NEW ORLEANS — To see Carl work, you’d never know anything was wrong.
He works hard at weather forecasting. He works out by training with Crossfit, and he plays hard as evidenced by his array of skimpy and outlandish Carnival costumes over the years.
But while he’s always smiling, his eyes reveal another story, one that’s been unfolding for three years.
Carl has Retinitis Pigmentosa, a degenerative condition that affects your peripheral vision, making things look as if you were looking through a paper towel roll. Only, with RP, the roll gets smaller and smaller, day by day, making navigating the studio and weather center harder and harder.
At this point, Carl knows what’s at stake, and, in true Carl fashion, he’s put others’ needs above his own.
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Carl knows that weather drives New Orleans and accurate forecasting can save lives. He’s been doing it here for 27 years, predicting everything from the unforgettable paths of Andrew and Katrina, to this weekend’s threat for severe weather.
Just as he’s used PinPoint Radar in the past, his eyes could narrow to a pinpoint in the future. Before that happens, he wants to leave you in the capable hands of his colleagues, fellow local weather experts and leave WWL at the top of his game.
Carl’s last day will be Friday, March 1 and we will continue to savor his every off-tune, singing microphone check until that time.
Then we’ll celebrate not only his career, but what he’s made of. This isn’t a guy who sees an end, but a new beginning and a new calling, publicly advocating for the Lighthouse for the Blind.