Fina’s Fury: A Powerful Cyclone Leaves Darwin Reeling and WA Bracing
Severe Tropical Cyclone Fina has swept past Darwin with a force the Northern Territory hasn’t felt in decades, and as I talk about it now, it’s clear just how significant this moment is for communities across the Top End and Western Australia. Fina passed close to Darwin as a category three system, and the impact was felt immediately. Its gale-force winds tore through suburbs, damaged infrastructure, and left many people without power — all while the system continued to strengthen as it moved westward over the Timor Sea.
To put this into perspective, Fina has been described as the strongest cyclone to brush Darwin since Cyclone Tracy devastated the city in 1974. Even Cyclone Marcus, which caused considerable damage in 2018, wasn’t as powerful. And now, as Fina tracks west-south-west, conditions are being monitored closely because the system is expected to intensify into a category four cyclone.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology’s early morning update, sustained winds near Fina’s centre reached around 150 km/h, with gusts blasting up to 205 km/h. Coastal areas such as Dundee Beach and regions southwest of Darwin continued to face destructive gusts well into Sunday, while heavy rainfall created a risk of flash flooding. The worst of the winds hit on Saturday evening, lasting until midnight, and even though conditions were expected to ease, the cyclone still posed significant danger as it moved offshore.
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Across the Top End, suburbs in Darwin and Palmerston went dark as power outages rolled through the night. Crews had to pause repairs for safety, and early Sunday, several outages were still unresolved. Videos shared online showed just how intense the storm became — powerlines sparking, trees ripped from the ground, and debris scattered across streets.
Even critical infrastructure wasn’t spared. A section of roofing on the first floor of Royal Darwin Hospital partially collapsed, letting water into part of the building. Thankfully, despite initial concerns, the intensive care unit and theatre complex were not impacted. Engineers were already on site assessing structural safety as authorities worked to steady the situation.
Meanwhile, emergency support is being prepared at the national level. The Federal Minister for Emergency Management confirmed that assistance would be available for communities affected by Fina, and ADF personnel remain on standby to assist with cleanup once conditions allow.
And now attention is turning toward Western Australia. Kimberley residents have been urged to prepare immediately, with a watch and act warning in place. As the cyclone edges closer, people are being told to secure loose items, safeguard pets, protect windows, charge phones, and be ready to shelter. Heavy rain, dangerous winds, and the threat of flash flooding may hit coastal areas from Monday morning.
Fina is forecast to weaken as it nears the northeast Kimberley coast, possibly dropping below cyclone strength by Tuesday — but until then, communities are being reminded not to underestimate what a severe cyclone can bring.
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