QUOTE: Dr. Jeff Master has referred to Fay as "unprecedented"

The strengthening of tropical systems as they traverse South Florida does have recent precedence. TS Irene strengthed to Hurricane status while crossing from Naples/ Ft Meyers to Jupiter in 1998. Hurricane Wilma strengthed from a Cat 2 Hurricane to a Cat 3 Hurricane while crossing from Naples/ Ft Meyers to Jupiter in 2006. South Florida is very flat, with generally low growing trees and very swampy conditions. The water in the swamps is very warm in summer- can be 95 degrees or more due to the shallow dark bottom conditions. It is very easy to see why a tropical system would maintain or increase with the warm and moist environment!