We didn’t have much of a summer last year in Maine, but we will make up for it in a big way this time around.

A classic heat wave setup will happen by the middle of this week as a big ridge of high pressure becomes stationed over New England. Hot and humid air underneath the “heat dome” will surge into the Pine Tree State.

It will be quite a shock to the system after such a pleasant Father’s Day weekend with very little humidity in the air. Look for a big “H” or heat dome of high pressure to move in.

Dry air allows sweat to evaporate, as our bodies are able to naturally cool off when they become warm. The air temperature and heat index remain the same.

But when the air is moist, sweat evaporation becomes limited, and it makes us feel uncomfortable because we can’t cool off.

Air temps in the mid-90s alone would be enough to make most of us feel very uncomfortable. Add the humidity, and it will be extremely uncomfortable.

But it won’t just feel unpleasant – it will be dangerous as heat indices reach up to 105 degrees. Heat is one of the leading weather-related killers in the United States, resulting in more than 1,000 deaths each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Everyone is vulnerable to heat, but certain groups have a much more difficult time. Check on young children and infants, older adults, people with chronic medical conditions, and pregnant women.

Don’t forget to check on your pets, too. They are also part of the family and need extra care during these trying times.