Weatherman lets out blood-curdling scream at 'giant' spider

A weatherman in the US has been ridiculed by his colleagues after an on-air freak-out at a "giant" spider invading his forecast.

Bryan Hughes was presenting the weather for West Virginia's WOWK 13 News on Thursday night when the arachnid crawled across the lens of a live traffic shot.

"Geez Louise," Hughes screams after a blood-curdling scream before realising what has frightened him and walking offset to laughter in the studio.

"Why did that just happen? I nearly lost my lunch," he said.

"We've gotta get out there and kill those things."

Hughes was able to see the funny side of his gaffe, later posting on Facebook that he "couldn't help it".

"I screamed like a little girl," he said. "Now, where's the matches and gasoline?"