The first tropical cyclone of Australia’s season has formed in the Arafura Sea and could reach the NT coastline later this week.

Cyclone Fina is expected to move eastwards and intensify to category 2 by tonight, the Bureau of Meteorology says.

“Later on Thursday it should turn to the south then southwest, taking it towards the NT coast for a potential impact during Friday and Saturday,” the bureau added. 

This morning the cyclone was 370km north-northeast of Darwin and 210km north-northwest of Minjilang, which is on Croker Island. It was travelling at 12km/h.

The most recent track map (below) shows it could make landfall at the Garig Gunak Barlu National Park on the Coburg Peninsula.

People between the Tiwi Islands and Milingimbi have been advised to consider what action they need to take if the cyclone threat increases.

On average there are 10 tropical cyclones in the Australian region each season – from November to April – with three to four making landfall, based on data since 1980-81.

The last system to cross the NT coast at cyclone strength in November was Alessia in 2013.