Dingbatt:

 

Some ‘Facts’ about “Ian” that may be of interest. Of the hurricanes that have been recorded to affect Florida*, “Ian” ;

 

Is the 4th equal in wind strength @ 240km/h, the greatest is the 1935 “Labor Day” hurricane that reached 295km/h,

 

Is the 9th equal lowest atmospheric pressure at 940 hPa, the 1935 once again being the most extreme at 892hPa,

 

To be in the ten deadliest hurricanes, its death toll will need to exceed 372. To be the worst there will need to have been more than 2500 deaths.

 

I have no doubt its cost in lives and wealth will be devastating. But am wary of “Worst Ever” headlines that are not borne out by facts. But as the saying goes, never let that stand in the way of a ‘good’ story.

 

 

 

 

 

* Data from HURDAT statistics published by the US Hurricane Center.

 

Id suggest that buildings and warnings are far better now than 90 years ago, so lives lost isn't really a good measure. IIRC the storm surge was extremely high, I'd be interested in the wind strength and rainfall, but in any case its a warmer, wilder winds, and a wetter world now, you would expect that events like this will be the norm. Its a lot like the hottest years. They aren't linear year on year, but the trend is up