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On Saturday, November 22 2025, tropical cyclone FINA, which formed over the Timor Sea on November 19th and quickly intensified to category 3 strength, brought destructive winds reaching 205 km hour and storm force downpours to the Tiwi Islands and the Northern Territory coastline as it passed just north of Darwin, leaving the region facing rapidly deteriorating weather conditions from the early morning hours.
The latest bulletins issued on Saturday afternoon indicated that the system was located approximately 34 to 60 km north of Darwin and Wuramianga about 30 to 40 km south, moving wests southwest at 7 to 8 kmh with sustained wind speeds near the center measured at 130 to 150 kmh and gusts reaching 195 to 205 km hour. The same statements emphasized that winds in Darwin had already reached storm force with this intensity expected to increase in the coming hours and that severe storms had already begun to be felt in the Tiwi Islands.
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Starting at midday in Darwin, as the winds gradually intensified, the effects began to be seen in concrete terms throughout the city. It was reported that trees had fallen across roads in many places, bringing traffic to a standstill on certain arteries and that crews were only able to respond to areas that could be reached safely.
As the winds intensified, upper floor balconies, tree lines, and roadside signs, and lightweight structures became hazardous. Therefore, authorities warned citizens to stay away from windows, remain indoors if possible, and avoid going outside. It was announced that wind speeds were felt even more strongly, particularly for residents of coastal suburbs such as Cashirina, Nightcliffe, and Fanny Bay, and that the wave effect created additional risk along the coastline.
The electrical infrastructure also felt the storm's effects early on. Power outages were confirmed in Darwin, Palmerston, surrounding rural settlements, and many suburbs on the Tiwi Islands with some areas experiencing widespread outages. As power outages limited both lighting and communication capabilities in the evening hours, emergency management units reminded residents to keep essential equipment such as flashlights, spare batteries, and radios on hand.
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The Tiwi Islands were among the areas that experienced the full force of Fina during the day. On the southern coast of Melville Island, extremely destructive wind gusts of up to 205 km hour were recorded. In these areas, the wind reached a level strong enough to break tree trunks and blow away light structures. Throughout the day, warnings were repeatedly issued for communities along this wind corridor stretching as far as Baurst Island, particularly Wurumianga, Piran Gimpy, and Milicapati, urging them to complete their preparations.
The rainfall picture also worsened. Heavy cloud bands associated with Fina dropped between 100 and 200 millimeters of rain over a large part of northern Australia during the day. According to bomb measurements, rainfall became persistent, particularly in the Tiwi Islands and areas facing Darwin's northern coast. Current projections suggest that total rainfall could reach 300 mm in some parts of Darwin by Monday night, November 24th.
This amount significantly increases the risk of flash flooding, particularly in urban areas with poor drainage and around canal and river beds. The risk of flash flooding is not limited to Darwin City alone. Warnings directly cover the mainland coastline between the Tiwi Islands and Point Stewart and Dundee Beach.
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Heavy rainfall is expected in a short period of time during the passage of cyclone bands in the river valleys and low-lying settlements along this line. According to the Byam assessment, the heaviest rainfall areas are likely to shift southwest towards the Daly river mouth from Saturday night to Sunday. In such a scenario, it is important to closely monitor and early warning systems for riverside campsites, low-lying farmland, and small settlements near the coast.
FINA's meteorological development is outside the normal pattern for the season. After emerging as a tropical system over the Timor Sea on November 19th, the cyclone intensified to severe tropical cyclone status in just a few days, marking the earliest start to a cyclone season recorded in Australia in 12 years.
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On Saturday morning, the system reached category 3 over Van Demon Gulf, passed south of Melville Island, re-entered the Gulf, and approached its closest position to Darwin by the afternoon. During this process, radar and satellite data showed Fina to be a relatively compact but extremely intense system. That is, although its area of influence was geographically limited, wind and rainfall intensity reached very high values in the core region.
The scene created by tropical cyclone Fina around Darwin and the Tiwi Islands serves as an early reminder of the cyclone cycle that communities in northern Australia are accustomed to. This powerful system arriving early in the season once again highlights the importance of early warning and preparedness processes for authorities while demonstrating that the measures taken and information shared will be crucial in ensuring individuals safety during the peak hours of wind and rain.
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Fina 1 is here https://cityofangels25.blogspot.com/2025/11/fina-1-sat-11pm-cyclone-graxes.html
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