As a fairly new captain, this storm season has a been a learning a experience. I'll certainly admit that I don't think I would have thought to ask dispatch for an alternate just for VCTS. I've seen that a few times, and it ended up being okay. What's been the learning part has been that I check the radar, check the TAF, and all is clear. Then an hour later, there's huge popups along our route and we've been dispatched without any contingency fuel. Great! I think I will be checking the prog charts more often now, but on a 5 leg day with quick turns, it's hard to have. Then I get blamed for leaving two minutes late when I asked for just a little more fuel. (not that I care)