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Wednesday: another long stretch of westerlies

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The Forecast

   
Today’s Gorge Wind – these are ranges for the average speed, not a predicted wind range. =)
Your favorite beach Dawn
Patrol
9am-
11:30a
11:30a-
3pm
3pm-
dusk
Rooster Rock OPEN! naked buns rejoice!
Steven’s Locks 7-10 10-13 16-20 20-23
Swell-Hood River 17-20 20-23 20-23 20-23
Doug’s, Lyle, Rowena 10-13 13-16 20-23 20-23
Rufus, etc. 5-10 5-10 10-13 10-13
Roosevelt & Arlington 5-10 5-10 10-13 10-13

Gorge Wind Forecast

Westerlies of various strengths continue for the extended future. It is July, after all, and that is when the wind blows in the Gorge! For Wednesday, we’ll see offshore high pressure, a low near Vancouver Island, and a weak front approaching in the evening. All of this combines for a decidedly moderate and mellow day in the Gorge. Morning gradients of 0.06 and 0.04 agree. We start with 17-20 from Viento to Swell with 10-13 in other locations. The wind will hold through midday, filling in from Stevenson to Hood River. Afternoon westerlies pick up to 20-23 from Stevenson to Rowena. We might see 10-13 east of there, but that’s about it. River flow is 215kcfs and temp is 62 degrees.

On Thursday, we’ll still have our friendly Pacific high pressure around. In the afternoon, a low sneaks into Idaho via the eastern half of Oregon. Westerlies jump to attention in response. To start the day, they’ll be comfortably puttering along at 17-20 from Viento to Mosier. They’ll build as the day goes on, maxing out at 25-28 from Stevenson to Rufus in the afternoon with 20-23 at Arlington.

Friday looks warmer and sunnier with high pressure across the land. Westerlies respond by taking a step back; morning wind will be 13-16 from Viento to Hood River with 5-10 in the eastern Gorge. Westerlies go calm east of The Dalles in the afternoon and maybe, just maybe pick up to 16-19 from Stevenson to Hood River. As of right now, models predict stronger wind for Saturday and Sunday, but models are far from agreeing on this.    

Coast, Jones, Sauvie’st

Coast (north/central/south – swell forecast provided by NWS. Wind northerly except as noted). Wednesday: NW10/NW10/N25-30, W swell 3′ at 9 seconds. Thursday: LTW/LTW/N15-20, W 3′ @ 8. Friday: 10-15/15-20/20-25, NW 3′ @ 9. Jones Wednesday: 12-15. Thursday: 5-8. Friday: 10-13. Sauvie Island Wednesday: 10-13. Thursday: 10-13. Friday: 9-12.    

Open/Closed Launch Site List – Porta-potties only.

Washington:
Skamania County – Phase 2, recreate with 5 or less people outside household
Stevenson East Point, Bob’s Beach, Boat ramp: all open
Home Valley: Open
Swell City: Open
Spring Creek Hatchery: Open
Klickitat County – Phase 2
Wunderbar: high water
Bingen Point: Open
Lyle: you have to cross private property to access
Doug’s Beach: Open
Avery: Open
Maryhill: Open for day use only..
The Wall: Open.
Roosevelt: Still CLOSED due to windstorm damage. (6/26)

Oregon: Phase one for Hood River. Phase two for Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam counties.
Rooster Rock: Open
Viento: Open
The Hook: Open
Waterfront Park: Open
Event Site: Open
The Spit: Open
The Marina: Open
Boat ramp: open
Mosier: Only open for residents of 97040. Gate closed.
Rowena: Open
Celilo: Open
Rufus: Open
Arlington: Open
Threemile: Open
   

Mt. Hood Weather Forecast

Mt. Hood Meadows is now allowing uphill travel within the permit area. However, you will need to park outside their parking lots. Timberline is open for lift-serve skiing with exemplary guidelines for protecting guests and staff from the transmission of novel coronavirus. Please read their guidelines and rules here. Well done, T-Line! The Mt. Hood weather forecast will be on vacation unless something interesting happens in the weather up there. Some of you will be tempted to go out backcountry skiing. Please don’t – accidents do happen, and you may put others at risk. Timberline is allowing uphill access outside the permit area on the climbers’ trail ONLY.    

Hood River Weather Forecast

Wednesday starts partly cloudy and ends clear. Temps will be in the upper 50’s early and mid 70’s later. Moderate westerlies. No rainbows. Thursday looks partly cloudy to start and mostly cloudy late. Temps will be in the upper 50’s early and mid 70’s later. Moderate westerlies early. Strong westerlies in the afternoon. No rainbows. Friday looks partly cloudy to start and clear in the afternoon. Temps will be in the upper 50’s early and low 80’s later. Light west wind. No rainbows.     Looking for a complete Columbia Gorge forecast? Looking for more humor in your weather? Obscenities? You’re looking for my TATAS: Temira’s Awesome Travel Advisory Service on Facebook.    

Cycling

Eldorado in Post Canyon has reopened. The new Whoopdee trail is being constructed. Contact HRATS if you would like to be part of some small and socially distanced work parties. Syncline/Coyote Wall: Open. Mt. Hood National Forest: Open for day use. Surveyor’s, Dog River, and Oak Ridge snow-free. Kreps/SDS: open. Sandy Ridge: Open. Nestor Peak: open. Falls Creek: open. Columbia Hills State Park: open. Syncline: open . Skamania County trails outside the scenic area: open. Knebal, Eightmile, Fifteenmile, Bottle Prairie, Surveyors, Dog River: open and cleared. Ape Canyon: Open!    

Sprinter Van of the Week!

     

Click here for the Sprinter Van map of the world!!!    

Local Events

Not so many events are happening due to this pandemic. On Monday evenings, Cheno will be teaching free (or by donation) outdoor workouts at Hood River Valley High School. There are sailboat races on Wednesday evenings. Dirty Fingers has the weekly Post N’ Pint ride on Thursday evenings and Sunday Service gravel rides. If you want to do trail work, contact HRATS; they are doing small, socially distanced work parties on the new Whoopdee trail.     Click here for the full events calendar.    

Statement on Racial Justice


Black Lives Matter. I say that with no reservations and no caveats, and I stand with Black, indigenous, and other people of color against structural racism, against mass incarceration, against police violence, against unequal treatment, against outright racism, and against any other sorts of targeted behaviors or systems. In June, I donated 10% of the income from this forecast to the National Black Justice Coalition. I encourage you to find a cause and contribute too. Don’t have financial resources? Speak up!

I pledge to speak out against racism, and I pledge to be a humble ally who is willing to look at the ways that I benefit personally from racist structures in this society. I will continue to speak up and help wake up others, and I will listen quietly when people of color need me to.

I ask that all of you also reflect on the ways you benefit from racist societal structures. I recommend reading “White Fragility” and “How to be an Anti-Racist”. Don’t have much time? Read “Unpacking the Knapsack of White Privilege”. Watch the movie “13th”. When others confront you about your racism, take a deep breath, listen quietly, and attempt to quell your natural defensiveness. We have been raised in a society founded on slavery and racism. These values (and yes, some people hold them as values) remain entrenched in our society in subtle and not-so subtle ways. I challenge you to learn to see them so that you can learn to undo them. We can’t undo the damage that’s been done, and we don’t have the right to ask for forgiveness, but we can work to create a more equitable world going forward.    

Have an awesome day!

Temira

By Temira

Temira Lital is a recreation and travel weather forecaster based in Hood River, Oregon. Temira uses they/them pronouns. They're also a mental health counselor. Temira bikes, skis, windsurfs, paddles a SUP, swims in mountain lakes, and loves gardening. Most recently they've taken up SUP foiling. Temira is powered by La Croix, protein, and beets.