'We're having some audio problems': Hurricane Irma news reporter battered with 50mph winds and lashing rain live on air in Miami

Francesca Gillett10 September 2017

This is the moment an American news reporter struggled to stay standing as he was battered with dangerously high winds and lashing rain while speaking live on air in Florida.

NBC news cut live to their poor reporter in Miami as he desperately tried to describe the effects of Hurricane Irma from the flooded city street.

Viewers expressed concern for the soaked broadcaster, who clutched his microphone and straddled his legs in an attempt to keep upright in the fierce wind, as gusts reached speeds of up to 50 mph.

Heavy rain sent up to eight inches of floodwater streaming along the road during the live Today Show broadcast on Sunday morning local time.

'Poor reporters': The American news reporter struggles to stay upright as the storm hit.
NBC Today Show

“Apparently we’re having some audio problems listening to Mike,” the news presenter in the studio said as the channel tried to get in touch with the storm-hit reporter.

The reporter begins speaking to the camera as he describes the conditions: “Here on the east coast of Florida we’re getting battered by Hurricane Irma, and we have a long way to go.

Battered: The news reporter straddled his legs and crouched in a bid to endure the storm.
NBC Today Show

“These winds here are running 40 to 50 mph.”

Many viewers applauded his bravery for enduring the weather, while others said it was too dangerous.

Hurricane Irma - In pictures

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“Poor reporters,” one viewer said. “I cannot believe they risk these poor peoples’ lives for a freakin’ newscast.”

Mari Chi said on Facebook: “Please provide the reporters and camera people with safety armour!” while another viewer, Jannelle Stollings, wrote: “Shame on you for letting those reporters stand out there in the streets.”

Miami is expected to escape the worst of the deadly storm, after its forecasted path changed direction. Irma is now predicted to remain powerful as it travels along the west coast of Florida, barrelling into Tampa and St Petersburg.

Irma reached the lower Florida Keys on Sunday morning local time.

One man was killed in a pickup truck crash caused by the weather, police said as authorities plead with the public to seek shelter.

More than six million people were told to evacuate their homes and tens of thousands of people are currently holed up in shelters as the storm hit the Sunshine State.

In an interview with ABC news as Florida braced itself for the storm, governor Rick Scott said: “Pray for us.”

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