Federal Authorities on Standby as Severe Cyclone Approaches
The Australian government has mobilised emergency resources as Severe Tropical Cyclone Fina intensifies into a category three system, marking the first cyclone of this strength in Australian waters during November for two decades. Kristy McBain, the Minister for Emergency Management, confirmed yesterday that federal authorities were positioned to assist the Northern Territory if required.
Cyclone Fina's Path and Intensity
The Bureau of Meteorology reported that the cyclone was located approximately 120km northeast of Darwin on Saturday morning, moving southwest at about 10km/h. Senior Meteorologist Angus Hines stated that the system was expected to be closest to Darwin around 9pm on Saturday.
As a category three system, Cyclone Fina produces sustained winds of 120 km per hour, with gusts reaching up to 165 km per hour. While the strongest winds were initially over water, authorities warned they could impact land areas later in the day. A wind speed of 104km/h was already recorded at McCluer Island at 1:58am.
Warnings and Record-Breaking Nature
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued warnings for multiple areas including:
- The Tiwi Islands
- Daly River Mouth to Cape Don
- Inland to Batchelor
- Darwin, Cobourg Peninsula, Pirlangimpi, Milikapiti and Wurrumiyanga
This weather event represents a significant meteorological occurrence, being the first category three cyclone in Australian waters in November for 20 years. The last comparable system was Tropical Cyclone Bertie-Alvin in 2005, according to Weatherzone. Fina also equaled the record for the earliest tropical cyclone to make landfall after briefly crossing the Cobourg Peninsula on Friday night before returning to ocean waters.
Heavy rainfall has already begun affecting the region, with 103.6mm recorded at Murganella airstrip since midnight. Meteorologists anticipate that the bulk of the precipitation is still to come as the system advances through the Van Diemen Gulf.
Looking ahead to Sunday, the cyclone is forecast to continue on its southwestward trajectory toward the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf, the waters separating the Northern Territory and Western Australia, after passing near Darwin overnight.
