Cyclone Fina's Fury: A Stark Reminder of Severe Weather Events

The churning grey skies over Darwin, Australia, in late November 2025 were a prelude to a tempest of historic proportions. As Severe Tropical Cyclone Fina approached, it brought with it not just destructive winds and torrential rain, but also a chilling echo of the city's most devastating natural disaster, Cyclone Tracy of 1974. Fina's passage served as a potent and visceral reminder of the ever-present and escalating threat of severe weather events in a changing global climate.

The Birth and Fury of a Category Four Storm

Cyclone Fina began as a tropical low off the northern coast of Australia, rapidly intensifying in the warm waters of the Timor Sea. By the time it neared the Northern Territory's Top End, it had become a formidable Category 3 system, with sustained winds of 140km/h and terrifying gusts reaching up to 205km/h. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) issued urgent warnings, and the residents of Darwin and surrounding communities braced for the impact.

Fina's "very destructive core" passed just north of Darwin, unleashing its fury on the Tiwi Islands before tracking west-south-west. The storm was the most powerful to menace Darwin since the infamous Cyclone Tracy, which all but wiped the city off the map on Christmas Day more than five decades earlier. While Fina did not make a direct hit on the city with the same ferocity as Tracy, its impacts were severe and widespread.

A City Under Siege: The Impacts of Fina

For a harrowing period, Darwin was a city under siege. Powerful winds tore through communities, ripping trees from the ground and sending them crashing onto roads and into backyards. Powerlines snapped, plunging almost 20,000 homes and businesses into darkness. The force of the cyclone was such that it caused a partial roof collapse at the Royal Darwin Hospital, though fortunately, no one was injured.

The wind was accompanied by a deluge of rain. Darwin airport recorded 168.6mm of rainfall in 24 hours, while Middle Point to the south was inundated with a staggering 429mm. This intense downpour led to flash flooding, turning streets into rivers and isolating communities. Darwin International Airport was forced to close, and most businesses shut their doors as residents were urged to shelter in their homes or in designated emergency shelters.

Despite the ferocity of the storm, there were no reports of serious injuries, a testament to the city's preparedness and the effectiveness of the early warning systems. Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro praised the community's spirit, noting that "neighbours are coming out with chainsaws and everyone's chipping in."

Echoes of Tracy: A Painful Reminder

For many long-time residents of Darwin, the howl of Cyclone Fina's winds brought back traumatic memories of Cyclone Tracy. That 1974 disaster claimed 71 lives and destroyed over 70% of the city's homes, leading to the evacuation of more than 30,000 people. The shared memory of Tracy has deeply ingrained a culture of preparedness in Darwin, which was evident in the community's response to Fina. While the material damage from Fina was significant, the psychological impact, the reminder of nature's untamable power, was just as profound.

The Science of Cyclones and the Shadow of Climate Change

Tropical cyclones, known as hurricanes in the Atlantic and typhoons in the northwestern Pacific, are powerful rotating storms that form over warm tropical oceans. They are fueled by the heat and moisture of the sea, which is why they thrive in regions with sea surface temperatures above 26.5°C. As warm, moist air over the ocean rises, it creates an area of lower pressure. Higher pressure air from surrounding areas pushes into the low-pressure area, which is then heated and rises too. This cycle continues, with the Coriolis effect from the Earth's rotation causing the swirling pattern characteristic of a cyclone.

The link between climate change and the intensity of cyclones is a subject of ongoing scientific research. While it is not yet clear whether climate change is increasing the number of cyclones, there is growing evidence to suggest it is making them more powerful. Warmer ocean temperatures provide more fuel for these storms, leading to higher wind speeds and greater rainfall. Rising sea levels also exacerbate the impact of storm surges, the abnormal rise in sea level generated by a storm. Professor Steve Turton, an adjunct professor at Central Queensland University, noted in the context of Cyclone Fina that "with climate change... we're expecting the intensity of these storms to increase. We're expecting them to intensify more rapidly. We're already seeing those patterns."

A Global Phenomenon: Other Notable Severe Weather Events

Cyclone Fina is just one example of the severe weather events that have been causing devastation around the globe. In recent years, the world has witnessed a succession of powerful storms that have left a trail of destruction in their wake.

Hurricane Ian (2022): This powerful Category 5 hurricane slammed into Cuba and then Florida, causing widespread devastation and becoming one of the costliest hurricanes in U.S. history.
Cyclone Freddy (2023): One of the longest-lasting tropical cyclones ever recorded, Freddy wreaked havoc across Madagascar, Mozambique, and Malawi, causing catastrophic flooding and loss of life.
Typhoon Haiyan (2013): One of the most powerful tropical cyclones ever recorded, Haiyan devastated parts of Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines, with its incredible wind speeds and massive storm surge.

These events, along with countless others, underscore the global nature of the threat posed by severe weather.

The Imperative of Preparedness and Resilience

The experience of Cyclone Fina highlights the critical importance of preparedness and resilience in the face of severe weather. The relatively low number of casualties in Darwin, despite the storm's intensity, can be directly attributed to the robust warning systems, the well-drilled emergency response plans, and the ingrained culture of preparedness within the community.

Key elements of effective preparedness include:

Early Warning Systems: Accurate and timely forecasts from meteorological agencies like the BoM are crucial for giving communities time to prepare.
Public Awareness and Education: Educating the public about the risks of severe weather and how to prepare their homes and families is essential.
Robust Infrastructure: Building codes and infrastructure that are designed to withstand high winds and flooding can significantly reduce the damage caused by cyclones.
Effective Emergency Management: Coordinated efforts between government agencies, emergency services, and community organizations are vital for a swift and effective response.

A Call to Action in a Warming World

Cyclone Fina's fury is a stark reminder that we are living in an era of more frequent and intense severe weather events. While we cannot prevent these storms from forming, we can and must take action to mitigate their impacts and protect our communities. This requires a two-pronged approach: building resilience to the impacts of climate change that are already locked in, and taking urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to prevent the worst impacts in the future.

The story of Cyclone Fina is not just one of destruction; it is also one of resilience, community spirit, and the power of preparedness. As the clean-up in Darwin continues and the city begins to recover, the lessons from this powerful storm must be heeded not just in Australia, but around the world. The winds of Fina have passed, but the winds of change are upon us, and we must be ready to face them.