Cyclone warning issued for Australia's Northern Territory
Canberra, Nov 20
A cyclone warning has been issued for Australia's Northern Territory (NT) after Tropical Cyclone Fina intensified to a Category 2 storm ahead of making possible landfall on Friday or Saturday.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said on Thursday morning that Tropical Cyclone Fina grew in strength to Category 2 overnight after initially being declared as a Category 1 storm on Wednesday.
It said that the slow-moving cyclone was over the Arafura Sea about 415 km northeast of the NT capital of Darwin as of 6:30 a.m. local time, but was expected to turn to the south, then southwest towards the coast later on Thursday.
A cyclone warning has been issued by the BoM for the Cobourg Peninsula, the northernmost point of the mainland NT, and island communities off the NT's northern coast.
It said that the area could experience destructive wind gusts of up to 155 km per hour from Friday as well as heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding, which could extend to Darwin later on Saturday.
The BoM said it is possible that the cyclone could increase in strength to Category 3 on Friday or Saturday as it nears land.
Northern Territory Emergency Services (NTES) has advised people in the Cobourg Peninsula area to immediately commence preparations and people in Darwin and the Tiwi Islands north of the city to consider what action they will need to take if the threat increases, Xinhua news agency reported.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, NTES Chief Officer Wayne Snell said there were no plans for evacuations from island communities and that staying home would be the safest option for most people, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.
When the system makes landfall it will be the earliest time of the year a cyclone has hit the NT since 1970.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The earliest cyclone since 1970 - climate change is really showing its effects everywhere. Australia and India both facing extreme weather patterns. Hope the authorities have good disaster management plans in place.
Having lived through Cyclone Amphan in Kolkata, I know how terrifying these storms can be. 155 km/h winds are no joke. Hope people are stocking up on essentials and securing their homes properly.
The authorities saying "staying home is safest" makes sense, but I hope they have proper shelters for those in vulnerable areas. In India, we've learned that timely evacuation saves lives during cyclones like Fani and Tauktae.
Good to see they're issuing warnings well in advance. The Indian Meteorological Department has also improved significantly in cyclone forecasting. Early warnings really do make a difference in saving lives and property.
Hope our Indian students and diaspora in Darwin and Northern Territory are safe and following all safety guidelines. Please stay indoors and keep emergency contacts handy! 🤲
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