Australia just had its warmest August on record, page-230

and the more the oceans heat up the more evaporation, vapour, clouds and rain. clouds act as a blanket when they are high. its only when the turbulence kicks in that the storms wipe up - and with warmer air and warmer seas the cyclones will move further south. add to this the more energy in the warm air the faster the turbulence. the faster the winds.

see further the recent cyclone strength winds lashing Tassie and Vic.