Dot attained typhoon strength on October 15, and subsequently entered a period of explosive deepening, which was not anticipated by forecasters.

A steady weakening trend began on October 17, though the system maintained typhoon intensity through the passage of the Philippines.

After entering the South China Sea late on October 18, Dot briefly re-intensified, only to weaken as it approached Vietnam.

On October 21, Dot struck Vietnam while still a typhoon, but dissipated the next day over the high terrain of the nation.

Satellite imagery first detected an area of convection roughly 280 km (170 mi) southeast of Ponape on October 11.

Based on this, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) upgraded the system into Tropical Storm Dot.

[5] Around this time, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) also monitored the storm and assigned it with the local name Saling.

That evening, the JMA increased the intensity of Dot to 165 km/h (105 mph), making it the strongest tropical cyclone of the season.

[1] Based on the aforementioned aircraft reports, the JTWC increased the intensity to 260 km/h (160 mph) at 0000 UTC on October 16.

[5] However, the JTWC also noted that both the storm's radius of maximum winds and central dense overcast were unusually small.

[2] After maintaining this intensity until the morning of October 17, Dot started a gradual weakening trend[5] while passing directly over Samar Island and encountering increased wind shear.

Around this time, radar imagery showed that Dot displayed a small pinhole eye 5 to 8 km (3.1 to 5.0 mi) in diameter.

According to the JTWC, Dot reaches its secondary peak intensity of 165 km/h (105 mph) midday on October 20 while situated roughly 550 km (340 mi) south-southwest of Hong Kong.

Early on October 21, Dot moved ashore in northern Vietnam, around 240 km (150 mi) south of Hanoi.

[5] Land interaction with the high terrain of the nation resulted in rapid weakening, and by 0000 UTC October 22, the JTWC ceased tracking Dot.

[9] All United States military installations in the Philippines were placed in a Tropical Cyclone Condition of Readiness[1] and two airbases, Clark Air Base and Cubi Point NAS, were evacuated.

[1] In Davao Del Sur, 10 people were killed and several homes were destroyed due to mudslides.

[7] During the aftermath of the storm, the governor of Nueva Ecija requested President Ferdinand Marcos to declare the province a disaster area.