Cyclone Fina Strengthens off Top End, Warnings for Tiwi Islands

Tropical Cyclone Fina, classified as a Category 1 system by the Bureau of Meteorology, formed in the Timor Sea on Wednesday and is prompting heightened preparedness across Australia’s Top End. The bureau placed parts of the Northern Territory under a cyclone watch and the Territory Controller activated the Emergency Operations Centre as authorities began coordinating readiness and response efforts.

As of the first public update on Wednesday, Fina was located roughly 315 to 370 kilometres north northeast of Darwin and moving slowly east northeast. Forecasts from the Bureau of Meteorology expect the system to intensify to Category 2 later on Wednesday and then turn south, with a track that could bring the cyclone toward the Northern Territory coast on Friday or Saturday, November 21 and 22.

Authorities warned of gale force winds and destructive gusts for coastal communities, alongside heavy rain that could cause flash flooding. Storm surge is also a concern in low lying coastal areas. Communities specifically highlighted in official warnings include the Tiwi Islands and Maningrida, as well as other remote settlements that are regularly vulnerable during the region’s cyclone season.

Emergency services urged residents in watch zones to prepare emergency kits, secure property, check evacuation plans and monitor official forecasts for updates. The activation of the Emergency Operations Centre is intended to centralise government response, manage resources and provide a single point for coordination between the bureau, local authorities and emergency services. In the Top End, where many communities are remote and infrastructure is sparse, early preparation is critical to limit disruption and ensure safety.

The potential impact on Indigenous communities is a central concern for local authorities and community leaders. Many settlements depend on limited road links, regular air services and seasonal supply chains that can be disrupted by heavy rain and coastal inundation. Culturally sensitive communication and community led evacuation arrangements have been emphasised in recent years as essential to safeguarding vulnerable populations in remote parts of the territory.

While Fina is the season’s early cyclone, scientists note a broader trend of intense tropical systems occurring in warmer ocean conditions, which can change storm behaviour and impact planning. For now, meteorologists will watch the cyclone’s intensity and projected turn south closely over the next 48 to 72 hours to refine hazard maps and arrival times for coastal communities.

Residents across the Top End should expect evolving warnings and the possibility of stronger winds and heavier rainfall than currently observed. Authorities reiterated that people in watch areas should act now to prepare, follow instructions from local emergency services and stay informed through Bureau of Meteorology updates and official emergency channels as the situation develops.