Meteorologist Ginger Zee Denies Overdramatizing Hurricane Ian

Meteorologist Ginger Zee has clapped back at a Twitter troll who accused her of overdramatizing Hurricane Ian.

On Wednesday, millions of people in Florida were braced for potentially life-threatening storm surges as Hurricane Ian strengthened into a Category 4 storm. It is just shy of Category 5, the most destructive classification.

The hurricane has already battered Cuba, leaving the island nation largely without power as it charges toward Florida's west coast at 155mph.

"It is going to have major, major impacts in terms of wind, in terms of rain, in terms of flooding," said Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in a briefing on September 28. "So, this is going to be a nasty, nasty day, two days."

Tourist attractions such as Disney World, Sea World and Busch Gardens are closed, as is NASA, which has postponed the launch of its Artemis I moon rocket from Kennedy Space Center.

Zee, the chief meteorologist for ABC News, was reporting from Florida's Sanibel Island on Tuesday when the social media exchange took place.

She tweeted to her 2.2 million followers: "Sanibel Island tonight for @ABCWorldNews... don't worry we are out of here before worst of storm tomorrow!"

Another Twitter user replied: "Great theatrics... I live about 10 miles from where you were and spent the afternoon in the pool."

Putting the hater in his place, Zee wrote simply: "The storm isn't here yet... it's tomorrow."

This isn't the first time the 41-year-old has responded directly to her social media critics.

"Ginger Zee dresses and poses like a retired stripper-turned-streetwalker," a Twitter user wrote on Friday.

The Good Morning America personality quoted this tweet, along with several laughing emojis and the comment: "I have been missing these harsh disses on Twitter lately. Thank you for the smile. Now, in this storyline you've invented, when was my turn to streetwalker? And how did I get into the GMA studios? If this is what a stripper turned prostitute wears... I'm out of the loop."

Along with the message, Zee uploaded a photo of herself wearing a black-and-white pencil skirt, white collared shirt, black sweater and a pair of black high heels.

Other social media users praised the California native, who has worked on GMA since 2013, for the comment.

"Bless you Ginger for your lighthearted humorous approach to rude trolls," wrote one. "You're a smart beautiful woman. There's more of us than them."

"I get such a kick out of it," responded Zee, who is married to TV personality Ben Aaron and has two sons.

"Great response. Maybe they think you had to turn tricks to pay for your Masters degree," posted another social media user. "It's hard to be brilliant, classy and beautiful."

Zee replied: "Don't hate me because I am charming, beautiful and smart... that's what I tell [GMA producers] @SamWnek & @DanManWX and want them to say about themselves every darn day."