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BOSTON (WHDH) - Preparations were underway across New England and beyond Monday as people in more than a dozen states brace for a possible heat wave expected to begin Tuesday.
Temperatures were already climbing Monday. By Tuesday, high temperatures are expected to exceed 90 degrees in many spots in Massachusetts, with heat index temperatures topping out over 100 degrees.
High temperatures may remain above 90 degrees through Friday.
“It’s not officially summer,” said area resident Denise Freed. “We already had some hot days in May. At least it’s June but it used to not get hot until July.”
High temperatures may be between 15 and 20 degrees above normal temperatures, in some spots.
The broader heat wave is all thanks to a “heat dome,” which will trap hot air in place over the region.
A heat advisory is set to take effect at 12 p.m. Tuesday and remain in effect through 7 p.m. Friday across a large swath of land from Massachusetts to Iowa.
An excessive heat watch will be in effect for much of Metro Boston, Metro West, the Merrimack Valley and part of western Massachusetts.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu declared a heat emergency in the city from Tuesday through Thursday, announcing the opening of more than a dozen cooling centers.
“We are going to be deploying all of the cooling resources, misting tents, partnering with all the different city departments just to ensure everyone is ready,” Wu said Monday.
On what will likely be the coolest day of the week, people on the Charles River Esplanade on Monday said they know early morning and evening hours are the best times to get exercise in the upcoming hot weather.
“I think the big thing for us is just to get a walk in really early in the morning because the dog is not going to enjoy this for sure,” one woman said.
Medical experts have said that this level of heat can be dangerous if people do not plan ahead.
“This is a marathon, not a sprint, and it’s really important to take time to recover from the heat at night,” said Dr. Caleb Dresser, an emergency physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Experts have shared tips to stay cool. Among recommendations, officials have urged people to make sure their air conditioners are working, including cleaning filters and making sure systems are clear of debris.
“Today, I’m prioritizing that,” said Caroline Federer when asked on the Esplanade.
And while many will blast their air conditioners and limit sun exposure in the coming days, at least one person speaking with 7NEWS said she plans to beat the heat by avoiding it altogether.
“I’m going to Cape Cod where it will be 15 degrees cooler,” said Molly Swartz. “That’s my plan.”
For construction workers, however, taking refuge indoors is not an option.
“As iron workers, we’re up there exposed more to the sun than anyone else, especially when you have the galvanized deck bouncing off the sun, so 100 degrees is probably 120, 125 up there,” said construction worker Lynn Torres.
For that reason, OSHA requires crews to take water and rest breaks while on the jon.
“We take cover underneath when the sun’s out so we’re not sitting there burning,” Torres said.
“It’s really good to have a bandana or something with you that you can dip in the ice,” said construction worker Paige Ridley.
Though it was not officially open due to a lack of lifeguards, Crystal Lake in Newton was buzzing with activity Monday as people cooled off in the water.
Many state-run pools and splash pads across the state are not scheduled to open until Saturday.
Several beaches elsewhere in the state were also closed as of Monday due to blooms of harmful bacteria, according to the state Department of Public Health.
Though some beaches and pools may be off limits, many municipalities have their own splash pads.
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