Memo to newcomers to Maryland: Beware the TV and radio weather predictions. The people who run these stations like to scare you. It's good for ratings. The mere rumor of icy conditions or snow sparks several days of overwrought "weather coverage." We get contrived news reports about preparations for disaster and the usual advisories on keeping flashlight batteries and a supply of potable water on hand. You can hear blood pressures rising all over central Maryland.
   It's not all the meteorologists' fault. No matter how diligent and sober they might be, no matter how many qualifiers they use in their forecasts, they can't control their news departments. The meteorologist mentions "snow" or "ice" to some gamine assistant news director, and it's like Dr. Frankenstein screaming, "It's alive!" The news crews go into a predictable, nutty drill -- live shots from streets, reports from grim government officials on their emergency preparations, video clips
from previous storms, sensational graphics.
   Why should anyone be surprised that people hit the supermarkets -- and cancel dinner reservations and most of life -- when TV makes it sound like there's no tomorrow? Here's my winter weather advisory -- don't cancel your plans until it looks like you should. Go outside and take a look yourself and make your own judgement. Take long-range forecasts and TV and radio "news" reports with a grain of rock salt. Don't let 'em scare you.