Seidel's interest in weather started at the age of six when he began measuring snowfall in his hometown of Salisbury, Maryland. While he was in the eighth grade in school, Seidel installed a weather station on the roof of his house. He worked for four local radio stations during his high school and college years, including WJDY-AM in Salisbury, WDMV-AM in Pocomoke City and WKHI-FM in Ocean City (all three in Maryland), as well as WSUX-FM in Seaford, Delaware. After graduating from Wicomico Senior High School, now Wicomico High School, Seidel attended Salisbury State College and earned a Bachelor of Science degree, double majoring in mathematics and geography, in 1979. Seidel is also a 1979 student initiate of the Omicron Delta Kappa Circle at Salisbury State College.