Temperatures are expected to surge into the upper 90s starting Monday, with highs staying around there through the week. The heat index is expected to top 100 degrees.
It's not just the high temperatures -- dew points in the 70s are expected to make it feel extra uncomfortable, and possibly unsafe for some vulnerable residents. Any dew point above the mid-60s indicates an oppressive stickiness.
High temperatures on Monday will be in the lower 90s with a heat index of 101 expected this afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.
With the heat index reaching 105 and temperatures in the mid to upper 90s, the National Weather Service declared a heat advisory from noon-7 p.m. Tuesday. People without air conditioning and outdoors for long periods could be at risk of heat illness.
The city issued a Code Red heat alert for Tuesday-Friday, meaning cooling centers will be open that will provide cool air and free water. Find a list of centers here.
Highs are forecast in the 90s through Friday, with dew points staying consistently in the lower 70s contributing to dew points between 100 degrees and 110 degrees. That could be hot enough for local officials to declare heat emergencies, freeing up resources for the elderly and opening cooling centers.
It could be the region's first extended period of such hot temperatures so far this year.
Only two days have topped 90 degrees at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport so far this month, for a total of nine so far this year. There are typically about 30 days in a given year that top 90 degrees at BWI.
Record highs are above 100 degrees for each day this week.
BWI hasn't hit triple-digit temperatures for nearly a year, since July 18, 2012.