I tend to accept the concept of the 7 year tornado cycle. It's not always accurate, but if one looks at the records and statistics over the last sixty-five years of tornado peak occurrences - the numbers are almost consistently rise and fall within that time span. This year is the year before the peak, so the coming year may be even more intense - if there is any truth/validity to this 'circadian rhythm' of tornadic occurrences.
But your question is ambiguous; what are you asking? Even wide speculation and the best computer forecast on the long-term have been wrong before. Computer forecasting is relatively new when one considers that modern meteorology is also a child of the past century. Really, the last sixty years is the point where forecasting has become relatively accurate. Just after the 1900's began, people didn't even talk about tornadoes - even though they were happening then as they are now. They spoke about it in low, quiet tones in much the same way that someone would if they were discussing pornography or scandalous behavior. And that was true at that time; the mere mention or thought of a tornado was too horrible to even consider just a mere eighty years ago.
As for what happens in 2009; who can say? I think if we see a large outbreak that begins in February - as it did this year - then I think that it may be safe to venture the thought that it will be another record-breaking year. One thing about computer models and forecasting; they are getting better at it every year as satellite, computers, and data collection get better and better.
I have not believed that global warning is the cause of these larger, more powerful outbreaks. I still reserve the right to believe that concept is somehow contrived and politically motivated. But after seeing a recent video of the rapidly-shrinking polar ice caps; one can only conclude that there is an undeniable element responsible for a rise on average ocean temperatures - but I refuse to accept the proposed reason/cause for it. There are many elements that can contribute to this happening, much larger than man has been able to affect. Hurricane's are a means for the atmosphere to equalize the extremes in temperatures between the equator and the polar regions - so it has been said. Since there have been more extreme hurricanes - and more of them on average over the last ten years - one would like to say that global warming is a fact. I would dispute the cause - not the evidence. For all we really know at this time, it can also be exacerbated by an abundance of solar light, heat, and radiation. So little is known about the effects of these factors, that kind of data has only been documented over the last forty years or so. Maybe the Earth's core is heating up as a response for large-scale solar ejecta/radiation trapped by our magnetic field.
Or maybe Bigfoot is real (lol!)...
Bottom line: Get a good viddy/still cam and get ready to film it!
