Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Media: Transmitters serving the area between Cape Don to Minjilang are requested to USE the Standard Emergency Warning Signal before broadcasting the following warning.

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 17
Issued at 4:30 pm ACST on Friday 21 November 2025

Headline:
Tropical Cyclone Fina, category 2, is impacting the Cobourg Peninsula, extending to other parts of the northwest Top End today and on Saturday.

Areas Affected:
Warning zone: The Tiwi Islands, Daly River Mouth to Warruwi, and inland to Batchelor. This includes Darwin, Cobourg Peninsula, Minjilang and Gunbalanya, and also Pirlangimpi, Milikapiti and Wurrumiyanga.

Watch zone: Wadeye to south of Daly River Mouth.

Cancelled zone: None.

Details of Tropical Cyclone Fina 02U at 3:30 pm ACST:
Intensity: Category 2, sustained winds near the centre of 95 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 130 kilometres per hour.
Location: within 30 kilometres of 10.6 degrees South 132.5 degrees East, estimated to be 60 kilometres north of Minjilang and 270 kilometres northeast of Darwin.
Movement: southwest at 6 kilometres per hour.

Tropical Cyclone Fina has intensified to a category 2 cyclone, and is moving slowly to the southwest.

Fina is approaching the Cobourg Peninsula and Tiwi Islands and will move over the area tonight, before continuing southwest through the Van Diemen Gulf on Saturday.

Fina is forecast to further intensify to a severe tropical cyclone during overnight Sunday or early Monday as it moves through the southern Timor Sea.
There continues to remain a chance that it could reach category 3 intensity earlier, during late Friday or early Saturday as it moves into the Van Diemen Gulf.

Hazards:
GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/h are occurring over the Cobourg Peninsula between Cape Don and Warruwi. Gales are expected to extend further west to include the Tiwi Islands during late Friday, and to Darwin from Saturday morning. Gales could extend inland to Gunbalanya and Batchelor during Saturday if Fina moves further south. Gales may extend further southwest to Daly River Mouth and Wadeye later on Saturday or overnight into early Sunday morning.

DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS to 155km/h may develop between Cape Don and Minjilang Friday evening as the system nears the coast, extending to the Tiwi Islands early Saturday and possibly to Darwin later on Saturday. Destructive winds may extend east to Warruwi later Friday if the system takes a track further east.

HEAVY to LOCALLY INTENSE RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is possible along coastal areas between the Tiwi Islands and Warruwi from Friday, extending to the coast and nearby inland areas across the western Top End including Darwin during Saturday and Sunday.

Coastal residents on the Tiwi Islands, and between Cape Hotham and Warruwi are specifically warned of a DANGEROUS STORM TIDE 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.

Recommended Action:
NTES advises people between Cape Don to Minjilang should complete preparations quickly and be prepared to shelter in a safe place. NTES advises people on the Tiwi Islands, and between Daly River Mouth to Warruwi, including the Cobourg Peninsula, Darwin and Batchelor, should immediately commence or continue preparations, especially securing boats and property, using available daylight hours. NTES advises people elsewhere near and between Wadeye and south of Daly River Mouth, should consider what action they will need to take if the cyclone threat increases. For cyclone preparedness and safety advice, visit the Secure NT website (securent.nt.gov.au). For emergency assistance call the Northern Territory Emergency Service (NTES) on 132 500 (for assistance with storm damage, rising flood water, fallen trees on buildings or roof damage).


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