Dangerous temps of up to 105 degrees are expected to arrive in East Idaho this week, marking the beginning of what’s likely to be a record-shattering heat wave that could last until the end of the month.

The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning and heat advisories calling for daytime high temps of between 100 and 105 degrees throughout most of East Idaho starting Wednesday morning and continuing through at least Saturday.

The weather service is calling the incoming heat wave an “extreme heat event” and is urging local people to take precautions.

“Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors,” the weather service stated. “Do not leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles. Car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.”

The extremely hot temps will also create an explosive wildfire threat for East Idaho and red flag warnings are expected to be issued for the region this week.

The incoming heat definitely has the potential to shatter records in East Idaho and the scorching temps will likely stick around for weeks, not days.

“Our long range forecast guidance shows very little in the way of relief over the next few weeks,” the weather service stated. “There is an 80 percent to 90 percent chance of above-normal temperatures continuing through the end of July.”

And outside of the slight possibility of some scattered thunderstorms this weekend, there is no precipitation in the local forecast for at least the next week.

Most of East Idaho could experience daytime highs of 100 to 105 degrees Wednesday morning through Saturday afternoon, the weather service said. Daytime temps in that scorching range are possible for lower elevation areas such as Pocatello, Chubbuck, Idaho Falls, Ammon, Blackfoot, Fort Hall, Rigby, Rexburg, Preston, Malad, Burley, Rupert, American Falls and Aberdeen as well as higher elevation areas such as Inkom, Lava Hot Springs, Soda Springs, Montpelier, Driggs, Tetonia, Bone, Rockland, Arbon, Ashton and Thatcher.

The only places in East Idaho where daytime temps probably won’t break the 100-degree mark this week are Island Park, Victor, Palisades and Swan Valley. Those areas can expect daytime highs in the 90s Wednesday morning through Saturday afternoon.

The weather service said what will make this heat wave so difficult to endure is that starting Wednesday evening nighttime lows in East Idaho will be in the 60s in most areas.

The warm nighttime temps “could compound the impacts of the expected multi-day heat wave,” the weather service said.

East Idahoans should start taking precautions now in anticipation of what will likely be a lengthy and dangerous heat wave.

The weather service advises, “Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency. Call 911.”

The heat wave will impact most of the rest of the state with the same scorching temps expected in East Idaho. Excessive heat warnings and heat advisories are in effect in the central Idaho mountains including Challis, Mackay and Hailey; south central Idaho including Twin Falls and Jerome; southwest Idaho including Boise and Mountain Home; and all of North Idaho.

Similar severe heat warnings are in effect in Montana, Oregon, Washington state, Nevada and Utah.