Cyclone Fina Lashes Darwin, Strongest Since 1974
Cyclone Fina Lashes Darwin, Strongest Since 1974
Tropical Cyclone Fina claws through Darwin with fierce winds and heavy rain, causing outages and damage while officials report no serious injuries as residents begin cleanup.
Tropical Cyclone Fina swept across the Top End as a category 3 system, delivering destructive winds and torrential rain before intensifying into a category 4 as it tracked toward the northeast Kimberley coast. Peak gusts reached about 195km/h with sustained winds near the centre around 140km/h, enough to topple trees, damage houses and knock out power across Darwin and surrounding areas. In the 24 hours to 9am Sunday, Darwin airport logged 168.6mm of rainfall, underscoring the storm’s heavy deluge.
Residents in Darwin, Palmerston and nearby rural pockets faced the night of racket and sheets of rain as authorities urged people to stay indoors or in emergency shelters. Emergency shelters were opened to accommodate those without power or solid shelter, with residents asked to bring bedding and food. While the storm caused significant disruption, officials reported no serious injuries by Sunday morning and began outlining a cautious return-to-normal plan for households once conditions allowed.
As the cyclone moved southwest toward the Kimberley coast, the Territory’s energy network and transport links were strained, with power outages reported in multiple neighborhoods and some fences, fences and pavements damaged by fallen trees. Emergency services remained on standby, conducting assessments and warning people to stay sheltered until official all-clear signals were issued. By Sunday afternoon, authorities indicated it was safe for people to return to their homes for essential needs, even as cleanup crews prepared to clear debris and repair damaged infrastructure.
Meteorologists noted that Fina, the strongest cyclone to approach Darwin since Cyclone Tracy in 1974, was expected to weaken on Monday as it moved away from the coast. Residents were advised to monitor official updates for any changes in the forecast and continue to exercise caution as cleanup continues and power is restored. The response highlighted the community’s resilience as neighbors checked on each other and emergency teams worked to restore essential services while bracing for potential further weather alerts over the coming days.
