A US television channel has rushed to the defence of one of its reporters after a Twitter post showing Mike Seidel "bracing for his life" against strong winds, while two others walked idly by, went viral.

Video footage posted by a Twitter user shows Mr Seidel, a meteorologist who has worked for The Weather Channel since 1992, broadcasting from Wilmington in North Carolina, which was being battered by the since-downgraded Hurricane Florence.

Mr Seidel appears to physically brace himself against the dangerous winds, which he describes as "about as nasty as it's been", and sways back and forth while holding the microphone.

The drama of the scene is lessened, however, when the camera pans out and two people walk effortlessly past in the background.