Northern Territories Acting Assistant Police Commissioner James O'Brien's own power went out mid-way through an interview with ABC Radio Darwin on Saturday. Photo: Supplied/ ABC News - Michael Franchi
Australia's north is bracing as Tropical Cyclone Fina has intensified to a category three system and its winds have begun to be felt in Darwin.
ABC News said serious damage was being felt, including increased reports of trees going down across Darwin, blocking roads.
A number of suburbs had lost power, across Darwin, Palmerston, rural areas and the Tiwi Islands.
Emergency shelters had been opened in Darwin.
Locals were expecting a heavy cleanup day after the cyclone passes, on Sunday, but for now authorities called on residents to focus on staying safe, and indoors.
'Long night' ahead for Darwin
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) is warning Darwin residents are in for a "long night" with weather conditions set to deteriorate "quickly" and "significantly" this evening as Severe Tropical Cyclone Fina sweeps through.
The cyclone system reached category three strength in the Van Diemen Gulf on Saturday morning, before crossing the southern tip of Melville Island on Saturday afternoon.
It has since re-entered the gulf, the latest BOM advice showed, and was expected to pass just north of Darwin late on Saturday.
In an update during the afternoon, the BOM said winds were reaching gale-force in Darwin and were predicted to increase further in coming hours, with the Tiwi Islands already experiencing gales.
A map published by ABC News on Saturday, showing the progress of Cyclone Fina, and a key grading the destructive level of winds. Photo: ABC News/ Australian BOM data
NT Police Acting Assistant Commissioner James O'Brien said for people in Darwin, the worst of the weather was still ahead.
"We will expect to see some damaging winds from about 6pm to about 12 midnight tonight," he told ABC Radio Darwin. "It will get worse a bit later on."
He said about 500 people were in shelters across the Top End.
Meteorologists issue cyclone update
Australia's Bureau of Meteorology released its advice for Severe Tropical Cyclone Fina at 7:16pm Australian CST on Saturday (10:46pm NZT). Here's what it said:
Read the full advice from BOM here.
Albanese government poised to 'support' with clean up
In Darwin, the sky is getting dark and the wind is getting louder.
And further South, Australia Federal Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain said the Albanese government was poised to help the NT government with its post-cyclone recovery.
"The Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements make provision for the Northern Territory to activate immediate financial assistance to assist local governments and communities to recover from disasters," she said.
"We are working with the Northern Territory government to provide support, including any requests for DFRA assistance they may be needed."
McBain said Australian Defence Force personnel had been stationed to assist with the clean-up, with resources available through the National Stockpile.
- ABC
