About a century ago, the gulf coast of the US was hit very regularly. Then again during the 1920's and 30's. But that was a long time ago, so we forget. At least we have the great advantage of advanced warning. Accurate prediction is still elusive, though. I'm still bewildered that so many chose to ride out the storm instead of just leaving by any means available. It's like everyone forgot how wrecked So Fl was after Andrew. But then I did the same thing with Andrew back in '92. I had never been in a cat 4 'cane; I did'nt know any better. I'll never do that again! And we only got a couple of days warning with Andrew; they thought it would break up on Thursday but it was pounding us by Sunday.
All weather phenomena is cyclic. Some cycles are short, annually or by decades. Some cycles are centuries long. All seem most assuredly tied to solar activity cycles. This includes the small but steady rise in global average temperature seen over the last 400 years.
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn6270It is likely that we find ourselves in the midst of an active tropical cycle that will last most of our lifetimes, as it did in our grandparents day. The next generation that lives in the lull will probably forget again. So the cycle continues...
Jimbo
