Tag Archives: Minjilang

Tropical Cyclone Fina Moves Toward Northern Australia

Tropical Cyclone Fina started to move toward the coast of northern Australia on Thursday night.  At 10:00 p.m. EST on Thursday the center of Tropical Cyclone Fina was located at latitude 10.4°S and longitude 132.4°E which put the center about 185 miles (300 km) northeast of Darwin, Australia and about 70 miles (110 km) north of Minjilang, Australia.  Fina was moving toward the west-southwest at 6 m.p.h. (10 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 980 mb.

A Warning is in effect for the portion of the coast from Dundee Beach to Warruwi, Australia.  The Warning includes Darwin, Minjilang and the Cobourg Peninsula.  A Warning is also in effect for the Tiwi Islands.

A Watch is in effect for the portion of the coast from Wadeye to Daly River Mouth.

Tropical Cyclone Fina strengthened to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon after it started to move toward the coast of northern Australia on Thursday.  The inner end of a rainband wrapped most of the way around the center to Fina’s circulation.  A small circular eye appeared to be forming at the center of Tropical Cyclone Fina.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Fina’s circulation.  Storms near the core of Fina generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone.  The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.

The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Fina was small.  Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 30 miles (50 km) from the center of Fina’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 80 miles (130 km) from the center of Tropical Cyclone Fina.

Tropical Cyclone Fina will move through an environment somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Fina will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30°C.  It will move under the western end of an upper level ridge over northern Australia.  The upper level ridge will produce northerly winds that will blow toward the top of Fina’s circulation.  Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear.  The moderate vertical wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the shear may not be enough to prevent intensification.  Tropical Cyclone Fina could continue to intensify during the next 24 hours.

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, the center of Tropical Cyclone Fina will pass near the northwestern end of the Cobourg Peninsula in 12 hours.  The center of Fina could be near the eastern end of Melville Island in 24 hours.  Fina could reach Darwin in less than 36 hours.

Tropical Cyclone Fina will bring strong winds and heavy rain to the coast of the Northern Territory of Australia.  Heavy rain is likely to cause floods in some locations.  Tropical Cyclone Fina could also cause a storm surge of up to 7 feet (2 meters) along parts of the coast of the Northern Territory.

Flood Watches are in effect for the North West Coastal Rivers.

Tropical Cyclone Fina Prompts Warning for North Coast of Australia

The risk posed by Tropical Cyclone Fina prompted the Australia Bureau of Meteorology to issue warnings and watches for portions of the northern coast of Australia on Tuesday night.  At 4:00 a.m. EST on Wednesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Fina was located at latitude 9.7°S and longitude 132.8°E which put the center about 225 miles (365 km) north-northeast of Darwin, Australia and about 105 miles (165 km) north of Minjilang, Australia.  Fina was moving toward the east at 5 m.p.h. (8 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 987 mb.

A Warning is in effect for the portion of the coast from Cape Don to Warruwi, Australia including the Cobourg Peninsula and Minjilang.

A Watch is in effect for the Tiwi Islands.  A Watch is also in effect for the portion of the coast from Maningrida to Milingimbi, Australia.

Tropical Cyclone Fina strengthened as it moved over the Arafura Sea north of Australia on Tuesday night.  Thunderstorms continued to develop near the center of Fina’s circulation.  Thunderstorms were also occurring in bands revolving around the center of Tropical Cyclone Fina.  Storms near the center of Fina’s circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone.  The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.

The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Fina was small.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 50 miles (80 km) from the center of Fina’s circulation.

Tropical Cyclone Fina will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Fina will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30°C.  It will move though a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Tropical Cyclone Fina will intensify during the next 24 hours.  Fina could strengthen to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon.

Tropical Cyclone Fina will move around the southern side of a narrow high pressure system that is near the Equator.  The high pressure system will steer Fina slowly toward the east during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Cyclone Fina will move parallel to the northern coast of Australia.  Fina will start to move south toward the coast of the Northern Territory of Australia on Thursday.

Tropical Cyclone Fina is likely to reach the northern coast of the Northern Territory of Australia within 36 hours.  Fina will bring strong winds and heavy rain to the coast.  Heavy rain is likely to cause floods in some locations.  Tropical Cyclone Fina could also cause a storm surge of up to 7 feet (2 meters) along parts of the coast of the Northern Territory.

A Flood Watch is in effect for areas across the northwest Top End of Australia.

 

Tropical Cyclone Fina Forms North of Darwin

Tropical Cyclone Fina formed over the western Arafura Sea north of Darwin, Australia on Tuesday.  At 1:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Fina was located at latitude 9.7°S and longitude 131.6°E which put the center about 195 miles (315 km) north-northeast of Darwin, Australia and about 120 miles (195 km) north-northwest of Minjilang, Australia.  Fina was moving toward the east-northeast at 5 m.p.h. (8 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 995 mb.

A low pressure system over the western Arafura Sea strengthened on Tuesday and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology designated the system as Tropical Cyclone Fina.

Tropical Cyclone Fina was strengthening on Tuesday.  More thunderstorms were forming near the center of Fina’s circulation.  Thunderstorms were also developing in bands revolving around the center of Tropical Cyclone Fina.  Storms near the center of Fina’s circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone.  The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.

The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Fina was small.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 30 miles (50 km) from the center of Fina’s circulation.

Tropical Cyclone Fina will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Fina will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30°C.  It will move though a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Tropical Cyclone Fina will intensify during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Cyclone Fina will move around the southern side of a narrow high pressure system that is near the Equator.  The high pressure system will steer Fina slowly toward the east-northeast during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Cyclone Fina will move parallel to the northern coast of Australia.  Fina is forecast to move south toward Australia later this week.

Tropical Cyclone Fina could affect the northern coast of the Northern Territory of Australia later this week.  Fina is likely to bring strong winds and heavy rain to the coast.  Heavy rain could cause floods in some locations.