19/11/2025
⚠️ A Cyclone Watch & Act has been declared for the Tiwi Islands, and Darwin east to Gunbalanya.
Conditions are changing. Keep informed for updates and take action now.
NT EMERGENCY SERVICE MESSAGE: Cyclone Watch and Act
THIS IS UPDATE #6
Headline:
Tropical Cyclone Fina is expected to turn south today towards the northern Top End coast.
LOCATION/S:
Warning Zone
Cape Don to Maningrida, including Cobourg Peninsula and Minjilang and Warruwi.
Watch Zone
The Tiwi Islands, and Darwin east to Gunbalanya.
Cancelled Zone
None.
ALERT LEVEL: Watch and Act - There is a heightened level of threat. Conditions are changing and you need to start taking action now to protect you and your family.
INFORMATION CURRENT AS AT: 7:27 am ACST on Thursday 20 November 2025
RISKS FACED BY PEOPLE IN THE AREA:
• Damaging winds with possible destructive wind gusts
• Heavy rainfall, with intense rainfall possible
• Possible minor flooding
• Possible disruption to essential supplies like electricity, water, and gas
• Abnormally high tides.
ACTION STATEMENTS:
• Enact your household emergency plan now
• Prepare your property now – secure loose items
• Stay informed by following SecureNT on Facebook or listen to ABC Local Radio
• Monitor conditions via www.bom.gov.au/nt/warnings
• For emergency service in floods, storms or cyclones call 132 500
• In a life threatening situation call 000
• Take extra care on the roads, visit https://roadreport.nt.gov.au for latest road conditions
ADVICE TO THE PUBLIC:
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 9.4 degrees South 133.2 degrees East, estimated to be 415 kilometres northeast of Darwin and 200 kilometres north northeast of Minjilang.
Movement: slow moving.
Tropical Cyclone Fina remains a category 2 system and is slow moving. It is expected to turn to the south today then southwest towards the northern coast of the Top End. It should approach the Cobourg Peninsula and Tiwi Islands on Friday, impacting areas over the northwest coast of the Top End of the Northern Territory. Fina is forecast to maintain category 2 intensity in coming days but an increase to category 3 on Friday or Saturday as it nears land remains a possibility.
Hazards:
GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/h may develop over the Cobourg Peninsula between Cape Don and Warruwi from late afternoon today and more likely overnight tonight possibly extending to Maningrida Friday morning. Gales are expected to extend further west to include the Tiwi Islands during Friday and from Darwin east to Gunbalanya during Saturday.
DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS to 155km/h may develop between Cape Don and Warruwi from Friday as the system nears the coast, extending to the Tiwi Islands early Saturday and possibly to Darwin later on Saturday.
Locally 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 from today.
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 Cape Don and Maningrida should immediately commence or continue preparations, especially securing boats and property, using available daylight hours. NTES advises people on the Tiwi Islands, and Darwin east to Gunbalanya 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).
For more information:
• For all warnings, visit Secure NT website regularly or listen to ABC local radio
• For weather information, visit the Bureau of Meteorology
• For the latest river heights, visit Latest River Heights for the Northern Territory Rivers
• For power outage information, visit the Power and Water website
• For traffic and road closure information, visit the Road Report NT website
The next update will be provided at 10:30 am ACST Thursday 20 November.
