REEDSPORT — A month ago, folks were buying sweaters and sweatshirts to keep warm during unseasonably cold weather.

Now, some of those same South Coast residents and visitors are shedding them like yesterday’s trash, in favor of sleeveless shirts, tank tops, shorts and capris.

It’s hot. Hot, hot, hot.

“This is August weather,” Myrtle Point resident Glenn Gorst said Thursday evening as the temperature remained above 80 degrees.

All over, the topic was the weather, at softball games, restaurants, stores, front yards.

Softball announcer Joe Zelinski handed one of the umpires, standing near first base, a fresh bottle of water during the Reedsport  High School’s game against Cascade Christian High School on Thursday.

“Thanks,” the umpire said, wiping a bead of sweat off his brow.

Then he turned to some of the fans, sitting in lawn chairs.

“This is the Oregon  Coast, isn’t it?” he said.

After the game, a little after 6  p.m., the digital readout at Umpqua Bank in Reedsport read 94 degrees. The digital readout at the high school, a few blocks away, said 89.

A few degrees here or there, what’s the difference? It was just plain hot.

Soon, the jokes will start: Which is rising faster? Gas prices or the temperature?    

Or, it’s so hot, you can fry an egg on the sidewalk. Or, it was so hot, the tires on my car started to melt. You get the idea.

The National Weather Service issued high heat warnings for much of the state. The Interstate 5 corridor, North  Coast and most inland areas were going to have temperatures even more unseasonable than the ones the South  Coast experienced Thursday. The South  Coast is going to be — don’t laugh — the coolest spot in Oregon this weekend.

“Temperatures at the coast were in the mid-70s to mid-80s today,” the NWS said in a late Thursday statement, “and could reach close to 90 on Friday. Records at several locations will likely fall.”

No kidding.

As of 6:30 a.m. today, the temperature at the Southwest  Oregon Regional Airport was 70 degrees.

A record high temperature Thursday of 98 degrees for the date was set at Grants Pass, breaking the old record of 96 which was set back in 2000.

Other official NWS records show a high of 89 at Elkton, a high of 73 at North Bend, 78 in Bandon, 77 in Florence, 89 in Roseburg, 98 at Medford, and — drum roll, please — 101 at Brookings.

Brookings had the highest temperature in the state on Thursday.

And here’s the good news: It will continue through most of the weekend.

The coastal areas, such as Charleston, will remain cool, with the highs in the mid-60s to 70s, the NWS said, with some fog. A few miles from shore and the temperatures will be higher.

“With such a rapid transition from temperatures near 60 to temperatures near or above 90, be sure to use caution if out in the heat this week,” the NWS said in its statement for inland and North  Coast areas. “Drink plenty of fluids. Wear light clothing. Wear hats and use sunscreen to protect the skin from the sunshine. Seek cooler or air-conditioned areas during the heat of the day.”

 Yeah, OK. But really, there’s hardly anyone who wouldn’t shed those sweaters and enjoy the nice weather while it lasts.