Boo! Bad storms are coming

I'm not sure who gets more excited during an outbreak of severe thunderstorms -- those who are mesmerized by bad weather, or those who can't stomach the people mesmerized by bad weather.

Whether it's severe storms, tornadoes, hurricanes or snowstorms, the media coverage of bad weather (or predicted bad weather) seems to rile some people.

From what I've gathered, the critics' chief complaint is that meteorologists, or those who report on the weather, tend to sensationalize.

I've made a special attempt to use some restraint in covering the weather. Sometimes, I've used too much restraint. On April 4, I wrote that there was a chance of a few heavy storms overnight. Other media outlets were much more bullish in their advance coverage. They were right. I downplayed the threat too much.

The same thing last Saturday, when hail caused millions of dollars of damage locally.

A special target of the critics are the TV meteorologists, particularly during tornado events, when the stations usually go to full-time coverage. Those silly severe storms and tornadoes have no sense of timing. They have a bad habit of coming along in the afternoon and evening, which means weather coverage sometimes cuts into coverage of basketball, football, golf tournaments, NASCAR races, or maybe your favorite program.

I don't deny that meteorologists -- including amateurs who are fascinated by weather -- get excited in big events. However, I've also met political junkies who think the whole world should be fascinated by a big election, or sports fans who think their favorite event is the biggest thing in the whole world.

TV meteorologists say their coverage during severe weather is designed to save lives. I believe them. Don't try arguing that advance warning of tornadoes and hurricanes doesn't save lives. That ship has sailed. The statistics show how the toll of injuries and deaths has plummeted in recent decades, due to warnings.

The problem, perhaps, is when the big event -- a tornado, hurricane, snowstorm -- doesn't develop as anticipated. Maybe the critics feel they have been manipulated somehow.

Meteorology is a science, but as one National Weather Service veteran once told me, "It's not an exact science. There's still a bit of art mixed in."

The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., and the National Weather Service -- and many other meteorologists -- predict an outbreak of severe weather Saturday in the Carolinas. If it doesn't happen, I won't complain.

It means my car won't be damaged by hail, or those two big trees along the creek won't come crashing into my fence or onto my roof.

It also means people outdoors Saturday -- playing baseball, softball, soccer, tennis or golf -- or the parents and children at Easter egg hunts will be safe.

But people who know a lot more about atmospheric science than me say there's a threat. My job is to report that.