INDIANAPOLIS -- The city's pools and air-conditioned community centers will be open longer than usual because of an intense heat wave that is rolling over much of the Midwest.

The moves are part of the city's extreme heat plan, which officials have implemented for the first time in three years. All of the city's air-conditioned community centers will be open for an additional four hours, until 10 p.m. each evening, 6News' Tanya Spencer reported.

The city's pools and spray grounds in parks will also have extended hours -- until 8 p.m. for the pools and until dusk for the sprayers. Some fire hydrants will be opened in areas where no pools are nearby.

The city said it intended to post details of the plan on its Web site. A list of the city's community centers, pools and spray grounds can be found below.

Blazing heat and oppressive humidity are in store for most of the state for the next couple of days, prompting concern for those susceptible to heat-related illness.

Heat advisories are in effect for all of central and southern Indiana during the afternoon and evening on Tuesday and Wednesday. Temperatures on both days are expected to be in the mid-90s to near 100 and heat indices are expected to be between 105 to 110 degrees.

Mayor Bart Peterson said the heat wave presents a life-or-death situation for many of the city's elderly and less fortunate.

"Residents who may need help need to know that there are places for them to go to escape the heat," Peterson said. "A wide array of city and community services are at our disposal to help prevent heat-related illnesses."

Emergency management officials said they are working with utilities to ensure that power is uninterrupted and water flows freely.

"The emergency management division is working with the water company, power and light and monitoring other utilities to make sure that the stresses don't cause emergency disruptions that would threaten public safety," said Marion County Emergency Management Director John Ball. "We'll continue to monitor that until conditions improve."

As of noon Tuesday, about 10 heat-related illnesses had been reported in the city over the last couple of days.

Everyone should take precautions and should avoid exposing themselves to prolonged periods outside, if possible. The elderly and very young should not go outside unless absolutely necessary.

The heat wave will subside somewhat beginning on Thursday, but high temperatures are expected to remain in the 90s over the next seven days.

Strong to severe thunderstorms are also possible on Tuesday in central and northern Indiana, from the Indianapolis area northward.

Strong winds, large hail and isolated tornadoes are all possible across the northern half of the state.

Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms are also in the forecast on Wednesday and Thursday.

Community Centers

Concord Center -- 1310 S. Meridian St.

Flanner House -- 2424 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St.

Forest Manor -- 5603 E. 38th St.

George T. Goodwin Center -- 3935 Mooresville Road

John Boner -- 2236 E. 10th St.

Martin Luther King -- 40 W. 40th St.

Mary Rigg -- 1920 W. Morris St.

Southeast MSC -- 901 Shelby St.

Spray Grounds

Andrew Ramsey Park -- 310 W. 12th St.

Arsenal Park -- 1400 E. 46th St.

Bowman Park -- 3600 Auburn Road

Christian Park -- 1200 English Ave.

Douglass Park -- 2759 Dr. Andrew J. Brown

Haughville Park -- 500 Belleview Place

Municipal Gardens -- 1831 Lafayette Road

Washington Park -- 3130 E. 30th St.

Willard Park -- 1700 E. Washington St.

Windsor Village Park -- 2501 N. Kenyon St.

61st & Broadway Park -- 6051 N. Broadway St.

Pools

Bethel Park -- 2850 Bethel Ave.

Broad Ripple Park -- 1550 Broad Ripple Ave.

Brookside Park -- 3500 Brookside Pkwy.

Douglass Park -- 1616 E. 25th St.

Eagle Creek Beach -- 7840 W. 56th St.

Ellenberger Park -- 5301 E. St. Clair St.

Garfield Park -- 2345 Pagoda Drive

Gustafson Park -- 3130 Moller Road

Indy Island -- 8575 E. Raymond St.

MLK Park -- 601 E. 17th St.

Krannert Park -- 605 S. High School Road

Lashonna Bates Aquatic Center -- 1450 S. Reisner St.

Northwestway Park -- 5253 W. 62nd St.

Perry Park -- 451 E. Stop 11 Road

Rhodius Park -- 1720 W. Wilkins St.

Riverside Park -- 2420 N. Riverside East Drive

Sahm Park -- 6801 E 91st St.

Thatcher Park -- 4649 W. Vermont St.

Wes Montgomery Park -- 3501 N. Hawthorne Lane

Willard Park -- 1901 E. Washington St.