Meet Temira, your Gorge Forecaster
Temira (they/them) has been exploring and playing in the Gorge since 1997 – starting out as a windsurfer, then expanding into kiting (briefly!), mountain biking, winging, gravel biking, SUP foiling and even extreme gardening! With all that experience, they understand the importance of a reliable forecast. In 2009, frustrated by the lack of accurate forecasts, Temira took matters into their own hands. What began as a daily email chain between friends (Laura Green, Dave Brown, and Temira) quickly grew into a full-blown website and subscription email service.
So, why The Gorge is my Gym? Because I don’t need a traditional gym – and neither do you. The Gorge is our gym! But this blog isn’t just about my adventures; it’s about helping all of you make the most of your limited free time. Whether you’re on the snow, in the river, or on the dirt, this forecast is here to help you have fun.
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Mt. Hood Snow Forecast
Hi skiers and snowboarders! Wow, just wow. The extended models (10-14 days out) have a TON of snow. If this forecast holds, you’ll be seeing the earliest ski season in who knows how long! There are some periods of rain mixed in, but generally speaking, things look really good. Fingers crossed! Between now and next weekend, when precipitation returns, we’ll have three sunny, warm days on the mountain. Will it corn up? Hard to say, but I have my eyes on Friday for the best chance at some November spring skiing.
Tuesday, however, won’t be spring-like. Light snowfall this morning ends mid-morning. The sky mostly clears, but adds a few mid and high clouds. The snow level will be around 3000′ all day, and the free air freezing level will fall to 2000′ overnight. Wind: NW 30 this morning, NW 20-25 this afternoon, and N 15 tonight.
Wednesday looks partly cloudy to start and then sunny from mid-morning on. The free air freezing level (FAF) rises from 2000′ to 12,000′. Wind: N 15 early, ENE 15 in the afternoon, and SE 15 overnight. Another sunny day is on tap on Thursday – the FAF will be around 13,000′ all day with max temps rising as high as 50 degrees at 5000′. Wow! Wind: SE 15 early becoming light SW. Friday also looks sunny and warm – clear sky in the morning adds a few high clouds in the afternoon. The FAF starts at 12,000′ and eventually falls to 7000′ overnight. Wind starts light SW and slowly builds to SW 25-35 overnight.
Precip returns on Saturday. Models suggest it will start as rain (snow level 7000′ or so) and switch to snow as temps fall to the upper 20’s at 5000′. This eventually drops the snow level to 3000′ or so. As of now, we’re looking at 2-5”. Wind starts at SW 30-40 and turns to WNW 25-30 in the afternoon, although we’re a bit far out for that kind of precision. Additional systems are forecast from late Sunday through Wednesday, at least. The Euro spikes the snow level above 5000′ for the period of heaviest precipitation, but the GFS is cooler and calls for more snow. Vote for the GFS, of course. Both ensembles take temps back below freezing at 5000′ and hold them there after Thursday while bringing in additional precip. In other words… the snowpack will continue to build! Bring it on!
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Gorge Wind Forecast
Hi friends! Hopefully you were out on the river yesterday and had some fun. I did! Unfortunately, the strongest wind (30-40mph near Hood River) waiting until after dark to arrive. Alas – despite what some people tell you, I can’t control the weather. We’ll see moderate post-frontal westerlies today followed by three days of easterlies. Westerlies are possible but far from certain for Saturday, which looks quite wet. The weekend finishes up with easterlies on Sunday.
Tuesday morning starts with lingering westerlies related to yesterday’s big system. Pressures to start were 30.32/30.23/30.18 for gradients of 0.09 and 0.05. A period of westerlies at 17-20 from Stevenson to Arlington for a few hours early seems reasonable before high pressure builds in and drives wind speed down. We’ll see a fade to 11-14 from Stevenson to Hood River with 14-17 between Mosier and Rufus. To the east, 10-13 is all you get this afternoon. River flow over the last 24 hours was 79-129kcfs (89-127 at Rufus), river temp is 56.48F, and high temp forecast is 51F with slowly clearing sky.
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High pressure builds inland on Wednesday and switches things around. The day starts with E 15-20 at Stevenson and Iwash (Rooster) with 15 at Viento. Your best shot is mid-morning with 25ish at Iwash, 20ish at Stevenson, and 15-20 at Viento. Afternoon wind holds at Iwash and drops to 15 at Stevenson and 10 at Viento. High temp: 53F under clear sky in the east wind zone.
Thursday’s the best bet for easterlies this week: the day starts with 40mph at Iwash and 30ish at Stevenson with 20-25 at Viento. Get it in the morning, cuz it’ll do the afternoon fade. After 1pm, you’ll find 25 at Iwash and 15-20 at Stevenson. High temp: 54F under sunny sky in the east wind zone. Easterlies stick around Friday morning, and then it’s on to a west wind day as the weather turns more active on Saturday. Ensembles don’t have a lot of consensus yet, so I’m going to hold off on a prediction. More notably, the extended models have a TON of snow in the next couple of weeks. We’re probably looking at an early ski season to complement your fall wind sports.
Jones, Sauvie Island, Oregon Coast: done for the season
Alan’s Sauvie Island Wind Sensor
Very basic Hood River weather forecast. Don’t plan your life around this. You really should read Temira’s Awesome Travel Advisory Service on Facebook
Clouds this morning burn off and leave us partly cloudy this afternoon. Temps start in the upper 40s and only make it to the low 50s. Moderate westerlies. 1% chance of rainbows. Wednesday starts Nothing and turns clear. Temps start in the low-mid 30s and rise to the low 50s. Light easterlies. No rainbows. Thursday will be Nothing to start then clear. Temps start in the low 30s and rise to the mid 50s. Light easterlies. No rainbows. Next rain: Saturday.
Link to my Local-ish Outdoorsy Events Google Calendar
Please let me know of outdoor-related local-ish events. If you don’t tell me, I don’t know!
Cycling
Please see the HRATS/Hood River County for complete details on Post Canyon closures. Newly reopened in Post: lower Trail 100 paralleling the lower part of Post Canyon Road. The Twin Tunnels Trail between Hood River and Mosier has reopened. Kreps and Green Diamond Lands have reopened. That includes Whoopdee, Hospital Hill, and Underwood. Closed: Gorge 400 and lots of other trails due to the Whisky Creek Fire. Trail near Mt. Adams due to the Williams Mine Fire. Remember that E-bikes are not allowed on USFS non-moto trails. They are allowed on moto trails.
Sprinter Van of the Week!
Click here for the Sprinter Van map of the world!!!
Have an awesome day!
