Australian Government

Bureau of Meteorology


Coastal Waters Forecast 

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IDD11030

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Northern Territory

Updated Coastal Waters Forecast for the Northern Territory

Issued at 4:50 pm CST on Wednesday 19 November 2025
for the period until midnight CST Saturday 22 November 2025.

Please be aware
Wind and wave forecasts are averages. Wind gusts can be 40 per cent stronger than the forecast, and stronger still in squalls and thunderstorms. Maximum waves can be twice the forecast height.

Warning Information

For latest warnings go to www.bom.gov.au, subscribe to RSS feeds, call 1300 659 210* or listen for warnings on relevant TV and radio broadcasts.

Weather Situation

A trough extends across the Timor and Arafura Sea from Tropical Cyclone Fina northeast of the Tiwi Islands. Tropical Cyclone Fina is expected to move eastwards overnight and then turn towards the northwest coast of the Top End from Thursday.

Beagle Bonaparte Coast: WA-NT Border to Cape Fourcroy

Forecast for Wednesday 19 November until midnight

Winds: West to southwesterly 10 to 15 knots. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Westerly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. The chance of a thunderstorm.

Forecast for Thursday 20 November

Winds: West to southwesterly 10 to 15 knots tending south to southwesterly in the early morning then becoming variable about 10 knots in the morning. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Westerly below 1 metre. Weather: Mostly sunny.

Forecast for Friday 21 November

Winds: Offshore north of Channel Point: winds above 34 knots possible depending on movement and development of Tropical Cyclone Fina. Elsewhere variable about 10 knots becoming northwest to southwesterly 10 to 15 knots in the early afternoon then tending northwest to northeasterly in the late evening. Waves: Offshore north of Channel Point: Seas and swell exceeding 4m. Elsewhere: Seas Below 1 metre. Swells Below 0.5 metres. Weather: Mostly sunny morning. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.

Forecast for Saturday 22 November

Winds: North of Channel Point: winds above 34 knots possible depending on movement and development of Tropical Cyclone Fina. Elsewhere northeast to southeasterly 10 to 15 knots tending south to southeasterly during the morning then increasing to 15 to 25 knots during the day. Waves: North of Channel Point: Seas and swell exceeding 4m. Elsewhere: Seas 1 to 1.5 metres. Swells Below 0.5 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy. 60% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm.

North Tiwi Coast: Cape Fourcroy to Cape Don

Forecast for Wednesday 19 November until midnight

Strong Wind Warning for Wednesday for North Tiwi Coast

Winds: South to southeasterly 15 to 25 knots, reaching up to 30 knots offshore during the afternoon and evening. Winds tending south to southwesterly in the evening. Seas: 1.5 to 2.5 metres. Swell: West to northwesterly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. 60% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm.

Forecast for Thursday 20 November

Strong Wind Warning for Thursday for North Tiwi Coast

Winds: Southerly 15 to 20 knots, reaching up to 30 knots offshore early in the morning. Winds turning southwesterly during the day. Seas: 1.5 to 2.5 metres. Swell: Northwest to southwesterly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. 70% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning and afternoon.

Forecast for Friday 21 November

Winds: South to southwesterly 15 to 25 knots becoming southwesterly 20 to 30 knots in the middle of the day. Winds above 34 knots possible depending on movement and development of Tropical Cyclone Fina. Waves: Seas and swell exceeding 4m. Weather: Partly cloudy. 80% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.

Forecast for Saturday 22 November

Winds: Above 34 knots possible depending on movement and development of Tropical Cyclone Fina. Waves: Seas and swell exceeding 4m. Weather: Cloudy. 90% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm.

Van Diemen Gulf

Forecast for Wednesday 19 November until midnight

Winds: East to southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres. Swell: Below 0.5 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy. The chance of a thunderstorm.

Forecast for Thursday 20 November

Winds: South to southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres. Swell: Below 0.5 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy. 60% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning and afternoon.

Forecast for Friday 21 November

Winds: South to southeasterly 15 to 25 knots increasing to 20 to 30 knots in the morning. Winds above 34 knots possible depending on movement and development of Tropical Cyclone Fina. Waves: Seas and swell exceeding 4m. Weather: Cloudy. 90% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.

Forecast for Saturday 22 November

Winds: Above 48 knots possible depending on movement and development of Tropical Cyclone Fina. Waves: Seas and swell exceeding 6m. Weather: Cloudy. 90% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm.

Arafura Coast: Cape Don to Cape Wessel

Tropical System Location

At 3:30 pm CST Tropical Cyclone Fina was located about 205 nautical miles north northeast of Darwin and 100 nautical miles north of Minjilang. Centre located near 9.5S 132.6E. Recent movement has been towards the east at 5 knots.

Forecast for Wednesday 19 November until midnight

Gale Warning for Wednesday for Arafura Coast

Winds: Offshore west of Maningrida: winds above 34 knots possible depending on movement and development of Tropical Cyclone Fina. Elsewhere east to northeasterly 15 to 25 knots. Waves: Offshore west of Maningrida: Seas and swell exceeding 4m. Elsewhere: Seas 1 to 1.5 metres. Swells Northwesterly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. 50% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm.

Forecast for Thursday 20 November

Gale Warning for Thursday for Arafura Coast

Winds: Offshore west of Maningrida: above 34 knots expected due to Tropical Cyclone Fina. Elsewhere east to northeasterly 15 to 25 knots increasing to 20 to 30 knots in the morning. Waves: Offshore west of Maningrida: Seas and swell exceeding 4m. Elsewhere: Seas 1.5 to 2.5 metres. Swells Northwesterly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. 90% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm.

Forecast for Friday 21 November

Winds: Above 48 knots possible depending on movement and development of Tropical Cyclone Fina. Waves: Seas and swell exceeding 6m. Weather: Cloudy. 90% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm.

Forecast for Saturday 22 November

Winds: West of Maningrida: above 48 knots possible depending on movement and development of Tropical Cyclone Fina. Elsewhere northerly 20 to 30 knots decreasing to 10 to 15 knots during the afternoon. Waves: West of Maningrida: Seas and swell exceeding 6m. Elsewhere: Seas 1.5 to 2.5 metres. Swells Northwesterly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. 80% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm.

Gove Peninsula Coast: Cape Wessel to Cape Arnhem

Forecast for Wednesday 19 November until midnight

Winds: Variable about 10 knots. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Southerly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. The chance of a thunderstorm.

Forecast for Thursday 20 November

Winds: North to northwesterly 10 to 15 knots tending north to northeasterly in the morning. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: Below 0.5 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy. 80% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning.

Forecast for Friday 21 November

Winds: Northeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres inshore during the morning. Swell: Below 0.5 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy. 70% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning.

Forecast for Saturday 22 November

Winds: Northeasterly 10 to 15 knots decreasing to about 10 knots during the day. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Below 0.5 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy. 50% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning.

Roper Groote Coast: Cape Arnhem to QLD-NT Border

Forecast for Wednesday 19 November until midnight

Winds: Variable about 10 knots. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Below 0.5 metres. Weather: Mostly clear. The chance of a thunderstorm northeast of Groote Eylandt.

Forecast for Thursday 20 November

Winds: Easterly about 10 knots increasing to 10 to 15 knots in the morning. Winds reaching up to 20 knots west of Groote Eylandt during the afternoon and evening. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres inshore during the afternoon. Swell: Below 0.5 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy. 50% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning and afternoon.

Forecast for Friday 21 November

Winds: Northeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres north of Numbulwar during the morning. Swell: East to northeasterly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. 70% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning and afternoon.

Forecast for Saturday 22 November

Winds: Northeasterly 10 to 15 knots decreasing to about 10 knots during the evening. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: East to northeasterly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. 50% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning and afternoon.

Darwin Harbour

Forecast for Wednesday 19 November until midnight

Winds: Variable below 10 knots. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Below 0.5 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy. The chance of a thunderstorm.

Forecast for Thursday 20 November

Winds: East to southeasterly below 10 knots becoming south to southwesterly in the early morning. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Below 0.5 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Friday 21 November

Winds: Southerly about 10 knots increasing to 15 to 20 knots in the middle of the day. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Below 0.5 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy. 80% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.

Forecast for Saturday 22 November

Winds: Southerly 20 to 30 knots turning southeasterly 25 to 30 knots during the afternoon. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 2 metres during the morning. Swell: Below 0.5 metres. Weather: Cloudy. 90% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.

The next routine forecast will be issued at 8:30 pm CST Wednesday.

* Calls to 1300 number cost around 27.5c inc. GST, higher from mobiles or public phones. Marine forecasts are also available on VHF and HF radio. View the radio schedule on www.bom.gov.au/marine

Check the latest Coastal Waters Forecasts for information on wind, wave and weather conditions for neighbouring coastal zones.