RALEIGH, N.C. — The National Weather Service has issued heat advisories for 15 counties across central North Carolina as dangerously hot conditions continue to grip the region, with heat index values reaching as high as 110 degrees.

The extreme heat warning, which affects Alamance, Orange, Durham, Chatham, Wake, Johnston, Moore, Lee, Harnett, Wayne, Richmond, Scotland, Hoke, Cumberland, and Sampson counties, remains in effect until 8 p.m. Monday evening. A heat advisory will follow from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, with heat index values expected to range between 105 and 109 degrees.

“Heat-related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat and high humidity events,” the National Weather Service warned in its advisory. “Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses.”

The dangerous combination of high temperatures and elevated humidity levels creates conditions where the human body struggles to cool itself effectively through sweating, potentially leading to heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and other serious medical emergencies.

Health officials urge residents to take precautionary measures during the heat wave, including staying indoors during peak afternoon hours, drinking plenty of water, wearing light-colored and loose-fitting clothing, and checking on elderly neighbors and relatives who may be more vulnerable to heat-related illness.

The current heat wave affects a significant portion of central North Carolina, encompassing major metropolitan areas including Raleigh, Durham, and surrounding communities where hundreds of thousands of residents live and work.

Residents are advised to limit outdoor activities, seek air-conditioned environments when possible, and never leave children or pets in parked vehicles, where temperatures can become lethal within minutes.