It could have been so much worse.

Gustav is making its way further inland, spawning tornadoes and dumping water over large parts of the South. The Hydometeorological Prediction Center says overall, rainfall from Gustav will be between 5 and 10 inches. But pockets will see more.

What can anyone say about a storm with the size and destructive potential of Gustav?

Storm-speak often talks in terms of “wind events” or “rain events” and so far Fickle Fay has been a protracted, wet mess. She’s hammered Florida for days. Cocoa Beach has reported 33 inches of rain.

Tropical Storm Fay is threatening one of the most popular boating regions in the United States, and the forecast as of Sunday evening has the storm hitting the Florida keys Monday night.

Southern Florida is no stranger to storms. Hurricanecity.com, a non-governmental website, ranks 12 south Florida cities in the top 25 for frequency of activity since 1871.

Take a moment and check out the National Hurricane Center’s home page, www.nhc.noaa.gov.

A friend at dinner recently asked, “Why are they always named Bertha?” as I jabbered on about the storm the day it stalled out – before it revived and knocked out power in Bermuda.

Hurricanes are not always named Bertha, but the name comes up every seventh year, so it may sound familiar. The World Meteorological Organization maintains six lists of names for tropical cyclones in the Atlantic. Names in 2008 will repeat in 2014.

Westward Ho, or No?

Hurricane Bertha more or less stayed put Saturday, with some models projecting an easterly jog as it nears Bermuda and others suggested a westerly nudge that would impact the island more.

East is still the most likely, though.

The Bermuda Weather Service issued a small craft advisory Friday morning in expectation of increasing winds as Hurricane Bertha approaches from the southeast.

Friday is expected to be pleasant, if breezy, through winds will pick up tonight. The agency particularly warned of high surf and rip currents on beaches facing east and southeast. Authorities have posted "High Surf" warning signs along the south shore, along with extra lifeguards and park rangers.

Hurricanes and Bermuda are well acquainted, but not always intimately so.

Since 1867, the island has been affected by hurricanes and tropical storms 53 times. That's once every 2.6 years that Bermuda has been hit or brushed, defined as a tropical cyclone coming within 60 miles.

The popular vacation and boating destination sustains a direct hit every 10½ years.

These stats come courtesy of www.hurricanecity.com, a nifty website that takes visitors back through time with data on major storms, their proximity, track and damage.

Hurricane Bertha remains a major Category 3 storm, still tracking toward Bermuda.

As of dawn Tuesday, the storm was about 1,000 miles southeast of the island, which is a popular stop for northern mariners headed for more tropical spots. More than 1,000 yachts come through Bermuda each year, according to Bermuda Yacht Services.