“Tropical cyclone Fina is predicted to sustain its category two strength over the next few days. However, there’s a chance it could escalate to category three by Friday or Saturday as it approaches the mainland.”

Darwin hasn’t encountered a cyclone since March 2018, when cyclone Marcus, a category two storm, left nearly 29,000 properties without electricity.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has cautioned that conditions may deteriorate soon, with potentially damaging wind gusts reaching up to 155 km/h. These could develop between Cape Don and Warruwi starting Friday as the cyclone nears the shore, extending to the Tiwi Islands early Saturday and possibly reaching Darwin later that day.

Coastal areas from the Tiwi Islands to Maningrida might experience flash flooding beginning Friday, with the risk expanding to coastal and nearby inland areas throughout the western Top End, including Darwin, by Saturday.

The Northern Territory Emergency Service (NTES) has urged residents of the Tiwi Islands, as well as those from Darwin eastward to Gunbalanya, to prepare for potential actions should the cyclone threat intensify.

Stocking up on basic supplies

NTES has also advised people on the Tiwi Islands, and Darwin east to Gunbalanya to “consider what action they will need to take if the cyclone threat increases”.

Store shelves were left empty after Darwin residents stocked up on bottled water and other supplies. Source: AAP / Lloyd Jones

When the system makes landfall it will be the earliest time of the year a cyclone has hit the NT since 1970.