Tropical Cyclone Fina has intensified into a category two storm off the Northern Territory coast, with authorities urging Top End residents to finalise their emergency plans ahead of expected landfall on Saturday morning. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a cyclone watch for communities along the north coast and the Tiwi Islands, warning the watch area may extend further south and west, possibly including Darwin.
The cyclone watch zone currently stretches from Milingimbi in the east to the entire Tiwi Islands in the west, covering Minjilang, Warruwi, Maningrida, Gunbalanya, Milikapiti, Pirlangimpi and Wurrumiyanga. Cyclone Fina is expected to make landfall west of Minjilang as a category two system, though authorities cannot rule out further intensification to category three.
BOM NT senior officer Jude Scott said communities in the watch area can expect strong winds and heavy rainfall from Friday, with conditions deteriorating further south, including Darwin, during Saturday. Gales with wind gusts up to 120 km/h are forecast to develop within the watch zone on Thursday morning, potentially increasing to 135 km/h later in the day and into Friday.
NT Police Acting Assistant Commissioner James O'Brien said extra officers have been deployed to the Tiwi Islands, Minjilang and Warruwi to assist communities with preparations. Emergency services have planned for potential evacuations, road and rail cuts, and other scenarios, though the likelihood of needing these plans is considered low.
NT Emergency Service chief officer Wayne Snell said there are no current plans for evacuations from remote communities and islands, but urged residents to have a cyclone plan for their families. He advised Darwin residents to prepare for possible impacts as the system approaches.
