Right-wing US radio host Rush Limbaugh, who has suggested that the "panic" caused by the hurricanes benefits retailers, the media and climate change activists, abandoned his south Florida studio ahead of Hurricane Irma.

Limbaugh recently claimed the media is manufacturing unwarranted panic about Irma as part of a plot to hype climate change, boost ratings and increase advertising revenue from businesses that stand to make money from purchases of batteries and bottled water.

Limbaugh then accused The Washington Post and other news outlets of twisting his words while simultaneously doubling down on his conspiracy theory on Thursday.

"I explained how severe weather events are opportunities for big ratings boosts in the media and explained how it happens," he said.