The killer heat is moving east.

In Rhode Island, the National Weather Service is calling this "an extreme event" with potentially life-threatening consequences and has issued an excessive heat alert across southern New England through at least tomorrow evening.

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and the Environmental Protection Agency are also issuing a smog alert.

Today's temperature topped out at 97 degrees, one degree higher than the previous record high set in 1995.

The last time the mercury hit 100 degrees was on Aug. 9, 2001, and that marked Rhode Island's hottest day in eight years.

Tomorrow is expected to be the worst day, with temperatures climbing as high as 101 degrees in Providence. High humidity may make that feel as hot as 113 degrees, the Weather Service said.

Overnight lows may not drop below 80 degrees.

It will be only slightly better along the coast, with a high of 93 forecast for Newport tomorrow.

Governor Carcieri's office is directing all cities and towns and state and local emergency management agencies to offer public respite from the heat. By early evening, his office had compiled a list of "cooling centers" set up in 31 of the state's 39 communities.

Carcieri has also ordered that state beaches be open for free today and tomorrow. And, he has persuaded the National Grid not to shut off electricity for any customers today or tomorrow.

Carcieri asked Robert Warren, the state's emergency management director, to request a heat emergency plan from every city and town by today.

Each community's plan will designate at least one senior citizens center or community center with air conditioning that will hold extended hours, and the American Red Cross will provide volunteers to staff those centers.

Additionally, RIPTA will send its RIde vans to take elderly people to the cooling centers. By noon today, people should be able to call their city or town hall to find out where their local cooling center is and how to get there.

Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline and the city's emergency management agency already had a plan in place yesterday that includes opening an emergency shelter at Springfield Middle School from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. today and tomorrow. People requiring transportation help can contact PEMA at (401) 228-8000.

Cicilline also asked people "to take an extra minute" to check in on elderly or disabled neighbors or relatives and make sure that they have enough water, and a cool place to be.

"Our public libraries and our senior centers are air-conditioned" and prepared for extra visitors who need to escape the heat, Cicilline said.

Starting today, the city will also give away free fans through the Providence Community Action Agency to elderly people and people with disabilities who do not have air conditioners. ProCAP can be reached at (401) 273-2000.

Cicilline also ordered that the Recreation Department keep the city's pools and water parks open until 7 p.m.

The Mayor's Office of Senior Services will help steer residents to the resources they need. Call the main City Hall number at (401) 421-2489.

Henry Shelton, executive director of the George S. Wiley Center, said he is calling on the state's Public Utilities Commission to avoid shutoffs during days when the temperatures exceed 90 degrees.

"We sent a petition, and we also have a call into the National Grid," Shelton said yesterday. (The governor's office did get National Grid to pledge not to cut off customers today or tomorrow).

Shelton predicted that this year will hit a record for shutoffs.