HUR-story: Everything History Missed

[Ryxn]

Another thread idea I've been thinking about for a bit.

In this thread we will be talking about not the 2020 Atlantic or 1992 Pacific Hurricane seasons but instead all the seasons before historical documentation and powerful or notable storms or peak intensities that were not recorded in history or by anyone. We will be discussing hypothetical records that could have been set (e.g a hurricane strong than Tip or Patricia) and also just how common seasons like 2005 and 2020 were in the distant, distant past. Also we could discuss how significant environmental events have impacted tropical cyclogenesis.

Can you imagine what the 2020 BCE Atlantic Hurricane season looked like? What about the 1278 season? Might there have been a Category 4 landfall in New England? Category 5 landfall in South Caroline? Just how strong was the "Great Hurricane of 1780" in October 1780? So many wonderful questions!

Let's discuss.

[Ptarmigan]

I can imagine there are hurricanes stronger than Tip or Patricia. I would not be surprised if that happened in the past.

As for 1780, it was probably very active. It could be on par with 1933, 2005, and 2020.

I suspect some seasons are just as or even more active than 1933, 2005, and 2020.

[ncforecaster89]

I, personally, have very little doubt that anything that has occurred meteorologically in the recent past (e.g. during the relatively short time period of record) has also transpired in the more distant past.

Although human nature tends to have a recency-bias concerning such matters, it seems far too illogical for me to ascribe to the concept that any of these relatively recent “record” events are truly unprecedented. Consequently, I believe it’s always important to emphasize the length of the historical record when referencing such a particular event of record.

For the aforementioned reason, I’m also of the belief that any extreme meteorological event of the past will reoccur again at some point in the future.