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Forecast

7.9 forecast (posted 7.8 pm)

Good morning everyone!

An upper level low rotates over the Pacific Ocean today, keeping Gorge gradients slack and temperatures below normal.

If you’re looking for wind today, you’re probably looking in vain. At best, we’ll see 16-20 from Hood River out to Rowena for the after work session today. Most of the day, however, is going to be too light for anything but trainer kite flying.

Tomorrow looks better, with warmer weather in the desert. Morning winds blow in the 10-14 range through the corridor, picking up to 22-25 late in the day. However, southerly upper flow sends thunderstorm potential soaring, and we know that thunderstorms kill the wind. So, there’s a 50/50 chance of mid-twenties wind tomorrow, depending on thunderstorm development.

So… if you’re a windsurfer or kiter, find something today. Working is a smart call, but if you’d rather play, I vote for road biking. But… that might be because I just bought a new road bike from Mountain View the other day. Spending money makes me want to ride more. I suppose that is a good thing? Any excuse for exercise…

Anyway, that’s beside the point. The Dirty Divas shuttle Surveyor’s this morning, and Dirty Fingers sends you around Mitchell Ridge this evening, followed by a pint of Double Mountain’s finest. Meet at Dirty Fingers at 5:30 for that ride. Also tonight is the Hood River Triathlon and Big Winds’ standup paddle races. Meet at the event site around 5:30 for those two.

And whatever you do today, have an awesome day!

Categories
Forecast

7.8 Forecast (posted 7.7 pm and subject to revision!)

Morning everyone! It’s sailboat racing day in Hood River, and I think I might actually try to get on Gorgeous this afternoon. She’s a beautiful boat… It’s looking like we’ll have just enough wind to make those races happen today.

An upper level low rotates off the coast for the next few days, keeping temperatures cool and clouds over Portland. With that low off the coast, strong gradients can’t develop, but the gloom in Portland lets some thermal gradient hold during the day. A teen-strength start gives way to teen strength winds east of the eventual cloudline today. Best winds will likely be at Mosier, Rowena and Doug this morning and early in the afternoon, By evening, winds filter all the way out to Arlington.

The upper low strengthens off the coast tomorrow, causing Gorge gradients to go slack. Highs in the mid-seventies tomorrow with partly cloudy skies make for perfect road biking conditions.

At this point, Friday’s looking like another perfect road ride day with light winds and partly cloudy skies.

Since the weather’s cool, think about doing some mountain biking. Everything off the 44 road is open and clear. Lewis River is open. Falls creek is open and clear. And best of all, my favorite ride, Ape Canyon, is free of snow. If you’ve never ridden it, check it out!

Speaking of mountain biking, the Dirty Divas shuttle Surveyor’s Ridge on Thursday. Call Discover bikes for more information on that ride… ladies only, remember. Or better yet, drop Jennifer Wilson an email at nenzer15@embarqmail.com to let her know you’d like to go. If you don’t let her know by tonight, you’re going to have to provide your own shuttle vehicle! You should be back just in time for the Dirty Fingers co-ed Post and Pint ride. Meet at 5:30 at Dirty Fingers for that ride. Both of those, remember, are tomorrow.

Also tomorrow is the Big Winds standup paddle race. And… the Hood River Triathlon, where you can swim, bike and run to your heart’s content.

But whatever you do today, have an awesome day!