Tropical Cyclone Fina hit the northeast Kimberley coast of Australia on Monday. At 10:00 a.m. EST on Monday the center of Tropical Cyclone Fina was located at latitude 14.3°S and longitude 127.9°E which put the center about 80 miles (130 km) east of Kalumburu, Australia. Fina was moving toward the southwest at 5 m.p.h. (8 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 125 m.p.h. (200 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 155 m.p.h. (250 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 946 mb.
Tropical Cyclone Fina hit the northeast Kimberley coast of Australia near the Mouth of the Berkeley River on Monday. Fina was the equivalent of a major hurricane at the time of landfall. Tropical Cyclone Fina was bringing strong destructive winds and heavy rain to the region near the Mouth of the Berkeley River. Fina was also causing a strong storm surge in the small area near the center of its circulation.
The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Fina was very small. Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 20 miles (30 km) from the center of Fina’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 70 miles (110 km) from the center of Tropical Cyclone Fina.
The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Tropical Cyclone Fina was 23.6. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 6.0 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 29.6. Tropical Cyclone Fina was similar in intensity to Hurricane Dennis when Dennis hit Northwest Florida in 2005. Fina was not as large as Dennis was.
Tropical Cyclone Fina will move around the western end of a high pressure system over northern Australia. The high pressure system will steer Fina toward the southwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Cyclone Fina will move inland over the Kimberley Plateau.
Tropical Cyclone Fina will weaken quickly because of its small size as it moves over the Kimberley Plateau. Fina will continue to produce strong winds and to drop locally heavy rain as it moves inland. Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations.