The National Weather Service in Raleigh has issued a heat advisory due to an upcoming period of dangerous heat and high humidity.

The advisory is valid from noon to 8 p.m. on Thursday.

Heat index values are expected to reach around 105 degrees and the event marks the beginning of a prolonged period of excessive heat that is forecast to last into the early part of next week.

The advisory covers a large portion of central and northern North Carolina, including the following municipalities:

Roanoke Rapids, Henderson, Louisburg, Roxboro, Durham, Raleigh, and Rocky Mount.

Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Burlington, Lexington, Asheboro, Pittsboro, and Sanford.

Troy, Albemarle, Wadesboro, and Southern Pines.

To prevent heat-related illnesses, the NWS advises residents in the affected areas to:

Drink plenty of fluids.

Avoid staying out in the sun for extended periods.

Check on relatives and neighbors.