Maryland weather: Baltimore issues Code Red as heat index is forecast to rise as high as 112 this week

City health officials Sunday issued a Code Red extreme heat alert, as triple-digit temperatures and an excessive heat watch are in the forecast this week in the Baltimore area, according to the National Weather Service.

Baltimore City Health Department’s Code Red, which will be in effect through Wednesday, asks residents to take precautions to stay cool and makes cooling centers available throughout the city.

6 heat-related deaths reported in Maryland this year; here’s where to go to stay cool

An excessive heat warning will go into effect Monday at 11 a.m. and is set to expire at 8 p.m. The heat warning is a result of Monday’s forecast reaching 101 with a heat index nearing 111. Monday will remain sunny and hot with a chance of storms after 2 p.m.

The Maryland Department of Environment has issued a Code Orange air quality alert for Baltimore City on Monday, warning that sensitive groups such as children, people with asthma, heart or lung disease and older adults should avoid strenuous activity outside.

Monday night will have a low near 76 and a 30% chance of precipitation before 8 p.m.

High temperatures and sunny conditions will continue into Tuesday with an expected high of 102 and a heat index as high as 110.

Tuesday night will have a slight chance of thunderstorms before 2 a.m. and a low around 78.

The NWS tweeted around 8:30 p.m. that the temperature at BWI Marshall Airport on Sunday reached 101, tying the record for July 14 that was set in 1954.

The high for July 15 (Monday) is 102, set in 1995; the high for July 16 (Tuesday) is 104, set in 1988.

Wednesday will be mostly sunny with a 70% chance of rain and an afternoon high around 97.

Showers will remain likely Wednesday night, when conditions shift to mostly cloudy with a low of 74 and the chance of rain maintaining at 70%.

The heat index is a measure of how hot it really feels when relative humidity is factored in with the actual air temperature, according to the NWS website .

Thursday and Friday are expected to be a bit cooler with afternoon highs in the upper 80s.

Baltimore Sun reporter Tony Roberts contributed to this article.