Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Issued at 4:26 pm ACST on Wednesday 19 November 2025

Headline:
Tropical Cyclone Fina, category 2 is expected to turn south towards the northern Top End coast during Thursday.

Areas Affected:
Warning zone: None.

Watch zone: Cape Fourcroy to Milingimbi, including the Tiwi Islands, Cobourg Peninsula and Gunbalanya.

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 35 kilometres of 9.5 degrees South 132.6 degrees East, estimated to be 375 kilometres north northeast of Darwin and 185 kilometres north of Minjilang.
Movement: east at 9 kilometres per hour.

Tropical Cyclone Fina has intensified into a category 2 system and started moving eastwards. During Thursday it is expected to turn to the south towards the northern coast of the Top End. On Friday and Saturday, Fina will take a southwest motion, impacting areas over the northwest coast of the Top End of the Northern Territory.

Hazards:
GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/h may develop between Cape Don and Warruwi during Thursday and extend east to Maningrida overnight Thursday. Gales are expected to extend further west to include the Tiwi Islands later Friday.
GALES may extend further east to Milingimbi if the system takes a track further east.

DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS to 135km/h may develop between Cape Don and Warruwi as early as late Thursday but more likely during Friday as the system approaches the coast.

Locally HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is possible along coastal areas between the Tiwi Islands and Milingimbi from Friday. A Flood Watch is current for areas across the northwest Top End.

Tides may be higher than normal about the Tiwi Islands and between Cape Hotham and Milingimbi on high tides from early Thursday morning.

Coastal residents on the Tiwi Islands, and between Cape Hotham and Maningrida 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 the Cape Fourcroy and Milingimbi, including the Tiwi Islands 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
(www.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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