Forecast - The Gorge is my Gym

Good morning!

This week’s report is brought to you by Sophie’s Restaurant in Hood River, located at 1810 Cascade Street, where you can dine outside in the sunshine, now that summer’s finally here. Sophie’s serves awesome food with fabulous local ingredients (like Oregon King Salmon and porcinis), so go check it out.

Yesterday’s nuclear-force bonus hour was a nice surprise yesterday, but I don’t think we’ll see a repeat today, as low pressure off the coast beats down gradients. Even so, we started with .07 pressure gradient from Portland to The Dalles this morning, and that should hold today for enough wind to get on the water. With the marine layer just east of Hood River, strongest, steadiest wind will be from viento down to Mosier this morning, filling in to Doug’s and Rowena in the afternoon. 18-22 is the call for today, all day long, with a chance for mid-twenties if we get lucky.

Tomorrow looks a little lighter than today, as a low pressure trough off the coast combines with a passing front to minimize morning wind. We will see afternoon westerlies in the 17-21 range tomorrow.

Friday looks a little better for wind, as the North Pacific High takes over at the coast for a summer-like setup in the Gorge. That’s high pressure at the coast and low pressure in the desert, for a static weather situation and steadier, stronger westerlies. The very early call for the weekend (likely to change) is wind through Sunday, and then hot weather (90ish) early next week. With the NPH on the coast, it should stay windy at the beaches, even if the wind dies in the Gorge.

Friday’s also first Friday in Hood River, and it’s going to be a big one. Oak Street will be closed, and 2nd Wind Sports will be throwing a huge and free party and kiteboarding movie premiere at the Horse and Hound pub.

Boaters, the White Salmon’s just below 3 feet and the Klickitat’s at 1980 cfs, and don’t forget, if you’re a Hood River resident you can practice your roll at the pool for just three bucks on Tuesday and Thursday evening and Saturday morning! If you’re not from Hood River, it’s $5 or $6 (can’t remember, but it beats learning to roll in the Columbia)…

That’s it for today. Whatever you do today, have an awesome day!

Temira

p.s. If you think this forecast is valuable, or you’d like to subscribe to the email version and win cool prizes (like $50 at Sophie’s), click on the donate button below for a suggested donation of $10. Thank you for your support!

6/29 forecast

Good morning Gorge sports fanatics!

This week’s forecast is brought to you by Sophie’s Restaurant at 1810 Cascade in Hood River. Sophie’s is open 7 days a week with brunch on the weekends and outdoor seating anytime the weather is good. If you come in tonight, you’ll have a chance to eat the very last of the spring porcini mushrooms (no, really, they’ll be gone after tonight). Also on the menu tonight is Oregon coast King Salmon and a chocolate lava cake with a vanilla filling and crème fraiche ice cream. Yum. If you subscribe to the email version of this forecast below with a suggested donation of $10, you’ll have a chance to win $50 at Sophie’s tomorrow!

A nice heavy layer of low clouds is stacked in the Gorge this morning and the 5am gradient was at .12 from Portland to The Dalles, and I can hear wind gusts moaning outside my window. I don’t know why they’re moaning. Maybe they’re upset that they have to be awake so early?

Anyway, .12 is a good start to the day if you want to get out for some windsurfing or kiting. With the clouds a little past Hood River, the strongest wind this morning will be at Mosier, but the wind will quickly fill back to the Hatchery as a few clouds burn off. By mid-morning, we’ll see 21-24 from the Hatchery down to Mosier, building to 23-27 from the Hatchery out to Rufus by afternoon. If you want a little less wind, try Viento, the sandbar and Lyle.

Tomorrow looks lighter as an upper level low sits off the Oregon Coast. Despite a solid marine layer, windspeeds will hover in the teens tomorrow, at best. That’s great if you’re a kiter, but not so great if you’re hoping for the famous super-strong Gorge winds.

For after work fun tonight, there’s the free ladies standup paddle night at the Event Site, starting at 5:30. As a special bonus, Naked Winery is doing a free wine tasting for all the standup paddle girls. And don’t forget about $5 fish tacos and beer dinner at the Sandbar café! Also tonight is the Tuesday Night Tri at the east end of the Event site, starting at 6pm.

Boaters, the Hood River’s getting low at 3.6 feet, the Klickitat’s at 1980 cfs and the White Salmon is hovering around 3 feet even.

If you’re looking ahead to the holiday weekend, 2nd Wind is hosting a huge party on July 2nd at the Horse and Hound pub. The nature of this party isn’t quite set (please approve the permit, Mr. City Manager and Mayor!), but no matter what happens, it’s going to be a good party… 2nd Wind knows how to throw ‘em!

Have a great day today!

Temira