Locals prepare as first cyclone of season bears down

The first cyclone of the season is threatening northern Australia, triggering commonwealth assistance as the Top End bunkers down.

Tropical Cyclone Fina is expected to intensify as it approaches the Northern Territory, prompting a warning for locals to prepare for heavy downpours and destructive winds.

Federal help has been offered to the NT government as it prepares for Cyclone Fina, which weakened to a category one system overnight.

Darwin has been placed in a "warning zone" amid fears the system could intensify into a destructive category three system later on Friday.

Emergency generators have been sent by the Commonwealth to areas set to be affected as federal officials assist the NT government's disaster response plan.

"What I would say to Northern Territory communities right now