Get ready for the heat wave!

The Big Apple was set to sizzle as a record-busting stretch of steamy temperatures made its way into the region with four days of oppressive, dangerous heat which was expected to break the 100-degree mark. 

The National Weather Service set the stage Saturday by issuing an extreme heat watch for NYC, a caution that was likely to change to a more dire excessive heat warning as the scorching weather inched closer, Fox Weather said.

“By this evening, for sure, we’re going to be switching to that excessive heat warning criteria,” Fox Weather meteorologist Marissa Lautenbacher told The Post.

There will be no escape from the monstrous heat until at least Thursday.

“We’re essentially locked in to this sunny, hot pattern for basically the first half of the week,” Lautenbacher said.

A heat wave occurs when temps reach 90 degrees or higher for three consecutive days.The last time one rolled into town was in early August, the temperature topped out at 95 degrees.

The temperatures in Central Park were forecast to hit a balmy 87 degrees on Saturday before the mercury begins its steep — and historic — climb.

Sunday’s high is forecast to reach 95 degrees but by Monday, we’re cooked at 100-degrees, while Tuesday could reach a dangerous 102 before Wednesday sees a minimal cool down — to 97 degrees, meteorologists said.

The last time NYC hit 100 degrees was more than a decade ago, on July 18, 2012.

If the temps do reach 100 degrees on Monday, it will make history as the earliest 100-degree day on record in the five boroughs.

“The heat should break on Thursday, as we’re near 84 degrees,” Lautenbacher said.

The expected temperatures on Monday and Tuesday were slated to “smash” the record of 96 for those days in Central Park, which was set 137 years ago in 1888, she said.

“Our earliest 100 degree day on record for New York City was June 26 and that was back in 1952,” Lautenbacher explained.

The longest heat wave ever recorded in the city was in 1953, when oppressive temperatures lasted 12 days.

This time around, residents won’t be getting much relief at night either.

“The heat risk is so high because it’s not really going to cool off overnight either. It’s still going to be in the upper 70s, even 80 degrees on the overnights. So if you’re a person who likes to sleep with your window open, you’re not going to receive any relief,” she said.

The high humidity will also create a “sticky” situation, Lautenbacher warned.

“The humidity is going to be feeling tropical, it’s going to be hard to evaporate that sweat off the body. It’s gonna feel sticky and very uncomfortable.”

Not all New Yorkers were warming up to the heat wave.

“Not liking it,” said Paula Carlson, 47, of Bay Ridge. “I was just telling someone I prefer the Polar Bear Plunge , same amount of clothes but a lot better.”

“I’m really hoping not to melt,” said Victor Gonzalez, 39, of Queens as he attended this year’s Mermaid Parade in Coney Island in costume.

Others looked at the bright side. 

“I’m just glad that it’s finally not raining,” quipped Emily Stone, 29, of Bushwick.

Additional reporting by Khristina Narizhnaya and Samantha Olander