Australia’s first tropical cyclone of the season is moving slowly towards parts of the Northern Territory, with residents of Darwin and surrounding areas including the Tiwi Islands told to prepare for destructive winds and wild weather.

Published 11 mins ago, updated 4 mins ago

Source:  Bureau of Meteorology

According to Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) Tropical Cyclone Fina is expected to turn south towards the northern Top End coast during Thursday November 20 as a category 2 system with sustained winds near the centre of 95 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 130 kilometres per hour.

While Australia’s official cyclone season starts in November, in most years the first system does not form until December or sometimes January.”It is an early start to the cyclone season this year,” BOM Northern Territory senior officer Jude Scott said.

“Tropical Cyclone Fina remains a category 2 system and is slow moving, said the BOM in a Tropical Cyclone warning notice.”It is expected to turn to the south today then southwest towards the northern coast of the Top End. It should approach the Cobourg Peninsula and Tiwi Islands on Friday, impacting areas over the northwest coast of the Top End of the Northern Territory.”

Fina is forecast to maintain category 2 intensity but an increase to category 3 on Friday or Saturday as it nears land remains a possibility.

Hazards include gales with damaging wind gusts to 120km/h and with destruction wind gusts up to 155km/h as the system nears the coast with the Tiwi Islands and possibly Darwin likely to be affected on Saturday November 22.

Heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding along coastal areas including the Tiwi Islands and Darwin and a Flood Watch is current for areas across the northwest Top End.  The BOM is also warning that tides may be higher than normal on the high tides.  As the cyclone centre crosses the coast during Friday and Saturday, tides are likely to rise significantly above the normal high tide, with damaging waves and dangerous flooding.

Early Season Cyclone

The BOM said that Fina has arrived particularly early in the northern Australian cyclone season. Some other past November cyclones to affect the region include Severe Tropical Cyclone Ines in 1973 and Tropical Cyclone Alessia in 2011.

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Related News:

• Warnings as Tropical Cyclone Fina Makes a U-Turn Towards the Coast (News.com.au)
• Northern Territory Prepares for Tropical Cyclone Fina as it tracks toward Coast (ABC News)
• Tropical Cyclone Intensifies to Category 2 System. (The Guardian)

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Related Links:

• Noonsite Weather Resources
• Bureau of Meteorology Australia
• Weatherzone Australia
• South Pacific Cyclone Season Forecast

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