Plenty of water.

Occasional breaks to cool down.

That’s the only way to beat the searing temperatures that bore down on Hampton Roads Monday – the hottest day of the summer thus far, said Brian Wilkins, who’s working with Coastal Construction to build a house in Chuckatuck.

&uot;It was hot this morning,&uot; Wilkins said yesterday. &uot;But I’ve worked days that seemed hotter than today.&uot;

That would be hard to beat – unless it happens today.

A break in the heat is expected tonight when a cold front rolls in, said Keith Lynch, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. In the meantime, the Suffolk area should gear up for another hot, humid day today, he said.

Around 4 p.m. Monday, the temperature at Nansemond River High School hovered around 99 degrees, said Capt. Jim Judkins, the city’s emergency services coordinator. The heat index – which factors in both temperature and humidity – was 122 degrees.

Things were slightly cooler at the fire station on White Marsh Road, where it was only 96 degrees. The heat index there was 107.

&uot;It’s hot,&uot; Judkins said. &uot;The temperatures are as high as I’ve ever seen them since I started monitoring them on a regular basis.&uot;

The National Weather Service extended its heat advisory through the end of the today, advising people to avoid going out into the heat when possible. That is particularly important to the elderly and young children, who are most susceptible to the heat-related problems, Judkins said.

Obici Hospital reported a slight increase in the number of people coming into the emergency room with minor heat-related problems, said Mahla Swinford, a hospital spokeswoman.

Everyone was treated and released.

Temperatures are expected to drop back to the high 80s on Wednesday, which is normal for this time of year, Lynch said.

That’s good news, said Matthew Goodwin on Monday, wiping his brow as he readied the ground for a sidewalk to be poured on North Main Street.

&uot;It’s been hot out here today, … a lot hotter than usual,&uot; he said.