It was pretty light all along the Columbia early this morning, and I’m not talking about daylight. I’m talking windspeed. The minimal ripples on the water were hiding a .07 (pdx-dls) gradient, and that’s enough gradient to make the forecast just a wee bit tricky. Models are suggesting 13-16 in the morning, 5-10 midday, and 10-13 late in the day. With offshore high pressure and a 10 degree temp difference forecast between Portland and Arlington, I’m going to predict a little differently than the models. Continued after the chart…
| Your favorite beach | Dawn Patrol |
9am- 11:30a |
11:30a- 3pm |
3pm- dusk |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rooster Rock | naked | humans | in a | sandtray | |
| Steven’s Locks | light | 11-14 | 11-14 | 14-17 | |
| Hatchery/White Salmon Sandbar (minus a few for Hood River) | light | 11-14 | 11-14 | 14-17 | |
| Doug’s, Lyle, Rowena | light | light | light | 5-10 | |
| Rufus, etc. | light | light | light | light | |
| Roosevelt, etc. | light | light | light | light | |
|
|||||
Gorge wind forecast, continued…
Expect 11-14 by mid-morning from Viento to Mosier, possibly dropping off midday through early afternoon. Late in the afternoon, expect 13-16 from Stevenson to Hood River. The wind will pick up first at Stevenson, and then fill in as far as the Event Site. Or maybe it won’t be windy at all. That is a possibility today, but the early morning gradient and stable atmosphere seem to suggest otherwise.
Friday starts out similar to Thursday: clear sky and very little marine layer. However, a trough of low pressure will shift from Alaska toward British Columbia in the afternoon tomorrow, and that will increase the wind. So, we’ll start Friday with 10-13 or a touch more from Viento to Mosier. The wind will slowly rise to 17-21 midday from Stevenson to Mosier.
Are you coming to the Gorge this weekend because of this forecast?
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After 2pm Friday, we’ll see a bump to 24-27. However… it’s likely the wind from Swell to the Hatch will only be that strong for a couple hours, at most, or maybe not at all. You’re more likely to find the higher late afternoon wind speeds at Stevenson, Hood River, Mosier, and perhaps Rowena. If you are in the Bridge of the Gods Kitefest, you will be happy Friday.
Do not leave your garbage can outside on Friday night, or it will be gone by Saturday morning. We’ll start off Saturday with Dawn Patrol at 26-30 from Swell to The Dalles. The wind will pick up to 30-35 from Viento to Arlington during the day. Stevenson will likely stay in the clouds for the morning, with 12-15 and pick up to 20-23 in the afternoon, perhaps more if it’s fully sunny there (happy competitors for the Bridge of the Gods Kitefest!)
Sunday sees even more clouds to start the day, likely burying Stevenson, and possibly Hood River. Go east of those clouds for 26-30 all day long on Sunday, with the strongest wind being from Lyle to Rufus.
Big Winds SUP Club
Show up and go paddling. No car racks. No hassle. Access 100-plus boards at the Event Site all summer long. With the Big Winds SUP Club, members get multi-use passes to the Big SUP Center, home to North America’s largest fleet of SUPs. A ten session pass starts at $149, includes a lesson, and use of a paddle, PFD and leash, as well as exclusive discounts at Big Winds.
Jones, Sauvie’s, Coast Beta Test Forecast
Jones Thursday: 24-27. Jones Friday: 25-29. Jones Saturday: 20-23. Sauvie’s Thursday: 20-23. Sauvie’s Friday: 20-23. Sauvie’s Saturday: 10-13. Coast (north/central/south). Thursday: 20-25/25-30/40, NW swell 1′ at 7 seconds. Friday: 20-25/30-35/40+, NW 1′ @ 8. Saturday: 20-25/25-30/40+, NW 8′ @ 9.
Mt. Hood Snow Forecast
There will be snow on the ground at Mt. Hood today, and every day until the glaciers completely melt away.
Random Morning Thoughts
To say that I have a lot of work to do in the next four days would be an understatement, so I’m going to get on it and leave you with this: Have an awesome day!
Disclaimer required by my grad school program: I am not your therapist (but I could be in 700 days). I am your weather forecaster. Take everything I say with a grain of salt, and consult with your actual therapist about your mental health issues. One other thing: I plan to keep doing this forecast indefinitely, even when I am a therapist.
Gorge Weather Forecast
Summer’s going to show its wicked side today, so you’ll want to water your garden and potted plants before you water yourself this morning. Expect temps today to be in the mid 60’s early and the mid 90’s this afternoon. Light wind. No rainbows. Tomorrow looks almost as hot, with temps in the upper 60’s early and mid 90’s in the afternoon. Moderate wind. No rainbows. Saturday looks cooler with temps in the low 60’s early and the low 80’s in the afternoon. Super strong wind. No rainbows.
For weather specifically directed at travel through the Gorge, please visit Temira’s Awesome Travel Advisory Service on Facebook.
White Sprinter Van of the Day
Road and Mountain Biking
It’s all open except Whoopdee (closed due to logging) and Boulder Lakes (20 trees down).
Upcoming Events
Today’s events include community sailing in Cascade Locks at 5:30 with $5 sailing for the season for kids and a potluck. The weekly Post n’ Pint bike ride goes swimming tonight – meet at Dirty Fingers at 5:30 for a short ride followed by a swim. There’s by-donation yoga tonight at 6 at Samadhi, Zumba at St. Francis House in Odell at 6:30, and Tai Chi at Our Savior Church in Bingen at 6:30.
The Hood River County Fair continues tonight, and if it’s dark when you get out of there, keep your eyes on the sky for the Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower. The meteor shower continues tomorrow night.
Coming up Friday, pro kiteboarders compete in the Bridge of the Gods kitefest in Stevenson and Inside Out plays at Cascade Locks Movies in the park at dusk. Amateur competitors do the BOTGK Saturday, and the Blowout is Sunday. Klickitat Canyon days has a 5k race Saturday and a co-ed volleyball tournament on Sunday.
Have an awesome day today!
Temira
