Fina strengthens to category 4 on path to Western Australia

Western Australia is braced for winds nearing 200km/hr as Tropical Cyclone Fina continues to track toward the Kimberleys.

Fina has strengthened to a severe category 4 storm as it moves over the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf, Jonathan How of the Bureau of Meteorology said.

The "compact" storm's effects are mostly confined to open water at the moment, but How said Fina showed sustained winds of 185km/hr, with gusts near the centre reaching 260km/hr.

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It's about 300km south-west of Darwin and is tracking south-west at about 8km/hr.

A tropical cyclone warning remains in place for the northern Western Australia coast, with Fina expected to make landfall - again - in the north-east Kimberleys region either tonight or early tomorrow morning.

It's expected to weaken to a category 3 storm before that point, but How said gusts of 120km/hr to 185km/hr were expected to come after landfall.

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Local "heavy to intense" rainfall, along with possible flash flooding, is also expected along the northern Kimberley coastline.

Cyclone warnings have been lifted in the Northern Territory, but flood warnings remain in place for the affected catchments.

Falls of up to 140mm have been recorded near Darwin, while a severe whether warning for heavy rain is in place for the Daly district.

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