux) have been cancelled or rescheduled, and several ferry routes suspended. Travelers with Okinawa or Taiwan-Okinawa bookings this week should check flight status directly, as the storm next threatens Taiwan waters (closest approach Thu-Fri) before a possible approach to Fujian/China around Aug 28.

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  5. August 24, 2026

    Typhoon Saudel, the season's 18th named storm, is tracking toward Japan's Okinawa Prefecture and the Amami/Ryukyu Islands, with landfall or close approach forecast for 24-25 August, bringing violent winds and dangerous seas before the storm weakens as it moves into the East China Sea. This follows Typhoon Dolphin's passage earlier in August; travelers in the region should expect possible flight and ferry disruption and follow Japan Meteorological Agency guidance.

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  6. August 11, 2026

    Typhoon Dolphin made its closest approach to Okinawa and has since moved on toward eastern China, where landfall is expected between Zhejiang and Fujian around 10-12 August. In Okinawa, the storm injured five people (mostly from wind-related falls) and cut power to around 14,000 buildings; flights were cancelled during the passage. Conditions in Okinawa have eased and this alert is now considered resolved absent a new system.

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  7. August 10, 2026

    Okinawa and the Ryukyu Islands have an unsettled, rainy forecast, but no current Okinawa marine warning or confirmed airport or ferry cancellations were identified. Continue routine weather and operator monitoring.

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  8. August 8, 2026

    No dated 8 August JMA, prefectural, airport or ferry notice establishing a current traveler-impacting incident was located. Do not assume continuing typhoon disruption without a current operator or authority notice.

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  9. August 7, 2026

    Typhoon Dolphin is affecting Okinawa and nearby western Pacific waters on 7 August, bringing strong winds, torrential rain and dangerous seas. Travelers should expect possible flight and ferry cancellations, avoid exposed coastlines and follow Japan Meteorological Agency and local evacuation instructions.

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