I confess there is a degree of self-interest in rubbishing other forms of local media, but I do struggle to understand why anyone would want to deliberately exaggerate what most of us can see for ourselves perfectly well just by looking out of the window.
Local radio, in particular, appears determined to consign itself to the dustbin of irrelevance by so consistently getting it wrong, telling us to stock up on tinned food, to stay indoors and hide under the duvet etc.
It's so dangerous, apparently, er, that thousands of us are, er, flocking to the coast just to get a better view. So at least the local tourism economy is somehow getting a lift.
There's a group of youngsters who travel the world in search of just such weather. The Red Bull Storm Chasers are looking for big waves at Hayle today. I'm sure they won't be disappointed. I'm equally certain that they quite sensibly couldn't give a stuff about what local media is alleging.
It seems that our enthusiasm for watching the weather is so great, that roads in and out of vulnerable places (such as Porthleven) are gridlocked due to the unusual volume of traffic. A bit like on a hot, sunny day. Any excuse for a jolly good traffic jam. Let no-one suggest that our highly respected (and publicly-funded) local media bears any responsibility for fueling such hysteria.
Social media, reporting from the scene in almost real-time, gives us far more useful information. My thanks to on-the-spot reporter, Cornwall councillor Andrew Wallis, for Tweeting this picture of Porthleven pier at this morning's high tide:
And from the north coast, an idea of the foaming seas off Bude:
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