Riverbend crowds lifted umbrellas against harsh skies Wednesday, guarding against the dual threat of a muggy, sunny day and violent thunderstorms.
The expected storms steered clear of the festival, but two Soddy-Daisy families weren’t so lucky.
Lightning struck a house at 1729 Chadwick Court, and the Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department responded. No injuries were reported, officials said.
The affected residents stayed with family members Wednesday night.
“This house took a direct hit,” Dallas Bay Chief Marcus Fritts said in a news release. “Lightning blew a hole in the roof.”
TEMPERATURES AHEADThursdayHigh: 94, Low: 68FridayHigh: 94, Low: 72SaturdayHigh: 92, Low: 71Source: National Weather Service
Another Soddy-Daisy family heard the lightning hit their 6617 River Winds Lane home. Firefighters responded and kept the fire contained to the garage and first-floor area, officials said. No injuries were reported.
Elsewhere in the Tennessee Valley, it was a scorcher Wednesday. The heat index reached 100 degrees for the fourth straight day, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Loren Marz.
“Personally, I would stay out of it,” he said. “Heatstroke and heat exhaustion are pretty serious situations.”
The weekend forecast promises some relief, if relief can be defined as a slight drop in humidity.
“The atmosphere will dry out a good bit,” said Mr. Marz, who watched the radar from Morristown, Tenn. “It’s not quite as impressive at 90 as it feels at 100, but walking around in the midday sun is still pretty rough.”
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