Tropical Cyclone Fina reaches Category 3 strength as it nears Darwin, Australia

Tropical Cyclone Fina reached Category 3 strength on Saturday as the system moved toward Darwin. As of 15:00 AWST (07:00 UTC) on Saturday, the system was located about 60 km (37 miles) north of Darwin and 40 km (25 miles) south of Wurrumiyanga.

Sustained winds near the center reached 150 km/h (93 mph), with gusts of up to 205 km/h (127 mph). The system was moving southwest at 7 km/h (4 mph).

Darwin radar and satellite imagery show Fina on the south coast of Melville Island as a very compact yet strong system. Based on Fina’s forecast west-southwest track, the very destructive core is expected to pass just north of Darwin this evening, according to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM).

After passing Darwin, Fina is forecast to maintain severe tropical cyclone intensity on Sunday and into Monday as it moves through the southern Timor Sea, before beginning to weaken during Monday or Tuesday near the Kimberley coast.

Tropical Cyclone Fina marked the earliest start of the Australian cyclone season in 12 years after it formed over the Timor Sea on November 19. Based on BOM’s forecast track, the system could reach Category 4 strength by Monday before it begins to weaken.

While not forecast to make landfall, Fina will make its closest approach to Darwin on Saturday evening, bringing destructive winds and heavy rain to the region.

Destructive gusts of up to 205 km/h (127 mph) are already affecting the south coast of Melville Island and extending to Bathurst Island. The winds are expected to reach Wurrumiyanga by Saturday evening. These gusts are likely to affect the coastal portions of northeast Darwin, including Gunn Point and Cape Hotham, by the evening.

Meanwhile, gusts of up to 155 km/h (96 mph) are forecast to move west over the southern parts of the Tiwi Islands, including Wurrumiyanga, through Saturday afternoon. They are also likely to extend into Darwin and possibly farther toward Dundee Beach.

Damaging gusts of up to 120 km/h (75 mph) are already impacting Melville Island, adjacent Bathurst Island, and areas from Darwin northeast to Point Stuart. Gale-force winds are forecast to reach farther west across the remainder of the Tiwi Islands by Saturday evening and could extend southwest to Dundee Beach during the night.

Around 100–200 mm (4–8 inches) of rainfall has already been observed across coastal areas of northern Australia, according to the BOM. Parts of Darwin are forecast to see up to 300 mm (12 inches) of rainfall by Monday night, November 24.

Heavy rainfall associated with the storm could trigger flash floods over the Tiwi Islands and the mainland coast between Point Stuart and Dundee Beach, including Darwin. The risk of heavy rain will extend southwest to the Daly River Mouth overnight on Saturday into Sunday, November 23.

“Coastal residents on the Tiwi Islands, and between Cape Hotham and Warruwi, are specifically warned that tides are likely to rise above the normal high-tide mark with large waves and minor flooding of low-lying coastal areas,” BOM meteorologists said.

Tropical cyclone warning zone includes the Tiwi Islands and Point Stuart to Wadeye. This includes Darwin, Pirlangimpi, Milikapiti, Wurrumiyanga and Wadeye. Meanwhile, the watch zone covers the region from Wadeye, Northern Territory to Troughton Island, West Australia, including Kalumburu.

Rishav Kothari

I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.

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