21 NOVEMBER 2025 22:07 CST
Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Tropical Cyclone Advice
Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre
Media: Transmitters serving the area between Cape Don to Minjilang are requested to USE the Standard Emergency Warning Signal before broadcasting the following warning.
TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST
TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 19
Issued at 10:07 PM CST on Friday 21 November 2025
Headline:
Tropical Cyclone Fina, category 2, is impacting the Cobourg Peninsula, extending to other parts of the northwest Top End during Saturday.
Areas Affected:
Warning zone: The Tiwi Islands, Daly River Mouth to Warruwi, and inland to Batchelor. This includes Darwin, Cobourg Peninsula and Minjilang, and also Pirlangimpi, Milikapiti and Wurrumiyanga.
Watch zone: Wadeye to south of Daly River Mouth.
Cancelled zone: Gunbalanya.
Details of Tropical Cyclone Fina 02U at 9:30 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 30 kilometres of 11.1 degrees South 132.2 degrees East, estimated to be 40 kilometres west of Minjilang and 205 kilometres northeast of Darwin.
Movement: south southwest at 10 kilometres per hour.
Tropical Cyclone Fina, currently a category 2 cyclone, is moving steadily towards the south southwest. Fina is crossing the Cobourg Peninsula and will move into the Van Dieman Gulf overnight. During Saturday Fina will move through the Van Dieman Gulf heading towards the southwest.
After passing Darwin, Fina is forecast to further intensify to a severe tropical cyclone on Sunday or early Monday as it moves through the southern Timor Sea. There is a chance that it could reach category 3 intensity during Saturday as it moves through the Van Diemen Gulf.
Hazards:
GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/h are occurring over the Cobourg Peninsula between Cape Don and Minjilang. Gales are expected to extend further west to include the Tiwi Islands overnight, and to Darwin from Saturday morning. Gales may extend southwest to Daly River Mouth and Wadeye later on Saturday or overnight into Sunday morning. DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS to 140 km/h may occur between Cape Don and Minjilang tonight as the system crosses the Cobourg Peninsula, and might extend to the eastern parts of the Tiwi Islands early Saturday and possibly to Darwin later on Saturday. HEAVY to LOCALLY INTENSE RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is possible along coastal areas between the Tiwi Islands and Warruwi, extending to the coast and nearby inland areas across the western Top End including Darwin during Saturday and Sunday. Coastal residents on the Tiwi Islands, and between Cape Hotham and Warruwi 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 in the path of the dangerous cyclone about the Cobourg Peninsula, including Minjilang and Cape Don, should stay calm and remain in a secure shelter while the destructive winds continue. Do not venture outside if you find yourself in the eye of the cyclone - destructive winds from a different direction could resume at any time. Heed the advice and follow the instructions of Emergency Services personnel and local authorities. NTES advises people on the Tiwi Islands, and elsewhere between Daly River Mouth to Warruwi, including Darwin and Batchelor, should immediately commence or continue preparations, especially securing boats and property, using available daylight hours. NTES advises people elsewhere near and between Wadeye and south of Daly River Mouth, 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 (https://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).
Cyclone advices and DFES Alerts are available by dialling 13 DFES (13 3337)
A map showing the track of the cyclone is available at:
http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone
