I have no scientific evidence to back up what I'm going to write, other than my daily run at the beach every day. But it appears we lose more sand off our beaches from the persistent high pressure systems that set up in the Fall and Spring, than from any hurricane or tropical storm.
We had three devastating hurricane in 04 and 05, but the beaches faired pretty well. This weeks pounding waves are a different story, washing away hundreds of miles of beach on the East Coast of Florida. Lifeguard towers are now on or in front of the dunes, the last remaining dry spots on the beach. We experience this weather pattern several times each year, as the Bermuda High strengthens over the Carolinas and forces a large swell into Florida. It lasts for days, and high tide pushes a little closer to A1A and the condos.