You’re going to hear a lot about the heat for later this week. Warnings and advisories are expected because the heat is definitely something that needs to be taken seriously. But it also doesn’t mean you’re going to have to stay inside. It’s just a matter of adapting to what is going to be a very hot stretch and going out in the early mornings if you can.

The 7-day forecast for the Boston area shows temperatures soaring into the triple digits by the weekend.Boston Globe

The last time we reached the triple digits in the Boston area was June 24, 2025, when it hit 102 degrees. The all-time high in Boston was set on the Fourth of July, 1911.

The record for Thursday, which is expected to hit 102 is 98 degrees, so obviously we might just set a new record. Those are daily records and we continue to set new daily records on a regular basis, especially on the higher end of the scale. With climate change, high temperature records far outpace any low temperature records anymore.

An Extreme Heat Watch has been issued for Wednesday morning until Friday night for all of Massachusetts and the rest of Southern New England, except for Cape Cod and the Berkshires.

This heat wave is part of a larger high-pressure system, or “heat dome,” that stretches from the middle of the country all the way to the East Coast. When you get high pressure, the air is sinking and that sinking air tends to warm up. When high pressure is stuck in the same position, the warming becomes more pronounced each day, and that’s what’s going to happen this week.

An intense heat dome will bring sweltering hot weather to much of the US this holiday week. The dark brown patches show where temps will soar into the 100s.WeatherBELLA heat dome is overtaking the eastern half of the United States this week. Above are the high temperatures forecast for Friday.WeatherBELL

Heat Risk: Increasing humidity to drive up heat index

The moderate levels of humidity to start the work week will turn into oppressive levels by midweek, making the extremely hot weather feel even worse. As a matter of fact, the European forecast model has dew points well into the mid- to upper 70s for Thursday, which would create heat indices of 105 to 110 degrees. This is why, if you do have outdoor activities, you’re going to want to get them done very early in the morning. With the sun rising before 5:15 a.m., you’ll have a few hours before 8 or 9 a.m. without dangerous heat.

Heat impacts will be extreme across the Greater Boston area on Thursday.NOAA

Morning temperatures through Wednesday

Early-morning temperatures will start in the 60s on Monday and even Tuesday before climbing to near 70 on Wednesday morning and then stay in the 70s to near 80, especially in Boston, the rest of the week. When you see a low temperature forecast, that is the reading at sunrise. You can add 10 or 15 degrees to that for bedtime temperatures, depending on when you’re going to sleep.

Temperatures will rise quickly later in the mornings, so keep an eye on the heat index.

The forecast heat index for Tuesday morning.Boston Globe

Greater Boston: Look for plenty of sunshine Monday and Tuesday with highs in the 70s to near 80 by Tuesday. Especially away from the immediate shoreline

Central/Western Mass.: Look for plenty of sunshine both Monday and Tuesday with highs within a few degrees of 80 on Monday and a few degrees of 83 or 84 on Tuesday.

Southeastern Mass.: It’s a pair of beautiful days for Monday and Tuesday with temperatures in the 70s at the coast to near 80 inland. It’s in the upper 70s to lower 80s on Tuesday.

Cape Cod and the Islands: Look for temperatures in the 70s to start the work week with plenty of sunshine. Morning lows will be in the 60s.

Rhode Island: Temperatures will approach 80 Monday afternoon over inland areas and stay in the 70s at the coast. Readings will be in the upper 70s over South County on Tuesday and lower 80s inland

New Hampshire: Look for seasonably warm conditions on Monday and Tuesday with temperatures in the lower to mid-80s by Tuesday.

Sign up here for our daily Globe Weather Forecast that will arrive straight into your inbox bright and early each weekday morning.