The latest storm news on the morning of November 20 from the Australian Meteorological Agency said that strong gusts of wind of up to 155 km/h due to the influence of fina may appear at the end of November 20 or on November 21, before the appearance of heavy rain and dangerous high tides.
fina is the first storm of the Australian hurricane season and is expected to make landfall in the coming days.
The Category 2 hurricane is currently about 400km northeast of Darwin and 200km from the Top End coast.
A Category 2 typhoon can lead to strong gusts of wind from 125 km/h to 164 km/h, causing minor damage to homes but significant damage to crops, signs, trees and vehicles, as well as causing power outages.
Darwin has not experienced a Category 2 storm since Marcus caused power outages to nearly 29,000 households in March 2018.
People in the area between the Tiwi and Gunbalanya Islands were warned of recording strong gusts of up to 120 km/h in the afternoon and evening of November 20.
Strong gusts of up to 155 km/h are forecast for the area between Cape Don and Warruwi from 21 November as fina approaches the coast. The wind zone of up to 155 km/h could extend to the Tiwi Islands early on November 22 and could reach Darwin by the end of November 22.
Australian Meteorological Agency senior forecaster Angus Hines said fina is expected to make landfall in the Cobourg peninsula at around 3 a.m. local time on November 22.
The storm will then sweep the Tiwi archipelago and remain north of Darwin, causing strong winds for 24 hours from noon on November 22 to mid-day on November 23.
Heavy rains leading to the possibility of flash floods were forecast on November 21 along the coastal areas between the Tiwi and Millingimbi Islands, after higher than normal tides since the morning of November 20.
People near Cape Don, Warruwi and surrounding areas have been warned to protect their ships and property. Darwin residents are also advised to be vigilant as fina approaches the coast over the weekend. fina's strongest impact will occur in Darwin over the weekend, including strong gusts of wind, high tides and heavy rain.
There are various scenarios for fina, but residents on Australia's northern coast are advised to prepare for some of the severe weather.
Notably, weather forecasters from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology warned: "Storm fina is expected to maintain its Category 2 intensity in the coming days, but there is still a possibility of the storm increasing to Category 3 on November 21 or November 22 as it approaches land".
