Australian weathermen have received vicious death threats after false claims of a feud sparked hateful trolling, sharing of personal information and violent messages.
Higgins Storm Chasing founder Jeffrey Higgins shared an alarming Facebook post with his audience on Wednesday, saying he was 'feeling scared'.
Mr Higgins, whose social media forecasting page is free for the public to view, claimed he and his family were receiving menacing messages.
'Multiple death threats, threats of violence and harm, including slicing my wife's throat open,' he wrote on Wednesday.
'Hate speech towards myself and staff on pages inciting others to conduct similar behaviour. Just the start of a long list - can't say it all right now.
'I'm very sorry but we are far from ok [at the moment]. Our situation is actually much worse than what you might think.
'Just need to find the support, strength, courage and right way or words to speak out and let the full honest truth be known.
'Trying really, really hard to keep it together and strong. Thank you, sincerely.'
Higgins Storm Chasing founder Jeffrey Higgins shared an alarming Facebook post with his audience, saying he was 'feeling scared' after receiving hateful threats.
Mr Higgins (pictured left with colleague Thomas Hinterdorfer) told his followers one message included death threats towards him and his family.
One person allegedly threatened to slit his wife's throat.
He said he has reported the threats to police.
Fellow social media forecaster David Taylor said he has also been the victim of horrific bullying, threats and trolling.
On his webpage Brisbane Weather, he had included some personal details for followers to share their wild weather experiences.
But in a petty act of intimidation, those details were posted on the classifieds website Craigslist, which had sparked a series of unsolicited, suggestive messages.
He also received an email confirming that someone had registered him for 'Gay Porn Tube' without his knowledge.
He addressed the ordeal on Wednesday, the same day as Mr Higgins, with a statement about the 'inappropriate threats and violence'.
'Brisbane Weather has been receiving death threats, and sadly, our business phone number and email have been exploited - used in ads and other malicious ways,' he wrote.
'This is disgusting, and it's unacceptable. To the people doing this - stop. Grow up. It's not just a page; it's a family, and we're here to stay.'
'I've been made aware that another weather page is also facing similar abuse. I don't care about any rivalry - no page deserves this.'
Fellow social media forecaster David Taylor (pictured) has also been the victim of horrific bullying, threats and trolling in the last few weeks.
Messages to Mr Taylor (pictured) showed his personal details had been shared in four Craigslist listings that promised users a 'good time'.
It is understood the ordeal for both weathermen began when speculation circulated earlier in the year that they were feuding. But Mr Taylor strongly denied any war of words and told the Daily Mail he stood with Mr Higgins against the 'crap'.
Text messages and emails, seen by the Daily Mail, revealed strangers had approached Mr Taylor for a 'good time', citing four listings posted on Craigslist.
The weatherman said the listings were fake.
Others sent threatening messages asking if he had 'ever seen it rain blood', referring to him as a 'cuck', and calling him a 'flog of a weatherman'.
Mr Taylor told the Daily Mail he and his family were staying 'low and safe' after the threats began at the end of January.
He said he reported the comments to police on three occasions: January 30, February 11 and February 18.
Mr Higgins declined to comment when contacted by the Daily Mail, adding that the matter had been referred to police.
It is understood the ordeal for both weathermen began when speculation circulated last month that they were feuding.
The Courier Mail published audio in January which it claimed captured Mr Taylor berating Mr Higgins.
It alleged MrTaylor said his fellow social media forecaster was 'attacking him', then added 'I hope he f*ing drowns in that'.
But in conversation with the Daily Mail this week, Mr Taylor strongly denied any feud, stating he stands with Mr Higgins.
'I don't have anything against Mr Higgins and have no contact with him currently,' he said.
'It's the media and certain people who love pushing something that's not there and I see Mr Higgins is being threatened as well.'
'I stand with him on this crap.'