Weatherman mocked for ‘over dramatic’ reporting of Hurricane Florence winds… as two people casually stroll past

A broadcast journalist was mercilessly mocked for being over dramatic about the winds while reporting on Hurricane Florence as two people casually walked past him.

Footage shows Weather Channel meteorologist and reporter Mike Seidel “bracing for his life” against strong gales as two men strolled along the street behind him in Wilmington, North Carolina.

With his hood pulled up over his head, he told the camera the gusts were “about as nasty as it has been” and swayed back and forth while holding the microphone.

In the clip, he gave the impression that he was struggling to stay upright as he bent his knees and leaned forward.

The Weather Channel defended Mr Seidel saying he was standing on wet grass and was “absolutely exhausted”.

“It’s important to note that the two individuals in the background are walking on concrete and Mike Seidel is trying to maintain his footing on wet grass, after reporting on-air until 1am this morning and is undoubtedly exhausted,” the Weather Channel said in a statement.

A viewer tweeted a clip of the reporter online with the caption and it was shared hundreds of hundreds of thousands of times.

It was uploaded with the caption: “So dramatic! Dude from the weather channel bracing for his life, as two dudes just stroll past.”

Another viewer said: “And the Oscar goes to.”

Five people have been killed in Hurricane Florence which made landfall in the US on Friday morning. It was downgraded to a tropical storm as it moved inland.