A dangerous heat wave is making its way eastward.

Officials with the National Weather Service Office in Wakefield, Va. have placed most all of its coverage area in eastern areas of North Carolina and Virginia under an Excessive Heat Watch from Thursday morning through Saturday evening.

Air temperatures will be at or near 100 degrees during that time period with heat indices reaching 110 degrees or higher, especially on Friday.

The combined heat and humidity will create a hazard for those exposed to it for more than a short period of time. An excessive heat watch means that a prolonged period will exist of high heat and humidity. Those factors will combine to create a dangerous situation in which heat illnesses are possible.

NWS officials advise individuals to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay in the shade if possible and check up on relatives and neighbors.

The heat wave has been building all week in the plains. On Tuesday, heat indices were as high as 129 degrees in Newton, Iowa. Twenty-three other towns in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin reported heat indices in excess of 115 degrees.

After a high of 93 degrees on Wednesday, the Roanoke-Chowan area thermometer will climb to 98 on Thursday with a heat index of 106 degrees.

Look for 100 degree air temps on Friday and Saturday with heat indices projected 10 degrees higher. It will remain hot and dry through the early part of next week with highs on Sunday and Monday in the mid to upper 90’s.