Europe is experiencing unprecedented heat waves in the summer of 2026. According to the latest records, the Austrian town of Wieselburg has set a new July temperature record, reaching 40.3°C, just 0.2°C below the all-time high recorded in August 2003.
While much of the Northern Hemisphere is affected by heat and drought, Vancouver, Canada, recorded its rainiest July since 2016, with 33.6 mm of precipitation. This is also the third rainiest July since 2008, highlighting unusual weather conditions in the region.
Meanwhile, Typhoon Dolphin is moving westward across the Pacific Ocean toward Japan and Taiwan. Dolphin intensified into the fifth Category 5 storm of 2026, ranking third in wind speed, behind Typhoons Bavi and Sinlaku. At its peak, the typhoon had maximum sustained winds of 175 mph (approximately 280 km/h) and a central pressure of 910 mb.
Notably, Typhoon Dolphin underwent rapid intensification within just 36 hours. On July 27, it was only at tropical storm strength, but sea surface temperatures around 30°C facilitated the formation of the super typhoon. Another factor is the storm's unusually compact structure, with hurricane-force winds extending only about 52 miles from the center, whereas typical super typhoons have a radius of strong winds up to about 100 miles.
As of now, Dolphin has weakened to Category 3, with sustained winds around 125 mph. Approaching Okinawa, it is forecast to continue weakening and make landfall as a Category 1 or 2 storm. However, winds of 80 to 100 mph can still cause widespread damage and disruption across the archipelago.
Although Dolphin's wind speeds are decreasing, the area of strong winds is expected to expand as it nears land, increasing the risk of storm surge – a greater threat than wind alone.
