I still don’t have much to tell you in the Mt. Hood forecast, but I can share one bit of positive news: It’s cold and dry on the mountain this morning, and that’s allowing the resorts to fire up the snow guns and create something out of nothing. Expect a few inches of new in a few special spots today. Other than that, well, read on for the possibility of hope in the long-range forecast. Continued below the chart…
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4a-8a | 8a-12p | 12p-4p | 4p-8p | 8p-4a |
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| Today 2000’-2500’ |
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| Tomorrow 0’–>1000’ |
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| The day after 500’–>8000’ |
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Today will be sunny on Mt. Hood, but there’s a bit of a catch in that forecast: As the mid-level flow turns easterly this afternoon, some orographic clouds may build along the east slopes. That may even give us a few flurries or freezing fog. Or maybe it won’t happen at all. It’s a rare event, and therefore difficult to predict. That does remind me of the time 4 or 5 years ago when a huge cold front moved in from the east, temps dropped to zero on Mt. Hood, and we received 6-8” of snow. But that’s not today. Today looks sunny, becoming partly cloudy, with the free air freezing level (FAF) at 2000-2500′ all day. Wind will be light early, becoming NE 25 in the afternoon.
Tomorrow looks clear, cold, and very arid on Mt. Hood. The FAF will be at the surface early with 5000′ temps in the upper teens to low 20’s. Temps will rise to the mid 20’s in the afternoon with the FAF at 1000′. Wind tomorrow will be NE 30+ all day.
Monday looks sunny early with high clouds moving in midday. Or maybe not. Maybe it’ll stay sunny. Anyway, the FAF will be 500′ early (although temps to 8000′ will be in the low 30’s). The FAF will rise to 8000′ in the afternoon with 5000′ temps maxing out in the low 40’s. Wind will be NE 20 early and N 10-15 in the afternoon.
Expect a few high clouds on Monday with the FAF at 9000′ early and 6500′ in the afternoon with west wind at 20mph or so. Now, the TV weather folks have been talking pattern change. I, personally, prefer to ignore the long-range models and stick with forecasting 3-5 days out. That’s my comfort zone, because long-range models just don’t tend to be all that accurate. For example, on the 7th, Cliff Mass ran a blog post titled ‘Is Winter Over?’. Then, on the 16th, Mark Nelson ran a blog post about a pattern shift. I like both of those guys a LOT. So, you see why I don’t play this game?
Anyway, the GFS is showing only a week system Wed/Thurs and then a return to dry weather through next weekend. So… I dunno. I’m just going to stick with 3-5 days and let the talking heads duke it out about the long-range forecast.
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Gorge Wind
There’s still a west gradient this morning. It was .05 at 5am. That won’t last long, as cold air shifts into the desert and high pressure builds east of us. Expect widespread 15-25 through the Gorge today with 25-30 at Rooster this afternoon. Tomorrow starts with 40-50 at Rooster and 30+ at Steven’s Locks, but the gradient drops as the day goes on, leaving us with 25-30 at Rooster. Monday brings 30-35 at Rooster early with 25-30 in the afternoon. If nothing changes, we’re looking at west wind on Tuesday and Wednesday, with strong westerlies Wednesday.
Random Morning Thoughts
I was babbling on the Hood River snowphone this morning about Telemark skiing and freeing your heels and freeing your mind. “It’s not like you can free your mind by playing sports,” I said, “or … maybe you can,” I said as I finished promoting the Tele clinic.
There’s something about doing any sport at the very edge of your ability. Not beyond your ability – that’s asking to get hurt. Just playing right at the top of your skillset. I know for me, when I’m there, I’m completely focused. I’m one with my body, one with my gear, and one with the surface I’m playing on (pavement, dirt, snow, water). Some people call that “flow”.
Buddhists and meditators (and lots of other kinds of people) strive to be in the moment, to be present, to let everything but “now” drop away. When we play hard, we are there. Here. In the moment. Because to be anything else would result in a loss of focus, loss of control, and a likely injury. See if you can notice that next time you’re playing at your highest level. See if you can cultivate that feeling in the rest of your life.
Being here, being in the now, allows you to be your best and to experience each moment as fully as possible. And that’s a good thing, because once each moment passes, it’s gone. You can’t get it back. You might as well get the most out of each moment by experiencing it fully.
Gorge Weather Forecast
It’s a clear morning in the Gorge, and that’s a very good sign for sun today. I’m working all day, so I task all of you with spending some time in the sun for me. We may see some mid-level clouds move in from the east midday. Be prepared for that unusual possibility, along with unusually widespread strong east wind this afternoon, possibility hitting 15-25 even in Hood River and The Dalles. Temps today will be in the upper 30’s early and the low 50’s this afternoon. No rainbows.
Tomorrow looks clear and cooler. Temps will be in the low 30’s early and the mid 40’s in the afternoon with low relative humidity. Monday morning looks cooler: temps will be in the mid 20’s, or maybe the upper 20’s early, maxing out in the upper 40’s.
Local meteorologists are making lots of noise about a shift in the long range models from dry and warm to cool and wet. That said, the only system in the next week is a weak one next Wed/Thur with minimal rainfall. In other words, there will be plenty of sun between now and then.
White Sprinter Van of the Day
Road and Mountain Biking
Perhaps you have not made it out on the trails in the last couple of days. That’s okay. The trails forgive you. They have endless love and compassion for you. But you may not feel the same way about yourself. If that’s the case, get your ass out to Post Canyon for some perfect dirt today. The trail system is open top to bottom, and that brings us to a reminder: UPHILL HAS THE RIGHT OF WAY. Yes, shuttlers and Strava-seekers, that applies to you. If someone is headed up the hill, you must pull over and let them pass. Even if you’re wearing a full-face helmet, goggles, and full-coverage baggy clothing. Your outfit does not change the rules. That said, the dirt is perfect for going uphill and is PR-worthy going downhill.
The Clymb: free membership. Cheap gear.
Temira approves. Click to join.
Upcoming Events
It’s Saturday morning, and that means it’s your chance to go for a jog on perfect dirt at Post Canyon with the Tri Club folks. Meet at 8am at the bottom of Post. There’s no Cold Lap today – it’s done for the season. Not sure what that means for group mountain biking… Coming up tomorrow, there’s community yoga at 9am at Yoga Samadhi in White Salmon. At 3pm tomorrow, there’s pickup touch rugby at the Mosier School and ping pong at the Hood River Armory. At 6pm tomorrow, there’s community yoga at Root Down in Hood River.
Have an awesome day today!
Temira
