The Evanston Health Department declared a heat advisory this afternoon, citing a heat index that could reach 105 degrees Thursday and Friday.

The city opened eight public cooling centers in response to the heat wave. They will remain open through Friday, said Carl Caneva, acting director of the health department.

The closest cooling center to the Northwestern campus is the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St.

The health department said residents should prevent heat-related illness by staying hydrated, avoiding alcohol and caffeinated beverages, wearing light clothing and generally steering clear of direct exposure to the sun.

The extreme heat should subside by late Friday with the arrival of a cold front from the northwest, according to the National Weather Service.

The cooling centers:

• Chandler-Newberger Center, 1028 Central St.
• Ecology Center, 2024 McCormick Blvd.
• Evanston Public Library, 1703 Orrington Ave.
• Evanston Township office, 1910 Main St.
• Fleetwood-Jourdain Center, 1655 Foster St.
• Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St.
• Levy Senior Center, 300 Dodge Ave.
• Robert Crown Center, 1701 Main St.

— Patrick Svitek