Darwin and Tiwi Islands brace for Severe tropical Cyclone Fina as it intensifies to Category 3
Severe Tropical Cyclone Fina has intensified to a Category 3 system, bringing “very destructive winds” and posing a significant threat to Darwin and the Tiwi Islands. The Bureau of meteorology (BOM) reports the cyclone currently has maximum mean wind speeds of 130 km/h and gusts up to 185 km/h.
A Category 3 tropical cyclone is defined as having very destructive winds, capable of causing significant damage to crops and trees, some damage to roofs and structures, and destruction of some caravans. Power failures are likely. The system is now officially classed as a severe tropical cyclone.
As of the latest BOM advice, Cyclone Fina is located 85 kilometres north-east of Darwin and 80 kilometres east of Wurrumiyanga, moving west south-west at 9 km/h.
A cyclone warning is in place for the Daly River Mouth to Cape Don, including the Tiwi Islands, Dundee Beach, Darwin, Milikapiti, Pirlangimpi and Wurrumiyanga. A cyclone watch extends from south of Daly River Mouth to Troughton Island in Western Australia, encompassing Wadeye and Kalumburu. Alerts for Minilang to Wurruwi have been cancelled.
BOM forecasts Cyclone Fina will maintain its severe intensity on Sunday or early Monday as it tracks through the southern Timor Sea, beginning to weaken near the Kimberley coast on Monday or Tuesday.
The weather bureau is providing hourly updates,with the next scheduled for 11:30am ACST.
