Chattanooga forecast
* Today: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 99.
* Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
* Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 92. Heat index values as high as 97.
* Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.
* Wednesday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 92.
* Thursday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 94.
Source: National Weather Service
Sunday was a good day for fathers and the frozen lemonade salesman at the Chattanooga Market.
“If it’s hot and you’ve got people, you’re going to be busy,” said Michael Miller after mashing a lemon into juice for a customer at Miller’s Frozen Drinks.
“It’s been busy because people are thirsty,” he said.
They had reason to be. Temperatures were around 91 when the market opened Sunday and the mercury climbed to 97 before it was over, according to National Weather Service reports. The high hit 98 in Chattanooga on Sunday, two degrees off the record of 100 set in 1953.
But the heat didn’t slow down families and fathers who browsed the market Sunday.
In line for scoops of Italian Ice, East Ridge resident Robert Kelch said he and his twin daughters Harper and Scarlett didn’t mind the heat too much as long as they stayed under the pavilion’s shade. Mr. Kelch said it’s the family’s routine to go the market on Sundays and the only difference today was the handmade car his girls made for him as a present. Scarlett, 3, also said the twins had also given their dad a “birthday card.”
“Any kind of card they call a birthday card right now,” Mr. Kelch explained.
For Raj Ramanan and his 2-year-old son Adi, the Market’s domino table was just the right entertainment while mom was shopping. Mr. Ramanan said his son is too young for Father’s Day to be a big occasion, yet.
“He doesn’t know much about it but he did make me a card,” he said.
Ringgold, Ga., residents Lowell and Darcie Hardin said strolling through the market with their kids Jacob, 10 and Kailie, 6, was as a fine way to spend a Father’s Day afternoon. Still, they wished it were a little cooler.
“If it wasn’t so hot we’d stay longer,” said Mrs. Hardin, between sips on her pina colada flavored drink.
Vendors said the turnout was a little lower than normal.
“I don’t know if it’s the heat or Father’s Day,” said Judy Bullington, who runs a booth for The Masters Studio in Red Bank. “My guess is Father’s Day.”
Over the drone of two box fans she brought to keep cool, Ms. Bullington said she did have one little girl pick out an art card for her dad.
“The people who are here are having a good time,” she said.
