Near record temperatures are forecasted for parts of Indiana this week.  The National Weather Service in Indianapolis said heat index values of up to 108 degrees are possible on Wednesday and Thursday.

The agency said it’s the kind of heat that can be deadly without proper precautions.

Vulnerable portions of the population like seniors and young children should not be outside for an extended period of time without light lightly-colored clothes, plenty of water and nearby shade.

NWS Meteorologist Michael Skipper said this kind of heat does not hit Indiana very often.

“With 81 as the norm, and we’re shooting for 99,” Skipper said. “So we’re actually going to be 18 or so degrees above normal on Thursday.”

Skipper said this kind of heat hits Indiana roughly every two to four years. He said in this case, the heat bubble that caused southwest states like Arizona and New Mexico to heat up to 110 degrees for a record of consecutive days made its way to the Midwest and into Indiana.

Because of the different climates in Indiana and the Southwest, the air temperature should not get as high here, and Skipper said a cold front moving south into Indiana will keep the heat from lasting much longer past Thursday.

He said temperatures should get down to the mid to upper 70’s by the weekend.