Weatherman Paul Barys to retire from Chattanooga’s WRCB-TV 3

Chief Meteorologist Paul Barys provides a weather forecast during a broadcast from the studio of the WRCB Channel 3 Eyewitness News television station on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019. Chief Meteorologist Paul Barys provides a weather forecast during a broadcast from the studio of the WRCB Channel 3 Eyewitness News television station on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019.

By Barry Courter November 19, 2020 4 min read

Paul Barys, the longtime WRCB-TV 3 weatherman known as much for his beard as the catchphrase, “Paul said it would be like this,” has announced his retirement from the station after 35 years in the local market.

The phrase originated shortly after Barys moved to Chattanooga in the ’80s and began giving his weather predictions on the air, and it can still be heard around the Tennessee Valley by people commenting on the weather.

Barys’ last day on air at Channel 3 will be in July. David Karnes has been promoted to chief meteorologist at the station.

“When I came to Channel 3,” Barys said in a news release, “I never dreamed I’d build a life here. I discovered how easy it was to fall in love with this town, and it became home. It’s been an honor to forecast for this community.”