grammar - Why 来ています rather than 来ました

This is the first sentence of an NHK article published today (September 2, 2016) discussing the high number of typhoons in waters near Japan.

気象庁によると、ことし６月から８月までに７つの台風が日本の近くに来ています。

According to the Japanese Meteorological Agency, this year between June and August, 7 typhoons approached Japan. (I omitted near because I think approach implies it).

I'm wondering why the article chose to use 来ています to describe what the article itself implies is a past action.

I understand that the ～ている form describes continued state when used with momentary verbs like 来る. However, I don't see why a typhoon approaching is considered a continued state since the typhoon is currently not still there. I would have assumed it should be either a completed past action or a completed past state that is not currently continuing.

My question explicitly is, could someone possibly contrast the meanings of the above sentence if 来ました or 来ていました had been used instead?

Full article: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/easy/k10010664611000/k10010664611000.html

Thanks

Answer

For 「昨日 寝てない」 there are a few different possible interpretations.

1. 
   

   present perfect　　 「昨日から 寝てない」

   
   



2. 
   

   general condition, habit　　 「最近 よく寝てない」

   
   


3. 
   

   (past perfect?) or Experience

   
   

   3a. 　Preparation, e.g. for a test. 　　--------------- 　　See: Meaning of 寝てない

   
   

---

気象庁によると、ことし６月から８月までに７つの台風が日本の近くに来ています。

This has (mostly) elements of [ present perfect ] (... so far, there have been ...)

and possibly [ general condition, habit ]

My question explicitly is, could someone possibly contrast the meanings of the above sentence if 来ました or 来ていました had been used instead?

• 
  

  気象庁によると、ことし６月から８月までに７つの台風が日本の近くに来ました。 <----- This is just a statement of fact. Semantically, very flat.

  
  
  


• 
  

  気象庁によると、ことし６月から８月までに７つの台風が日本の近くに来ています。 <----- This suggests that we are psychologically engaged / invested in this information. -- that we don't want another big one to hit us (soon).

  
  


• 
  

  気象庁によると、ことし６月から８月までに７つの台風が日本の近くに来ていました。 <----- This is much less suspenseful. The assumption is ... [ We had 7 of them, but the 8th one is not expected any time soon. ]