According to an AP article written by Joan Grillo, the landfall of
Category 5 storm "Felix" in Honduras marks the first time since 1886
that two storms of that magnitude have made landfall in a single year.

Only 31 storms of this intensity have been recorded in the Atlantic,
but eight of them have been within the last five years.

Global warming? Maybe, maybe not. Global warming proponents cite the
increasing water surface temperatures as a factor contributing to
increased frequency of severe storms. Pooh-poohers typically claim
that the storms have always been this frequent and severe, but that
advances in satellite technology and computerized instrumentation now
make it easier than ever to detect them.

In any event, nobody will argue that 7-foot waves are unlikely in
Honduras. :-)

Meanwhile, on the Pacific Coast, tropical storm Henriette has been
upgraded to hurricane strength and is zeroing in on Cabo San Lucas.
The approaching storm caused flooding and landslides that killed six
people in Acapulco, and a woman died in high surf off Cabo San Lucas
yesterday.

Early this morning, oficials at the Cabo San Lucas marina were lashing
docks together to prevent them from being washed out to sea. Waves
were crashing against the rock breakwater with such intensity that
plumes of spray were shooting as high as 30 feet into the air.