Against the Wind: Florida Man's Call to Shoot 'Goofy' Hurricane Irma Goes Viral

Ryon Edwards, a 22-year-old Floridian, said that a "combination of stress and boredom" prompted him to post a call on his Facebook page to shoot guns at Hurricane Irma.

"So this goofy looking windy…Irma is pulling up on us; let's show Irma that we shoot first," he wrote.

He admitted in an interview with the BBC that "the response is a complete and total surprise to me."

"I never envisioned this event becoming some kind of crazy idea larger than myself. It has become something a little out of my control," Edwards said.

Pasco police, based in central Florida, were quick to warn of serious consequences for anyone 'goofy' enough to fire a gun at the hurricane.

The police were echoed by a whole array of Twitter users, who did not mince words when reacting to Edwards' call.

Some expressed surprise over the fact that tens of thousands of people showed interest in Edward's offer.

Many preferred to react to Edward's call in the context of Pasco police's warning.

According to US National Hurricane Center, Irma has been reclassified, upgraded to Category 4 as it continues to move closer to Florida's coast.

The National Weather Center in Jacksonville, Florida, has updated the threat categories for the state, warning that massive rainfall and strong winds would be widespread.

Meanwhile, Governor Rick Scott is urging local residents to stay "indoors and away from windows" as Irma approaches.