People are beginning to take thunderstorms more seriously
This is to be expected with the clash of air masses a this time of year across North America as spring approaches. The strong jet stream coupled with low level moisture surge, wind shear, and daytime heating all combine to produce extreme instability and the potential for powerful thunderstorms with extreme lightning, hail, high winds, and tornadoes. Some ignorant conspiracy theorists are blaming all sorts of weather modification for these severe weather breakouts but I disagree. The reason we have so many reports now is that more eyes are watching. This is a good thing because finally awareness of severe weather is improving among the general population. Sometime it takes these events over and over to get people's attention and I would say the more you are prepared to learn how to avoid and if necessary take appropriate shelter during these storms the better chance you have of survival.
Let's approach the rest of this year with a heightened awareness of what's going on with the weather so that there are less casualties. We should do the same with terrorism. We don't need a nanny state to take care of us; just some common sense. I applaud all the storm chasers, forecasters and media who were hard at work warning and reporting these events. I know the drill:
