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The Forecast
4a-8a | 8a-12p | 12p-4p | 4p-8p | 8p-4a | |
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Monday 11,000′->1500′ |
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Tuesday 1500′->0′ |
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Wednesday 0′->9000′ |
Mt. Hood Weather Forecast
Today, Monday, will be a wild day on Mt. Hood with intense precipitation and very strong wind. The weather mellows out for the better part of the next three days and then turns snowy. A cold front moving in today takes the snow level from 11,000′ this morning to 9000′ early afternoon and down to 1500′ or so tonight. About 1.0” water equivalent (WE) is forecast between 11am and 4pm for perhaps 0.7” to 0.8” rain followed by 0.2” to 0.3” WE increasingly dry snow. Call that 1-3” by 4pm. Overnight, models suggest 0.3” WE. With strong orographic enhancement, that could double. Let’s call it another 3” to 6” wind-affected powder that becomes windslab and sastrugi in places where there’s enough snow on the ground for that to happen. Wind will be SW 25-50 early, WSW 40-70 early afternoon, WNW 50-60 in the evening, and NW 35-45 after midnight. It’s worth noting that the passes will experience blizzard conditions, and trees could fall.
Orographic (terrain-enhanced) snowfall continues Tuesday daytime in the form of on/off flurries. Clear sky arrives overnight. The snow level will be 1500′ to 2000′. Just a trace of snow is forecast. Wind: NW 35-45 in the morning, NW 15-20 in the afternoon, and SE 25 after midnight.
Wednesday looks sunny in the morning and high overcast in the afternoon. The free air freezing level (FAF) will be 0′ early near Mt. Hood. The FAF rises to 9000′ in the afternoon with pockets of colder air below. No precip. Wind: SE 25 in the morning, SSE 15-30 in the afternoon, and SW 10-20 overnight.
The forecast for Thursday includes snow in the afternoon continuing into Friday. Up to a foot of new is forecast with the snow level hovering around 4000′ to 4500′. That said, models are not yet in agreement. Hence the phrasing “up to a foot of new”. Things do look promising for that two-day period. Have a great week!
Gorge Wind Forecast
Today could be the windiest day we’ve seen since the storm that knocked down a bunch of trees at Roosevelt and shut down that park for a while. I don’t think it’ll be quite that windy, but it’s definitely going to be nuking this afternoon. A powerful cold front slams into the Gorge from the NW. Various factors combine to drive gradients skyward. You’ll find 40+ averages from Stevenson all the way to Hermiston this afternoon. Gusts to 60 are totally possible; NWS is calling for possible gusts to 70mph at Viento. After 4pm, averages drop to 30+mph. It’s worth noting that torrential rain will fall west of Swell until mid or late afternoon with light rain falling to Rufus early afternoon. For rain-free results, you’ll need to head far east. That said, the rain won’t stop the wind. Be careful out there – watch for debris, and keep your buddies in sight. Wear a helmet. River flow is 152kcfs, river temp is 53F, and high temp forecast is 62F – that will drop rapidly after the cold front swings through.
Tuesday looks much calmer and also chillier; temps start in the mid 30’s. Westerlies will be 7-10 in the west and 12-15 east of The Dalles to start the day. The wind quickly rises to 22-25 east of The Dalles and fades to calm everywhere in the afternoon. High temp: 48F. Wednesday brings easterlies, all day, at 35-45 between Rooster Rock and Stevenson with 25-30 at Viento. The central Gorge rises to 10-15, and the eastern Gorge picks up to 5-10. High temp: 46F. Weather: sunny for the first half of the day, then high overcast. Easterlies of lesser strength are forecast for Thursday.
Coast, Jones, Coast
Done until spring, unless there’s an obvious Coast or Sauvie’s or Jones day.
Hood River Weather Forecast
Overcast sky gives way to a downpour and nuking westerlies. Temps will be in the upper 50’s early and low 60’s later. 99% chance of rainbows. Tuesday will be mostly cloudy with sunbreaks and intermittent sprinkles. Temps will be in the mid 30’s early and upper 40’s later. Light westerlies. 89% chance of rainbows. Wednesday will be Nothing Cloud early and high overcast in the afternoon with a chance of sun in between. Temps will be in the low 30’s early and mid 40’s later. No precip. Light to moderate easterlies. 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
Significant rain in the last week means most trails are muddy. Please don’t ride them. If you do, you’ll be doing significant and possibly permanent damage. No really, please don’t. There are lots of gravel roads and lots of pavement you can ride instead. Enjoy!
Local Events
Please send me information about outdoor or fitness-related events. You probably know about something I don’t!
Sprinter Van of the Week!
Click here for the Sprinter Van map of the world!!! Have an awesome day!