ALBANY -- As summer's hottest days so far sweep in, Dave Wood will be hustling 20,000 pounds of ice into storage at the track in Saratoga on Thursday to be ready for opening day Friday.

With temperatures predicted to hit the mid-90s, and humidity at oppressive levels, Wood is prepared to make an emergency ice run that day if coolers run short as thirsty track patrons chug cold drinks. "Our facility in Queensbury is only 15 minutes away," said Wood, owner of Maplewood Ice.

His ice-making factory in Whitehall, Washington County, has been cranking away at full capacity -- 135,000 pounds a day.

"Everyone wants ice now. This spring was crummy, cold and rainy," he said.

Along with the rest of the state, the Capital Region is bracing for Wednesday's arrival of a heat wave that has baked the central U.S. for days. The National Weather Service is warning that the heat index -- a measure combining temperature and humidity -- could make it feel the equivalent of 105 degrees or more in some places by Thursday.

Government heat warnings spread out across 18 Midwestern states Tuesday, from Ohio to Montana and Mississippi to Minnesota. The heat index spiked to 110 degrees in many places.

As many as 13 deaths in the Midwest this week can be blamed on the region's largest heat wave in the last five years, according to the Weather Service.

The Capital Region forecast predicts daytime highs will be nearly 90 staring Wednesday and creep up with sticky humidity through Friday, before finally dipping in the 80s for the weekend, said Kimberly McMahon, a meteorologist with the weather service's Albany office

Along with ice makers, fans, swimming pools, and light clothing, the use of electricity is also expected to surge, as sweaty residents crank up air conditioning.

On Tuesday, managers of the electric power grid began testing a program in which about 4,300 large commercial and industrial customers across the state are paid to turn off machinery to stretch the power supply, said Dave Flanagan, a spokesman for the New York State Independent System Operator.

Flanagan said electricity usage during the heat wave is expected to surge to near record levels -- 33,700 megawatts, just shy of record 33,900 megawatts set Aug. 2, 2006. Having big customers turn off equipment -- which would be a first for the year -- could shave up to 2,500 megawatts from demand, enough to avoid breaking that record.

Over at Thruway Exit 24 in Albany, Plaza Manager Terrie Fyvie was ready to help workers endure the heat. Most, but not all, toll booths there have air conditioners and fans. During dangerous heat, a single collector usually occupies a double-sided booth, so the other side remains closed to keep in cool air, said Fyvie.

"When you are out in that booth, it can get really hot," she said. "Not only is the concrete hot, but the cars are hot, too, when they pull up at the window, We usually give our collectors extra heat breaks during times like that."

Officials at the Red Cross of Northeastern New York are advising people to take precautions against the heat, like staying indoors, with air conditioning if possible; drinking plenty of water; wearing light, loose-fitting clothing, avoid outdoor exertion, and eating smaller meals.

The American Red Cross has not yet decided to set up emergency cooling stations, said spokeswoman Caroline Boardman.

In Albany, Mayor Jerry Jennings will be advised by police and fire officials on whether such stations are needed, said spokesman Robert Van Amburgh. And the city's Alive at Five concert series, headlined by 1970s rockers Kansas, will go on as planned Thursday night, he said.

Oppressive heat is draining not just on people, but animals.

In Saratoga, additional ice will be placed around the track and the backstretch area, said Dan Silverman, a spokesman for the New York Racing Association. Additional hoses will be ready to water down overheated horses.

"We take all necessary additional precautions to help ensure the safety of the horses, which is our number one priority," he said. "We have only cancelled racing once due to heat in the 142-year history of the Saratoga meet, a Wednesday in 2008."

Even dairy cows in the region will pull back from the heat. Once temperatures rise above 70 degrees, cows give less milk; temperatures in the 90s can result in a cow producing up to 25 percent less milk than normal, said James Gray, a veterinarian with the state Division of Agriculture and Markets.

Reach Brian Nearing at 454-5094 or bnearing@timesunion.com