With summer more than two thirds over, the season's first heat wave is set to bake parts of New Jersey this week.
"That's certainly a possibility," said Bob Wanton, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service's Mount Holly office. "The next three days look promising, and possibly even longer than that."
The mercury went over 90 degrees Sunday in several areas of the state and the weather service predicts highs in the low 90s Monday and Tuesday as well.
A heat wave is defined as at least three consecutive days with the temperature 90 degrees or more.
The last time such a stretch took place was late April, according to Wanton, long before the start of summer.
High nighttime temperatures can make a heat wave much worse, Wanton said, because masses of hot air remain concentrated.
That's promising for much of the state, including Trenton and Newark, where lows are expected to be in the high 60s and low 70s this week.
According to the National Weather Service, prolonged physical activity when temperatures over 90 degrees can result in sunstroke, heat cramps and exhaustion.
In addition to limiting sun exposure, the agency recommends drinking more water - and less alcohol - while cutting back on foods that increase metabolic heat production, such as proteins.