Wednesday brought slightly cooler temperatures to Oregon following Tuesday's record-breaking heat, but the weather was still hotter than average for this time of year, meteorologists said.

The Portland area reached into the 90s, with some parts of Portland hitting 96 degrees and others not budging above 91. Ninety-something degree temperatures dominated across the state.

The Oregon Coast, however, was downright cool. Overcast skies kept the mercury in the 60s.

"Cooler air will begin to filter into the coast today and inland Thursday,” said KGW Meteorologist Dave Salesky. “The change in weather will also usher in a possibility for thunderstorms ...”

Salesky warned that thunderstorms will light up the Cascades, surging fire danger in areas already extremely dry and ripe for wildfires.

Heat broke records Tuesday

Portland topped off at 102 degrees Tuesday -- that broke the record of 98 set in 2002, according to Salesky. It was also 102 in The Dalles and 101 in Salem and Corvallis.

Temperatures rose toward 100 or above through much of the state on Tuesday, and fire officials said their worries were rising, too.

Even along parts of the Oregon Coast, where the ocean moderates temperature swings, temperatures came close to triple digits.

SLIDESHOW: Hot weather photos

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An excessive heat warning was in effect through Wednesday at 11 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

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In Eastern Oregon, firefighters battled blazes burning on about 100,000 acres, about 156 square miles, of grass, sagebrush and juniper.

Slideshow: Grass fire sparked in Portland

Cluster of wildfires grows in SE Oregon

They worried about lightning from thunderstorms starting forest fires Tuesday night along the Cascade Range.

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Wednesday, temperatures at the Oregon Coast will probably range from the 80s to near 90 degrees.

In Eastern Washington, the Weather Service also predicted high temperatures Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

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"The hot weather will last through Thursday. The weekend will bring temperatures near normal, with highs in the lower 80's," Salesky said.