Typhoon Mekhala has been continuously gaining strength and is expected to reach a category 16 super typhoon status within the next 12 to 24 hours, with wind gusts exceeding category 17. According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, as of June 22, the typhoon's maximum sustained winds near its center were recorded at category 15, with gusts surpassing category 17.

At 1 PM, Mekhala was located approximately 550 km to the east of Lu Dung Island in the Philippines. The storm is anticipated to move primarily in a west-northwest direction at a speed of about 15 km/h and may intensify further. Following this period, forecasts indicate that Mekhala will change its trajectory to the north and then shift towards the northeast, heading towards the southern waters of Japan, where it is expected to gradually weaken.

The Vietnam meteorological agency is closely monitoring the developments of Typhoon Mekhala. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that at 3 PM, the maximum wind speed near the center of the typhoon reached 250 km/h, with gusts exceeding category 17. They noted that the storm is likely to continue strengthening in the coming hours and currently shows no signs of moving into the South China Sea.

This year, the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting predicts that the number of typhoons in the South China Sea will be below the average, with approximately 8 to 10 storms expected. Among these, 3 to 5 storms are predicted to impact the mainland, primarily from July to September in the northern region and from October to November in the central region, with the possibility of affecting the southern region in the later months of the year.

The name Mekhala, which means 'God of Thunder,' was proposed by Thailand. This is the seventh storm to form and operate in the northwestern Pacific region during the 2026 typhoon season.