According to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), at around 10:30 p.m. on November 21 (local time), fina moved slowly in the South - Southwest direction at a speed of about 10 km/h. The center of the storm is about 40 km west of Minjilang and 205 km northeast of Darwin.
The strongest wind near the center of the storm reached about 95 km/h, gusting to 130 km/h. The storm remains at level 2, with a slight increase in intensity. The maximum wave height reaches 6.1 m.
BOM forecasts fina to move northwest of the subtropical high pressure zone located in the south of Carpentaria Bay, through the Cobourg peninsula and will enter Van Diemen Bay overnight on November 21 and early morning of November 22 (local time).
On November 22, the storm continued to move through the bay southwest, making a second landfall at the tip of the Cox Peninsula, near Darwin.
The storm is forecast to make landfall in Darwin at around 4am this afternoon, November 22 (local time), with the eye of the storm likely to be offshore, just north of the city.
fina was previously expected to strengthen to a Category 3 severe tropical storm. The strongest wind near the center of the storm reached 140 km/h.
Residents and visitors near the storm's pass, around the Cobourg peninsula, including Minjilang and Mui Don, should stay calm and in a safe haven. Do not go out when not necessary because strong, destructive winds can appear at any time.
The center of the storm will then continue to move deep inland for the next 3 days, weakening rapidly. When fina makes landfall for the last time, the terrain and large amounts of dry air will allow the storm to weaken rapidly. fina is expected to dissipate over the next four days.
Kristy McBain, Minister for the Australian Federal territories, said the Australian government is closely monitoring the developments and path of fina.
We maintain regular and smooth contact with state and local emergency response agencies. Our staff are also working directly in the north of the territory to ensure the Australian government can quickly review any support requests, she said.
People and tourists in the area should prioritize safety by complying with warnings and recommendations about storms, staying alert to the surrounding environment and avoiding hazards such as free-flowing objects in strong winds, power lines broken or floodwaters. At the same time, prepare an emergency response plan to respond to natural disasters caused by Typhoon fina.
