Federal authorities are on high alert as Severe Tropical Cyclone Fina, now a powerful category three system, bears down on Darwin. The Minister for Emergency Management, Kristy McBain, confirmed that federal support is ready to assist the Northern Territory if required.
Unprecedented Early Season Intensity
Cyclone Fina has become the first tropical cyclone of category three strength to form in Australian waters during November in two decades. The last storm to achieve this intensity in November was Tropical Cyclone Bertie-Alvin back in 2005, according to data from Weatherzone. This marks a significant and rare early-season weather event.
The system briefly made landfall on Friday night, crossing the Cobourg Peninsula before moving back over the ocean. This made it the equal earliest tropical cyclone to make landfall on record.
Immediate Threats and Warnings
On Saturday morning, the Bureau of Meteorology reported that Tropical Cyclone Fina was situated approximately 120 kilometres northeast of Darwin. Senior Meteorologist Angus Hines stated at 5:30am that the system was moving southwest at around 10km/h.
The BoM has issued a cyclone warning for a large area, including the Tiwi Islands, from Daly River Mouth to Cape Don, and inland to Batchelor. This warning specifically encompasses Darwin, the Cobourg Peninsula, and the communities of Pirlangimpi, Milikapiti, and Wurrumiyanga.
As a category three system, Fina is packing sustained winds of 120 kilometres per hour, with destructive wind gusts reaching up to 165 km/h. "Currently, those strongest winds are over the water but may go on to impact land areas later today," Hines warned. Winds of 104km/h were already recorded at McCluer Island in the early hours of the morning.
Heavy Rain and Projected Path
The Northern Territory is already experiencing heavy rainfall, with the Murganella airstrip recording 103.6mm since midnight. The bulk of the rain, however, is still expected to arrive as the cyclone approaches.
Darwin was anticipated to feel the worst effects throughout Saturday, as Fina advanced through the Van Diemen Gulf. The system was forecast to be closest to the city around 9pm on Saturday.
Looking ahead to Sunday, Hines projected that after passing near Darwin, Tropical Cyclone Fina is expected to continue on a southwestward trajectory into the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf, the body of water between the Northern Territory and Western Australia.
