If there's one thing that on-air meteorologists fight for, it's credibility. We work countless hours to fight for ounce after ounce of it, so that our viewers will gain trust in our words as well as our forecasts.

Some work for years, decades, and never gain an ounce of it. Others play conservative and little by little, work for the trust of their audience. And a few, make a gamble and win it big.

However, it's a very slippery slope. Like climbing up a real mountain, most tend to take it slow, play the odds, and take it one step at a time so as not to fall to our demise. Sometimes, we have to take a step back to take a few steps forward.

Oftentimes, the climb gets a bit slow and tedious and we find ourselves grabbing for a bit more than we can handle.

Case in point, our recent winter weather.

Please understand that I have the utmost respect for my fellow co-workers and local (competitive) meteorologists. I know the stresses that they go through each and every day and would never say anything that would belittle them. Everyone has their own way of forecasting and broadcasting the weather and I respect that.

But, some local forecasters, myself included, can be a bit eager when it comes to major weather events.

As meteorologists, we have the duty to inform the public of what we see, but also to use our discretion and wait until confidence is high enough, so as not to instill fear and panic.

Like a large jewel dangling above a pit of snakes (I'm not sure why all I could think of was an Indiana Jones simile), forecasters are sometimes too tempted by the prize and forget about the dangers of being a bit hasty.

And let's face it, it's difficult to predict a winter event one day out, let alone a possible record-breaking one, several days in advance.

I've seen several now that have tried to make a giant leap up the mountain only to fall and start all over again.

Predict the 'big one' and you'll be a hero. Miss the 'big one', you're back to zero. Every wonder why most of us stay conservative?

Good luck, everyone!