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A few days after the official arrival of summer, extreme heat baked much of Maine on Monday and Tuesday, with temperatures rising into the 90s prompting warnings from forecasters and the opening of cooling centers across the state.

The National Weather Service’s Maine offices said parts of Cumberland, Hancock, Penobscot, Washington and York counties were under an extreme heat warning from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, when the heat index is forecast to reach over 100.

Less severe warnings were in effect for the rest of the state, with the Midcoast, Down East and much of northern Maine under a heat advisory and parts of western and northern Maine under a hazardous weather outlook.

The weather service warned of “dangerously hot conditions,” with heat indexes that could exceed 105. Temperatures are forecast in the mid- to upper 90s.

Much of inland Maine had been under a heat advisory Monday, when temperatures peaked in the high 80s and low 90s for most parts of the state.

STAYING SAFE

To stay safe during dangerously high heat, the Red Cross recommends three essential actions: stay hydrated, stay cool and stay connected.

Drink a cup of water every hour, and if working or spending time in the sun, drink one cup of water every 20 minutes and take breaks in the shade.

Staying connected involves checking in on family, friends and pets to ensure they have access to water and shade, or asking others for help if needed. The Red Cross said checking in can be as simple as a text or call.

The Red Cross and National Weather Service both warned Mainers to look for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

“Once you start to get to the point where you feel like you [don’t] have the ability to sweat anymore, that is one of the warning signs,” said Chris Legro, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Gray.

Other warning signs include a headache that won’t go away or simply not being able to remember the last time you hydrated, especially if outside for an extended period, Legro said Monday.

Everyone should take precautions in extreme heat — which is the leading cause of weather-related deaths, according to the World Health Organization — but those with preexisting health conditions, children and older adults should take extra care, Legro said.

Pets can also experience heat illnesses, and Mainers can help prevent them by keeping their pets out of parked cars and ensuring they are hydrated and in cool areas.

Symptoms of heat illness in pets can include heavier panting, difficulty breathing, weakness and increased heart rate, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Mainers should also avoid taking their pets out on hot asphalt, which can burn paws, or on long walks that can overheat them.

PLACES TO COOL OFF

Avoiding long exposure to the temperatures and staying inside with air conditioning is crucial. If there is no A/C at home — a common situation for many Mainers — the Red Cross recommends going to someplace like the mall, a library or a cooling center. Mainers can also make use of swimming holes, movie theaters or even beer caves at local convenience stores.

Cooling centers are established during extreme heat warnings and are in large, air-conditioned public buildings to allow community members to escape the heat, charge their devices, and access water and restrooms. Some offer places to shower, and many — especially libraries — have free Wi-Fi.

The Portland Public Library’s downtown location will serve as the city’s official cooling center Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., city spokesperson Jessica Grondin said in a news release Monday. The city is also encouraging residents to make use of the Deering Oaks Ravine or one of the city’s splash pads, Grondin added.

The Maine Emergency Management Agency lists cooling centers on its website. Here is a list of several across Maine that are open this week:

Androscoggin County

• Auburn Community Resource Center, 121 Mill St., Auburn — open Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., offering cooling
• Auburn Public Library, 49 Spring St., Auburn — open Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., offering cooling
• Auburn Senior Community Center, 48 Pettengill Park Road, Auburn — open Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., offering cooling
• Auburn Recreation Hasty Gymnasium, 48 Pettengill Park Road, Auburn — open Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Durham Eureka Community Center, 606 Hallowell Road, Durham — open Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., offering cooling, charging and water
• Lisbon Police Department lobby, 300 Lisbon St., Lisbon — open as needed 24/7, offering cooling, charging and water
• Redemption Hill Church, 64 Lisbon St. (enter from Park Street door), Lewiston — open Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., offering cooling

Aroostook County

• Caribou Wellness Center, 55 Bennett Drive, Caribou — open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., offering cooling

Cumberland County

• Baxter Memorial Library, 71 South St., Gorham — open Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., offering cooling
• Bridgton Community Center, 15 Depot St., Bridgton — open through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering cooling
• Portland Public Library, 5 Monument Square, Portland — open Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., offering cooling
• Scarborough Public Library, 48 Gorham Road, Scarborough — open Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., offering cooling, charging, water and Wi-Fi

Kennebec County

• Augusta Civic Center, Cumberland Room, 76 Community Drive, Augusta — open Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering cooling
• Waterville City Hall Annex, 46 Front St., Waterville — open Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., offering cooling

Knox County

• Flanagan Community Center, 61 Limerock St., Rockland — open Tuesday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., offering cooling
• South Thomaston Public Library, 54 Spruce Head Rd. — open Tuesday and Wednesday from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., offering cooling
• Rockland Public Library, 80 Union St., Rockland — open Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., offering cooling
• Rockland Town Hall, 270 Pleasant St., Rockland — open Tuesday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering cooling
• Union Town Office, 567 Common Road, Union — open through Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering cooling

Lincoln County

• Boothbay Harbor Town Office meeting room, 11 Howard St., Boothbay Harbor — open Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., offering cooling, water and seating
• Central Lincoln County YMCA Cooling Center, 575 Maine St., Damariscotta — open through Friday from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m., offering cooling, Wi-Fi and games

Oxford County

• Canton Town Office meeting room, 94 Turner St., Canton — open Tuesday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., offering cooling

Piscataquis County

• Dover-Foxcroft Town Office Community Room, 48 Norton Ave., Dover-Foxcroft — open through Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering cooling, charging, water and Wi-Fi

Sagadahoc County

• Topsham Town Hall, Russell Room, 100 Main St., Topsham — open Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., offering cooling and charging

York County

• Berwick Fire Department, 3 Public Safety Way, Berwick — open through Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., offering cooling
• Buxton Town Office, 185 Portland Road, Buxton — open through Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., offering cooling
• Church on the Cape, 3 Langsford Road, Kennebunkport — open Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering cooling
• D.A. Hurd Library, 41 High St., North Berwick — open Tuesday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering cooling
• Kennebunk Free Library, 112 Main St., Kennebunk — open Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Limington Municipal Complex, 425 Sokokis Ave., Limington — open Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering cooling
• Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library, 18 Maine St., Kennebunkport — open Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering cooling
• McArthur Library, 270 Main St., Biddeford — open through Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., offering cooling and Wi-Fi
• North Lebanon Baptist Church, 259 Bakers Grant Road, Lebanon — open Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering cooling
• Parsonsfield Town Office, 634 North Road, Parsonsfield — open Tuesday and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering cooling
• Saco Community Center, 75 Franklin St., Saco — open through Wednesday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., offering cooling and a splash pad available from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Waterboro Public Library, 187 Main St., Waterboro — open Tuesday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., offering cooling
• Waterboro Town Hall, 24 Townhouse Road, Waterboro — open Tuesday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., offering cooling
• York Public Library, 15 Long Sands Road, York — open through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., offering cooling