Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Issued at 4:14 pm ACST on Thursday 20 November 2025

Headline:
Tropical Cyclone Fina is slowly moving south towards the northern Top End coast.

Areas Affected:
Warning zone: Milikapiti to Maningrida, including the Cobourg Peninsula, Minjilang and Warruwi.

Watch zone: Daly River Mouth to Gunbalanya, including Dundee Beach, Darwin, Batchelor, Pirlangimpi and Wurrumiyanga about the Tiwi Islands.

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 9.8 degrees South 133.2 degrees East, estimated to be 380 kilometres northeast of Darwin and 160 kilometres north northeast of Minjilang.
Movement: slow moving.

Tropical Cyclone Fina, a category 2 cyclone is slowly moving south. It is expected to continue on this track today, before turning southwest during Friday.

Fina is expected to approach the Cobourg Peninsula and Tiwi Islands late on Friday, and continue moving southwest through the Van Diemen Gulf on Saturday.

Fina is forecast to maintain category 2 intensity in the coming days, however there remains a slight possibility that it could reach category 3 intensity late on Friday or early Saturday as it moves into the Van Diemen Gulf.

Hazards:
GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/h may develop over the Cobourg Peninsula between Cape Don and Warruwi tonight, possibly extending to between Milikapiti and Maningrida on Friday morning. Gales are expected to extend further west to include the Tiwi Islands during late Friday and from Darwin east to Gunbalanya during Saturday. Gales may extend further southwest to Bachelor and Daly River Mouth late on Saturday.

DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS to 155km/h may develop between Cape Don and Warruwi on Friday as the system nears the coast, extending to the Tiwi Islands early
Saturday and possibly to Darwin later on Saturday.

HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is possible along coastal areas between the Tiwi Islands and Maningrida from Friday, extending to the coast and nearby inland across the western Top End including Darwin on Saturday. 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 Maningrida on high tides over the next few days.

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 near and between Milikapiti and Maningrida should immediately commence or continue preparations, especially securing boats and property, using available daylight hours. NTES advises people elsewhere about the Tiwi Islands and areas between Daly River Mouth and Gunbalanya, including Darwin and Batchelor, 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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