Nick Kosir is not your typical weatherman. No wonder he's one of the most highly praised forecasters in the nation. As a former DJ of the year, proud father to his 10-year-old son Cannon, fashionista for the Drip Chronicles (a segment where Kosir humorously dresses side by side to the tee of popular athletes and celebrities exclusive outfits, giving in-depth tutorials on how to look the same), and as the morning meteorologist for Fox 46 Charlotte, Nick has won the internet with his unique, delightful, and rib-tickling reports, raps, and lively dance challenges, incorporating his signature brand of humor and controversial delivery. Kosir's unique flair allows his trademark forecasts to come alive.

Before Youtube was popular during a slow weather day, the legendary forecaster first made his start as the "rapping weatherman" working at an affiliate station in Texas when he wanted to spice up his typical news report and do something that had never been seen before, making both his peers and local audiences hysterical with laughter. With a huge smile on his face and presenting infectious energy, Kosir went from a local celebrity to a national sensation overnight when he absolutely killed the #Slidelikethis challenge on air dressing in his normal news attire and pink flower lapel, even doing a moonwalk exit, a tribute to his inspiration Michael Jackson as a child when Kosir and his sister would record themselves dancing around the family's living room to his songs and music. That 30-second video alone got viewed almost 6 million times, allowing Kosir to gain close to a million loyal followers around the world, spreading messages of hopefulness, positivity, and all-around fun. His genuine personality and funny antics both on and off-air have inspired newscasters around the world, grabbing the attention of football superstar Cam Newton, Nelly, and the Charlotte Hornets, where Nick was honored and invited to dance on the court for fans at halftime. I chatted with Nick about the secret to making his reports so intriguing for his audience, why he decided to rap and dance on air, and much more:

The Rapping Weatherman's First Live Weather Rap

James: How did you get started?

Nick: Believe it or not, my first job in the industry was working as a news reporter at a small television station in Ohio. I spent a year covering City Council meetings and fundraisers before my boss told me what I already knew – reporting wasn't my strong suit. He asked me to fill in for the weather forecaster, and those two days were all I needed to know that I belonged at the green screen. Shortly after, I moved into a full-time forecasting position at the station and enrolled at Mississippi State University, where I pursued a second degree in Meteorology. The rest is history!

James: What was your childhood like?

Nick: In one word – great! I grew up in the suburbs of Cleveland and was obsessed with sports. I fantasized about becoming a professional football player and cherished my football and baseball card collection.

James: Were you always this funny and creative?

Nick: My humble opinion? I've always been hilarious, but my wife may think otherwise… haha! But yes, I've always thrived when I have a creative outlet. In high school and college, I spent most of my free time making parodies of popular songs.

James: What made you so interested in covering the weather?

Nick: I vividly remember watching a meteorologist out of Cleveland cover a tornado when I was in fifth grade – it was both terrifying and mesmerizing. From that day forward, I have been fascinated by the weather. Also, fun fact: my biggest fear is tornados.

James: How did you work your way up to be where you are today?

Nick: Whew, great question… where do I begin? In short, my family and I have lived in five states over the course of ten years as we navigated from one television market to the next (my wife is a former news anchor and reporter, so thankfully she understands the demands of the industry) -and we did it all while adjusting to married life, and then parenthood. These last ten plus years have been a delicate balance of doing what's best for both our family and our career, which hasn't always been easy. Each city I've lived in has had its own unique weather dynamic, which has challenged me and helped me grow as a forecaster.

James: How would you describe your on-air personality and reports for people who haven't seen you before? Is your on-air personality the same as in real life?

Nick: I'd describe my on-air personality as equal parts informative and entertaining. And, what you see is what you get – I am the same on-air as I am in real-life. The best way to sum it up? I take my position and responsibilities seriously, but I never take myself too seriously.

James: Besides rapping the weather and dancing, what makes you stand out from other meteorologists?

Nick: It's tough to stand out because there are so many talented meteorologists out there – especially here in Charlotte! But, I would say my conversational delivery makes me stand out. My goal is to talk about the weather to our viewers in the same way I talk about the weather to my friends. If the weather is going to be awesome, I say it will be awesome. If the weather is going to be crappy, I say it will be crappy. I'm also into fashion and work to throw a little extra 'flair' into my outfit. Lately, I've been wearing lapel flowers… I believe these extra little accents go a long way.

James: What characteristics and key factors do you have that are most important to be a meteorologist?

Nick: First and foremost, thick skin! If my forecast – or outfit – is off, I'll hear about it. Not just through email, but people will blast me on social media, too. On a positive note, I think meteorologists have to be driven by the opportunity to help keep people safe… that's what keeps me going during long days with severe weather coverage. Also, you have to be good at science and math – I think some people may be surprised by this!

James: How long does it take to come up with a forecast? What's the process like for making your reports? What kinds of planning goes into making a forecast?

Nick: It depends on the day. If the forecast calls for sunshine, it may only take about thirty minutes to put together the forecast. But, if there's severe weather, it could take about an hour to create an initial forecast, and then I'm constantly updating it throughout the day. The last thing I look at before I fall asleep and the first thing I look at when I wake up are the weather models. The weather is constantly changing, so you have to immerse yourself in it. You definitely have to be about that weather life!

James: How do make sure that your report is interesting and entertaining for your audience? Is it hard to work under pressure?

Nick: It's impossible to make each of my twenty-six weather hits entertaining throughout the morning show, but I do my best during quiet weather days. It's easiest to show my personality when the news anchors toss to me – we have a great relationship outside of the office, and it's easy to sneak in a quick joke or some banter before I get into the forecast.

Working under pressure used to be challenging, but now I thrive under pressure. That's when my job is most satisfying!

James: What do you do if you have a forecast for the day and at the last second the weather changes?

Nick: That's simple – change it! Then, let viewers know why my forecast shifted. The weather is always changing, and it's my job to stay on top of these changes. It's not uncommon for me to change my 7-day forecast in the middle of the morning show to ensure they are as accurate and up-to-date as possible.

James: What is the craziest weather that you've had to report on?

Nick: In 2014, I went to Moorhead City, NC, to cover Hurricane Arthur. During a live hit for the FOX station in NYC, the eye of the hurricane passed directly over me. It was eerie and exhilarating.

James: What made you decide to rap and dance?

Nick: Rapping – then dancing – all goes back to my commitment to being 100% authentic on-air. When I worked in Texas, there was a six-week stretch of sunny and hot weather. I decided to spice up the forecast by rapping it, which was well received! In my current position, we're encouraged to show our personalities on social media. So, I decided to try my hand at the #SlideLikeThisChallenge. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that dancing would catch on… I was just having fun!

Slide Like This Challenge (Original)

James: What would you say is your signature dance move? Who were you inspired by?

Nick: My signature dance move is the 'woah-bot.' It's a mash-up of the old school robot with the new school "woah" move. Growing up, I used to love watching Michael Jackson dance.

James: When you rapped for the first time on-air, what was going through your head? Was it hard doing it on the spot?

Nick: I started getting nervous in the commercial break right before I was supposed to rap when it sank in that I was about to rap. But, once the music started there was no going back!

James: What was your reaction when you realized that you were blowing up and how has this affected you?

Nick: These past few months have been a wild ride, and I am here for it! Getting messages from people who say that my video brought a smile to their face on a hard day keeps me going. Keeping up with social media has increased my workload tremendously – work doesn't end when I walk out of the station. I work around the clock to keep up with comments and messages because I want everyone to know how grateful I am for their support.

James: How long does it take to learn all the moves to a dance challenge? What has been your favorite challenge to do?

Nick: It takes me a few days to select a song, work on the choreography and memorize the dance before I record it at the station. My favorite challenge is the #BeforeILetGo challenge because it was the hardest to learn.

James: How have your family and friends reacted to your rapping and dancing?

Nick: My family didn't think twice about me rapping the weather forecast or dancing in the studio because they're used to my shenanigans! When people ask my wife what she thinks, she explains it's "Just another day at Club Kosir." Seriously – there's never a dull moment at our house. Well, unless we're doing chores.

My friends think the #DripChronicles and dancing are hilarious!

James: What was it like performing at HalfTime for the Charlotte Hornets?

Nick: Performing at the Charlotte Hornets game was fun, but terrifying! When I was on the court, I couldn't hear the song AT ALL and thought I blew it. Immediately afterward, I ran out to my car and hung my head in shame – I've always been pretty hard on myself. I didn't muster up the nerve to go back into the arena until I watched the clip back and decided it turned out okay. And, it's a good thing I went back in because the Hornets had an incredible win that night!

Go Hornets!

James: What's a typical day for you like?

Nick: Monday through Friday, I wake up at 2:30 am and arrive at the station at 3:30 am to make my forecast, build graphics and last – but not least – do my makeup. Haha! The morning show runs from 4:30 – 9:00 am. After the show, I spend about an hour in meetings, then catch up on emails and work on projects until it's time to do the weather for the 11:00 am broadcast. I get home from work around noon and take a quick nap before I head to the gym. From there, I pick up my son from school and am on dad duty until my wife gets home from work. We try to squeeze in an hour of family time before I crawl into bed at 8:00 pm. Then, do it all over again the next day!

James: If you could do anything over again, what would it be?

Nick: Nothing! #NoRegrets

James: When you aren't covering the weather, what are your favorite things to do?

Nick: I love being on the water. I love boating, swimming, and other outdoor activities. I also like to work out, listen to rap music and hang out with my family and friends.

James: What's something most people don't know about you?

Nick: I was an all-state football player in high school!

James: What advice do you have for upcoming meteorologists and anchors?

Nick: Smile, and be yourself!

You can catch Nick on Fox 46 Charlotte's "Good Day Charlotte" morning show every weekend and follow him @Fox46Nick