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SANDPOINT — "Mommy, it's melting."

An unprecedented heat wave that will impact the region all week may just bring those cries from children as they attempt to finish their refreshing popsicles and ice cream cones in the coming days.

The National Weather Service in Spokane has issued an excessive heat warning for the greater Sandpoint area that goes in effect 1 p.m. Saturday and lasts until 7 p.m. Thursday.

"This event will likely be one of the most extreme and prolonged heat waves in the recorded history of the Inland Northwest," the warning states. "Unprecedented heat will not only threaten the health of residents in the Inland Northwest, but will make our region increasingly vulnerable to wildfires and intensify the impacts of our ongoing drought."

Triple digit temperatures are expected in Sandpoint on Monday through Thursday and record high and low daily temperatures are likely to be shattered, said Ken Daniel, a meteorologist at the NWS in Spokane.

"It's one of those things where it looks like it's going to leave some records in its wake," he said.

Daniel said they are currently forecasting temperatures in Sandpoint to hit 101 degrees on Monday and Thursday and 102 degrees on Tuesday and Wednesday, but they could get higher.

The highest recorded temperatures in Sandpoint for June 28, 29 and 30 (Monday through Wednesday) are 100, 102 and 95 degrees respectively, Daniel said.

"That one seems like it's ripe for the picking," he said about the June 30 record.

The all-time record high for Sandpoint is 104 degrees, recorded on July 24, 1994. Daniel said they currently aren't predicting for the area to reach that temperature, but he wouldn't be surprised if that changed and the record was challenged.

"The forecast can ebb and flow over the next couple days and those numbers might change a degree or two," he said.

Temperatures in the area are expected to be in the low to high 90s on Saturday and Sunday.

Daniel said there's a chance the excessive heat warning could be extended a day or two past Thursday as well. He added that they are hoping temperatures come down by next weekend, but the long-term outlook shows above normal temps continuing.

"It's just something we're going to have to watch over the coming days," he said.

The NWS said extreme heat that lingers for several days can be dangerous and cause breathing problems, heat cramps and heat stroke.

To combat those issues, the NWS recommends checking on friends and family frequently, wearing light clothing, covering windows during the day, avoiding unnecessary strenuous work outside, drinking lots of water and finding a place with air conditioning.

With the heat wave lasting all week, the Blanchard Community Center is opening its doors on Monday through Sunday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. to serve as a cooling center. Food, cool drinks, games, movies and most importantly air conditioning will be available to the public.

Starting Monday, the Elks Golf Course is adjusting its hours to protect its golfers and staff from the heat.

"This decision is for the safety and well-being of our golfers, in addition to the protection of the turf grass on the greens and tees," the Elks wrote on their Facebook page. "Our staff will need to constantly irrigate the greens and tees throughout the afternoons into the evenings with the expected temperatures."

The course will be open from 6 a.m. to noon Monday-Thursday. An update on hours will be released Wednesday, the Elks wrote.