Vermonters, brace yourselves for a sizzling week.

The first heat wave of the year is due to hit Vermont starting at noon on Tuesday, June 18 and lasting until around 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 20, according to the National Weather Service in Burlington.

“The pleasant weekend we experienced will be a distant memory soon enough,” NWS Burlington said in its area forecast discussion on Monday afternoon.

This week is projected to boast some of the highest temperatures Vermonters have seen in several years, averaging in the 90s in most places during the day. Additionally, multiple Vermont cities and towns are posed to break daily heat records on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

National Weather Service Burlington meteorologists also predict high humidity − close to or above 65 on the dew point scale − for the duration of the heat wave, extending into the evenings as well.

The heat will likely reach its peak on Wednesday, which is also the most probable day for the temperature to hit 100 degrees or higher. For perspective, Burlington has only experienced five 100 degree days since 1995.

However, the days may feel even hotter than what the thermometer reads in some cities and towns. Vermont’s top projected heat index value, also known as apparent temperature, is 105 degrees for the week.

Excessive heat has the potential to be deadly. Heat waves claim more lives annually in the U.S than any other weather event − surpassing tornadoes, hurricanes, floods and lightning − according to AccuWeather.

What is a heat wave and heat index?

NWS Burlington defines a heat wave as three or more consecutive days of 90 degrees or above.

A heat index value − the combination of the air temperature and the relative humidity − represents how hot it feels outside in a particular location. Think of it as the veil twin of the wind chill factor, something with which Vermonters may be more familiar.

This week’s heat index value of 105 is considered to be within the high risk category for developing heat-related illnesses after pro-longed physical activity, according to NWS Burlington.

How to prepare for this week’s heat wave

NWS Burlington provided a list of ways to protect yourself from excessive heat:

• Stay hydrated, remain in air-conditioned rooms and avoid the sun if at all possible. Indoor temperatures could continue to increase after peak hours in spaces with poor ventilation, putting people without air-conditioning at risk for their health.
• If you must venture outside, wear light-weight and loose clothing.
• Limit strenuous tasks to early morning or night.
• If you are working outside, take frequent rest breaks in the shade or air-conditioned spaces. Move individuals overwhelmed by the heat to cool or shaded areas.
• Call 911 if someone is exhibiting symptoms of heat stroke.
• Do not leave young children and pets in cars unattended. The inside will reach deadly temperatures within minutes.

Cooling sites in Burlington

To help residents beat the heat, Burlington will operate cooling centers between Tuesday, June 18 and Friday, June 21.

The following places will act as cooling centers:

• Public Works / Parks – 645 Pine St.: 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday, Thursday, Friday; 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Wednesday.
• Fletcher Free Library – 235 College St.: 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Tuesday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday, Friday .
• City Hall − 149 Church St.: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Wednesday.
• O.N.E. Center – 20 Allen St.: 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday to Friday.
• Leddy Arena – 216 Leddy Park Road: 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Tuesday to Thursday; 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Friday.
• Fletcher Free, New North End – 1127 North Ave.: 2-6 p.m., Tuesday & Thursday; 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Friday .

For more information on cooling centers, visit https://enjoyburlington.com/burlington-cooling-centers-where-to-cool-off-during-a-heat-wave.

More: Summer is officially here in Vermont: How to keep pets safe while the weather is hot

Megan Stewart is a government accountability reporter for the Burlington Free Press. Contact her at mstewartyounger@gannett.com.