Darwin’s airport and supermarkets have closed as severe Tropical Cyclone Fina barrels past the city, having intensified into a category three system – the first cyclone of that strength in Australian waters in November in 20 years.
Darwin was expected to see the worst of Fina on Saturday evening, as the system advanced through the Van Diemen Gulf. It would be closest to the city at about 9pm, with sustained winds near the centre of up to 150km/hr and gusts up to 205km/h.