Thursday. Energizer Bunny Gorge

July 14, 2016

It’s going to be windy for the next four days, and you can thank Kiteboarding for Cancer for that. It’s windy every single year for that event. See, that’s what happens when you do good in the world: Mother Nature smiles upon you! So… our 4am gradients this morning (damn you, Strava-cat!) were .07 pdx-dls…

Meet your forecaster: Temira

For almost 30 years, Temira (they/them) has been making the most of the Gorge: riding river swell, shredding powder, and cycling all the gravel and pavement and trails. This is Temira’s playground, their gym… their life’s work.

This passion led Temira to take a vow: In 2006, Temira decided to provide the most accurate, hyper-local weather forecasts possible. Today, Temira’s forecasts have become an essential resource for thousands of skiers, snowboarders, wind sports enthusiasts and Gorge commuters. With Temira’s guidance, you can plan ahead, time your sessions perfectly, and just plain have more fun! But the story doesn’t end there.

There’s “Temira’s Awesome Travel Advisory Service” and “Valuable Advice for Gardeners Inhabiting Neighboring Areas” – the Gorge’s premier microclimate forecast and gardening information. When winter storms, extreme heat, hail, or avalanches on SR-14 and I-84 threaten, TATAS keeps everyone and their tomatoes and giant pumpkins and cash crops safe.

Temira’s relentless efforts keep the forecasts flowing. But it ain’t easy: each forecast takes a couple of hours. That’s where you come in. By contributing, you’re not just supporting Temira’s passion project – you’re investing in the safety and well-being of the entire Gorge community. Your financial support ensures these essential forecasts remain accessible to all, free of charge.

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Your favorite beach	Dawn Patrol	9am- 11:30a	11:30a- 3pm	3pm- dusk
Today’s Gorge Wind – these are ranges for the average speed, not a predicted wind range. =)
Rooster Rock	wet	sand	naked	sandtray
Steven’s Locks	0-10	10-13	17-20	23-26 late
Hatchery/White Salmon Sandbar (minus a few for Hood River)	16-19	20-23	24-28	20-24
Doug’s, Lyle, Rowena	10-13	16-19	22-25	24-28
Rufus, etc.	5-10	10-13	13-16	16-29
Roosevelt, etc.	5-10	5-10	10-13	10-13

Gorge wind forecast, continued…

When the sun comes up, you can expect a morning session of 15-18 or so from Viento to Mosier. By midday, we should have 20-23 from Stevenson to Mosier, with the Rowena section of the river joining in by early afternoon or maybe mid-afternoon. As the day goes on, the wind will pick up to 24-28 from Stevenson to Rufus, eventually dropping off at Swell in the evening but continuing to blow everywhere else until it’s too dark to see.

Friday sees an upper level low pressure system right along the WA/BC border. That’ll increase marine clouds and send some weak weather systems through the area. That will likely make the wind a bit gustier than today, but still… it’ll be windy! Expect 17-20 on Friday morning not-quite-Dawn-Patrol from Viento to Mosier. By midday, you’ll have 21-24 from Stevenson to Mosier. In the afternoon, it’ll be 24-28 from Stevenson to Rufus.

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Thank you for using this forecast. Does it save you time, gas money, or help you have more fun in your life? Make a donation! Get your forecast here for free or donate and get on the mailing list for year-round wind forecasts and ski season snow forecasts. Click on my photo to donate via PayPal or credit card. The email isn’t $99/year. Not $50/year. No, just $12.34 or more gets you on the list for 12 months. Don’t PayPal? Send a check to Temira @ PO Box 841 in Hood River. Thank you for your support (and for helping me pay grad school bills), and thank you for trusting my forecast.

That upper level low moves east of the Cascades on Saturday, and a weather system swings through in the afternoon or evening. That, once again, may affect wind quality, but probably not quantity. Expectc 17-20 for Dawn Patrol from Swell to Mosier (or maybe a little further east, depending on the depth of the clouds). Much like the previous two days, we’ll see 21-24 midday and 24-28 by early afternoon, filling in from Viento to Rufus. Total broken record weather.

Sunday currently looks like 17-21 all day with thunder in the afternoon and a beautiful sunset. One thing to note for Thursday through Saturday: in this kind of setup, actual wind speeds often beat the forecast.

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: 24-28. Friday: 12-15. Saturday: 10-13. Sauvie’s Thursday: 10-13. Friday: 10-13. Saturday: 7-11. Coast (north/central/south). Thursday: 20-25/30+/40, W swell 2′ at 8 seconds. Friday: 5-10/15-20/30+, NW 5′ @ 7. Saturday: 5-10/10-15/30+, NW 6′ @ 8.

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

If I skip this today, I’ll have just enough time for a quick road bike before work. That sounds pretty awesome. You have an awesome day. Do something nice for a random stranger.

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

It was pitch black outside as I was writing this, as my cat woke me up at 3:45 and I figured it was better to not take my laptop to Portland today. So, I think it’s clear. Expect sunshine today with temps in the low 60’s early and the low 80’s this afternoon. Moderate wind. No rainbows. More sunshine on Friday with temps in the mid 50’s early and the low 70’s in the afternoon. Moderate to strong wind. No rainbows. Saturday looks sunny early with some high clouds later. Temps will be in the low 50’s early and the mid 70’s in the afternoon. Moderate to strong wind. No rainbows. Sunday brings a good chance of thunder in the afternoon.

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

MattWTimberline

Road and Mountain Biking

All your trails are now open. The only two I don’t have confirmation on are Smith Creek and Huffman Peak, and most of you are saying “Huh?” to those two names. I have heard that Surveyor’s could use some trimming, but other than that, go ride! In road bike news, it’s looking windy…

Upcoming Events

Looking at events, we’ve got community sailing and potluck night tonight in Cascade Locks. $5 gets your kids into the program for the summer. In Hood River tonight, there’s the race-pace Post n’ Pint bike ride at Dirty Fingers. Ride fast for two hours and get a free pint of beer. Bingen has free Tai Chi tonight at Our Savior Church at 6:30, White Salmon has free yoga at Samadhi at 6, and there’s free Zumba at the Parkdale Community Center at 6:30.

Tomorrow’s day one of Kiteboarding for Cancer at Hood River’s Event Site. They can always use volunteers, and they can use baked goods for the racers on Saturday. The Event Site will be open for windsurfing on Friday, but only kiteboarders may launch on Saturday and Sunday.

Also this weekend, Cooper Spur has short track mountain bike races. I just found out about another cool event: free sailing Sunday evenings 6-8 for Cascade Locks kids who are on free or reduced student lunch programs. Yeah. Let’s do outdoor activities that way in all our communities!

Have an awesome day today!

Temira

The Gorge Is My Gym