Severe Tropical Cyclone Fina was a powerful early-season tropical cyclone which affected parts of the Northern Territory and Western Australia in November 2025. The first named storm of the 2025-26 Australian region cyclone season,it was initially noted as a tropical low on 14 November. It intensified into a tropical cyclone on 18 November and became a Category 2 cyclone the next day. Moving west-southwest slowly along the Top End,the storm weakened slightly due to shear before restrengthening and moving across the Coburg Peninsula and into the Van Diemen Gulf northwest of Darwin, soon becoming a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone. It peaked as a Category 4 on November 23rd but weakened slightly before making landfall in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.
On 14 November, the JTWC began tracking a low-pressure system designated as Invest 97S. On the same date, the Bureau of Meteorology tracked the tropical low near the Timor Sea, designating it as 02U.[1] On 18 November, the system developed stronger convection and thunderstorm activity.[2] Later that day, The Bureau of Meteorology reported that the tropical low had intensified into a Category 1 tropical cyclone, naming the compact system Fina.[3] On 19 November, Fina intensified into a Category 2 cyclone amid warm sea surface temperatures.[4] Curved banding was visible early on 20 November as Fina began moving south towards the Top End.[5] Fina weakened later that day as it continued moving south due to wind shear, and its convection decreased.[6] It slightly intensified that evening as it moved towards Darwin.[7] Fina made landfall on the Coburg Peninsula on 21 November and further intensified as it moved into the Van Diemen Gulf.[8][9]
Early on 22 November, Fina intensified into a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone.[10] Fina made its second landfall on Melville Island that morning, as an eye began to appear on satellite imagery.[11] Fina weakened slightly due to land interaction but maintained category 3 intensity that afternoon as it emerged into the Timor Sea, and its eye became less defined due to proximity to land.[12]
On 23 November, the JTWC upgraded Fina into a Category 3-equivalent tropical cyclone as it re-intensified over the Timor Sea. The Bureau of Meteorology followed suit, upgrading Fina to a Category 4 severe tropical cyclone, with a central pressure of 952 hPa.[13] Over the course of the following night, the storm continued to strengthen, reaching a sustained wind speed of 185 km/h, with a minimum central pressure of 943 hPa.[14]
Fina made a final landfall in the Kimberley region and weakened due to land interaction and strong wind shear on 25 November. As a result, the Bureau of Meteorology downgraded Fina into an ex-tropical cyclone. The remnant low persisted for another day before dissipating inland.
Preparations and impact
On 19 November, a cyclone warning was issued from the Coburg Peninsula to Warruwi, and a cyclone watch was issued for the Tiwi Islands, Maningrida, and Milingimbi Island.[15] On 1:09 am ACST on Friday 21 November 2025, the Northern Territory Emergency Service issued cyclone warnings for part of the Northern Territory.[16] The Darwin Airport closed at 9 AM ACST in preparation for the cyclone, and shelves were empty in some stores across Darwin as major supermarkets were advised to close across the region. The local hospital, Royal Darwin Hospital, issued a code brown to streamline emergency management systems.[17] Across 22 and 23 November, the system caused several significant power outages, including large parts of Darwin, Palmerston, and the Tiwi Islands, affecting at least 19,500 customers.[18][19]Lia Finocchiaro, the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, stated that though there had been no injuries, roads had been submerged and property damaged from the system.[20]
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