Typhoon No. 15 (Chan-hom) is tracking northwest through the open Western Pacific, carrying a very large gale zone extending up to 950 km to the northeast. Formed near Wake Island on 5 August, the storm is forecast to approach Japan's Pacific coast by 11 August before entering the Sea of Japan, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).
CURRENT STATUS
Based on the latest JMA observations August 7, 2026 04:05 UTC
- Location: 29.4°N, 160.4°E — near Wake Island, Western Pacific
- Classification: Large Typhoon (no intensity designation)
- Movement: Northwest at 20 km/h (11 kt)
- Central pressure: 994 hPa
- Maximum sustained winds: 40 kt (74 km/h)
- Maximum gusts: 60 kt (111 km/h)
- ≥30-kt wind area: 950 km (500 NM) northeast, 560 km (300 NM) southwest
Himawari Satellite Image valid August 7, 2026 06:10 UTC
FORECAST TRACK SUMMARY
Tracking northwest across the open Western Pacific, Typhoon No. 15 (Chan-hom) is forecast to approach Japan's Pacific coast before entering the Sea of Japan.
INTENSITY FORECAST
Typhoon No. 15 (Chan-hom) is forecast to maintain approximately 35–40 kt (65–74 km/h) sustained winds with gusts to 50–60 kt (93–111 km/h) and a central pressure of 994 hPa through 00:00 UTC on 10 August. A slight re-intensification is forecast by 00:00 UTC on 11 August, with sustained winds returning to 40 kt (74 km/h) and gusts to 60 kt (111 km/h) as the storm approaches Japan's Pacific coast. The system then eases to 35 kt (65 km/h) at 994 hPa by 00:00 UTC on 12 August as it enters the Sea of Japan.
IMPACTS & THREATS
Tracking northwest across the open Western Pacific toward Japan, the storm presents hazards for maritime operations across a wide area near and ahead of its track.
Wind and Seas: The ≥30-kt wind area currently extends 950 km (500 NM) to the northeast and 560 km (300 NM) to the southwest of the typhoon's centre, a very large gale zone for a storm of this intensity. Vessels operating within these zones face gale-force conditions across a broad area of the Western Pacific. As the storm approaches Japan's Pacific coast from 11 August, the broad wind field will bring deteriorating conditions to a wide arc of the western Pacific and eventually the Sea of Japan.
OPERATIONAL PORT FORECASTS
■SENDAI SHIOGAMA, Sendai, Japan
■HACHINOHE, Aomori, Japan
■ONAHAMA, Fukushima, Japan
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While official observations guide the general threat assessment, highly detailed, proprietary routing and port forecasts are essential for safe navigation. Weathernews services provide customers with 24/7 localized data to ensure your vessels remain safe and well-informed. Please consult our dedicated services for the most up-to-date, detailed predictions for your specific routes and operations.
Note on the storm's name: "Chan-hom" is a Laotian name for a type of fragrant tree, contributed by Lao PDR to the Western North Pacific and South China Sea tropical cyclone name list. The WMO and the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee adopt these names sequentially to make tracking specific storms straightforward and to quickly communicate warnings. To learn more about how storms are named, please visit the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) website.
