With “dangerously hot” conditions expected from Wednesday at 10 a.m. until Saturday at 8 p.m., the National Weather Service and local municipalities are urging the public to stay cool as temperatures climb between 98 and 112 degrees Fahrenheit.

The National Weather Service issued an extreme heat warning for all areas of Southern New England early Tuesday morning, with the exception of the Berkshires and South coasts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, which are still under an extreme heat watch.

“Currently, Thursday and Friday look to be the worst of the heat and humidity but, regardless, this will be a prolonged and dangerous heatwave,” the NWS said in its heat advisory. “This will be a prolonged and dangerous heat wave with little relief at night. Low temperatures will only be dropping into the lower to middle 70s.”

Emily McMinn, a meteorologist at the NWS in Norton, said that while Hampshire County saw temperatures climb to near 100 degrees Fahrenheit last year, temperatures in the triple digits usually only reach western Massachusetts approximately once every four years.

Advising residents to avoid time outside, especially during peak heat hours on Thursday and Friday, McMinn said that the intense heat and length of the heat stretch make this week’s heat wave particularly serious.

“Those feel-like temperatures as well are going to be close to 110 at times within the Valley. We will see a little tiny bit of a cool down for Saturday with actual temperatures in the upper 90s — 97 to 99 — or Saturday afternoon,” McMinn said. “This is a quite a prolonged stretch of dangerous heat here that we’re expecting.”In preparation for the heat wave, Gov. Maura Healey’s office released a statement urging residents to take precautions to prevent heat-related injuries in the days leading up to and following Independence Day.

Healey asked residents to minimize time spent outdoors, apply sunscreen before going outside, never leave pets or children in a car alone, drink water frequently and seek air-conditioned buildings such as libraries and community centers.

“I want everyone to take this heat seriously,” Healey wrote. “Whether you’re celebrating the Fourth of July, traveling, or spending time outdoors with family and friends, please plan ahead and take the necessary precautions to stay safe. Check on your loved ones and neighbors, stay informed about the forecast and seek a cool place if you need one. We want everyone to enjoy a safe and happy holiday.”

Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra, in a text message to the Gazette, also warned residents to stay cool and safe in the coming days.

According to a release from the city’s Department of Health and Human Services, the city will open several cooling centers over the next few days including at the Division of Community Care, 1 Roundhouse Plaza, Wednesday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 5 p.m.; Lilly Library from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.; Manna, located at 48 Elm St., on Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the Northampton Police Station lobby at 29 Center St. around the clock.

“Heat like this can be dangerous, but there are simple steps we can take to protect ourselves and one another,” Sciarra wrote. “Please take advantage of the cooling centers if you need them, stay hydrated and check in on neighbors, friends and loved ones who may be especially vulnerable during this heat wave.”

In Amherst, several cooling centers will be open to those seeking shelter from the heat, including the Bangs Community Center at 70 Boltwood Walk, which will be open Tuesday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; the Jones Library Temporary Location, open from 9 a.m. until 8:15 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday and from 9 a.m. until 5:15 p.m. Wednesday and Munson Memorial library, which is open on Tuesday and Thursday from 2 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

North Amherst Library will also be open for cooling Wednesday from 3:30 until 7:30 p.m., Amherst Town Hall will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and the Amherst Police Department lobby will be open 24 hours a day throughout the week, though space is limited.

Outdoor facilities such as the Mill River and War Memorial pools are also open for those who wish to take a swim, along with Puffer’s Pond, which is open from sunrise to sunset.

In preparation for the heat, Easthampton’s cooling center, the Public Safety Complex lobby located at 32 Payson Ave., will be open to the public around the clock from Wednesday through Sunday.

Energy provider Eversource, noting that increased energy use during the heat wave could potentially overwhelm the electrical system, advised that customers keep air conditioners as warm as comfort allows, maintain air flow, use major appliances during cooler hours of the day, close blinds to prevent sunlight from entering homes, use energy-efficient lightbulbs and set ceiling fans to turn counter-clockwise.

The region’s independent grid operator, ISO-NE based in Holyoke, forecasts sufficient energy supply to meet peak demand in New England this summer but also indicates that very hot and humid weather could create challenging operating conditions.

With the region’s already-constrained supply resources further stressed during peak summer demand, there is always the potential for localized system issues as customers rely heavily on air conditioners and other appliances to stay cool, as well as related impacts driving up the cost of energy in the regional wholesale supply market.

Eversource also encouraged customers to opt into its ConnectedSolutions program, which allows the utility to adjust customers’ thermostats in an effort to curtail energy use. Tilak Subrahmanian, vice president of energy efficiency and electric mobility, explained that the program delivers a more stable and dependable power grid for local homes and businesses when energy demand peaks.

“Partnering with our customers on this program allows us to help ease the strain on the electric grid during days of high energy use like we’re expecting this week,” Subrahmanian said in a statement.