Darwin: Residents of the Australian city of Darwin have been told to prepare to enact emergency plans as Tropical Cyclone Fina approaches the Northern Territory (NT) and is believed to grow in strength.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) reported that the cyclone, currently a category 1 system, is moving slowly south-southwest. It is expected to strengthen to a category 2 system while tracking southwest during the day. The storm is approaching the Cobourg Peninsula, the northernmost point of the mainland NT, about 200 km northeast of Darwin, and the Tiwi Islands. It is projected to move over the area on Friday night before continuing southwest through the Van Diemen Gulf on Saturday.

Fina is forecast to further intensify to a severe tropical cyclone on Sunday afternoon in the southern Timor Sea. There remains a possibility that it could reach category 3 intensity earlier, during late Friday or early Saturday, as it moves into the Van Diemen Gulf, the bureau added.

A cyclone warning issued by the BoM indicated that the storm may bring wind gusts of up to 155 km per hour and heavy rainfall, potentially leading to flash flooding in Darwin, the Tiwi Islands, and Cobourg Peninsula. Speaking at a press conference on Friday afternoon, NT Emergency Service chief officer Wayne Snell mentioned that there are currently no plans to evacuate any communities in the NT due to Fina. However, residents of the Greater Darwin area should enact their emergency plan and be prepared to look after themselves for the next three days.