Severe Tropical Cyclone Fina - BOM (22/11 AM)

 Severe Tropical Cyclone Fina – Quick Update (Cat 3)

Fina has now intensified to a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone in the Van Diemen Gulf.

It’s sitting north-east of Darwin, moving southwest at around 9 km/h, and will pass north of Darwin later today.

Areas in the warning

Darwin, Batchelor, Cobourg Peninsula

Tiwi Islands – Pirlangimpi, Milikapiti, Wurrumiyanga

Daly River Mouth to Cape Don

Watch zone: Daly River Mouth to Wadeye

Cancelled: Minjilang to Warruwi

What’s happening now

Winds near the centre are 120 km/h, gusting to 165 km/h.

The southeastern Tiwi Islands are currently seeing the worst of it.

Very destructive gusts (up to 185 km/h) may reach Cape Hotham later this morning.

Destructive gusts (up to 140 km/h) may develop in Darwin later today as the system passes to the north.

Gales (up to 120 km/h) are already affecting the Cobourg area and eastern Melville Island and will spread west across the Tiwi Islands and into Darwin this morning.

Heavy rain and flash flooding risk increases for the western Top End, including Darwin, today and Sunday.

A storm tide is possible around parts of the Tiwi Islands and the coast from Cape Hotham to Warruwi — higher than normal tides with waves on top.

What to do

Those in Darwin, Cape Hotham to Point Stuart, Batchelor, Tiwi Islands and Cobourg should:

Stay in a safe place and avoid going outside during strong winds.

Secure boats and loose items now.

Follow NTES instructions and local emergency updates.

For storm damage or emergency help: NTES 132 500

Cyclone preparedness info: SecureNT

I’ll keep updating as the track shifts through the morning. Stay safe everyone.