'Wow, that's White': Meteorologist Enjoys Central Park Nor'Easter Snowstorm Before Reporting Live

NEW YORK CITY - Thousands of viewers have been blown away by the dedication of meteorologist Derek Van Dam as he reported live from Central Park during a historic Nor'easter, but what they didn't know is that he was actually enjoying a leisurely walk through the winter wonderland before all the cameras showed up.

'I haven't seen snow like this in over two years,' Van Dam reported to viewers while sipping on some hot cocoa and admiring the 'real-life snow globe' before begrudgingly adjusting his tone to match the seriousness of the situation. 'This city is about to get slammed with up to 8 inches of white fluff - oh, there appears to be a small child sledding down Mount Belvedere. Excuse me while I wave to him.'

Van Dam's reporting has received widespread acclaim for its accuracy and the way he made viewers feel like they were right there in the middle of the blizzard alongside him. Unbeknownst to viewers, Van Dam's earlier reports on the snowfall totals in Philadelphia and other locations included a couple of 'flirty snow angels' in the background and a mention of the CNN snow tracker was really just to let the network know he'd be at home in New York if they wanted to send some more assignments his way.

'Hey, joining me now is emergency management spokesman Garrett McDaniels to tell us what New Yorkers need to know going forward, but where's my hot cocoa? I asked for a fresh cup five minutes ago!' Van Dam said in the next segment, upset that the network's cameras had cut away and ruined the illusion that he had been tirelessly providing on-the-spot coverage. 'Also, who turned on these overhead lights? I was going to build a snowman on the air before the next commercial break."

At publishing time, Van Dam had received a stern talking-to from his supervisor at CNN for the unprofessional way he signed off his live shot with, 'Stay warm, NYC. I'll be in my penthouse if you need me.'