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The Forecast
CoronaChat
Simply put, the virus may remain in the air from breathing, speaking, sneezing and coughing. If you move through that space before the virus has dissipated, you are at some non-zero risk of catching it. Given that 25-50% of people are asymptomatic, and that you may be biking or jogging or shopping with some of them, you’ll want to keep this in mind.
Distancing recommendations run from 20′ to 60′ for various cycling speeds. Yes, you read that correctly. That’s twenty to sixty feet. Following that is certain to result in a hoarse voice from shouting your conversations! The easiest way to protect yourself is to ride or jog side-by-side (6 feet distancing), rather than in a paceline of some sort. Also take into account the wind – don’t jog/ride/sit downwind or upwind of another person.
Given the aerosol transmission component of this disease, leaving your home to shop or work out becomes, in part, a matter of risk management. To take care of your life, you will be taking risks. You can minimize them by thinking carefully and evaluating your actions. Each person will come up with a different level of risk tolerance. As you make your calculations, remember to incorporate the need to protect others too. We’re in this as a group, not as individuals. Be careful, stay healthy, protect each other. We’ll get through this eventually.
| Your favorite beach | Dawn Patrol |
9am- 11:30a |
11:30a- 3pm |
3pm- dusk |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rooster Rock | beach | closed | no | buns | |
| Steven’s Locks | 5-10 | 13-16 | 17-20 | 17-20 | |
| Swell-Hood River | 20-24 | 20-24 | 20-24 | 17-20 | |
| Doug’s, Lyle, Rowena | 20-24 | 20-24 | 17-20 | 14-17 | |
| Rufus, etc. | 20-24 | 17-20 | 10-13 | LTV | |
| Roosevelt & Arlington | 20-24 | 17-20 | 10-13 | LTV | |
Gorge Wind Forecast
First, a public service announcement. All Oregon (Viento, Rowena) and Washington (Doug’s, Hatchery) State Parks are closed at this time. All Port of Hood River waterfront access is closed at this time, although the walking path is open. The Army Corps has closed all parks (The Wall, Rufus, Roosevelt). They have also closed boat ramps. Swell City is closed. It’s best not to go – especially if you don’t live in the Gorge. Please follow legal guidance to stay home, save lives.. If you’re local and getting on the water somehow, follow Maui rules: rig quickly, get in the water, and leave as soon as you are done. No hanging out. Maintain at least six feet space on land and on the water. Do not place yourself directly upwind or downwind of anyone. Don’t go harder than 50%, and keep your focus at 100%. This is not the time to get injured.Wednesday’s wind forecast, even though it’s “the morning of”, continues to be a bit uncertain. Morning gradients of .12 (pdx-dls) and .10 (dls-psc) indicate a windy morning, at least. However, models predict high pressure will quickly build inland this afternoon, knocking the wind way down. Something feels off about this. Let’s start with the morning: 20-24 from Viento to Arlington. The wind will go calm after noon east of The Dalles. Models suggest the wind will drop to 10-13 in the western Gorge. My best guess: 17-20 in the afternoon from Stevenson to Mosier with 12-15 to The Dalles. River flow is 140kcfs and temp is 49 degrees.
Thursday sees the wind turn offshore as inland high pressure combines with a trough along the coast. Early morning wind will be 15-20 from Rooster to Stevenson. By mid-morning, we’ll see easterlies pick up to 10-15 all the way from Rooster to Arlington. Friday starts with E 15-20 near Rooster and 5-10 near Cascade Locks. There may be a slight bump mid-morning, but by noon or so, the wind will go calm. After 2pm or so, the wind picks up to west 5-10. Looking at the weekend, we see a pattern change. Offshore high pressure is replaced by weak low pressure. That sets us up for gusty 22-26 Saturday and gusty 17-20 on Sunday. That’s a long ways out and is subject to change.
Jones, Sauvie’s, and Coast forecast are on break to discourage travel.
Mt. Hood Weather Forecast
All the mountains are closed, the forest is closed, and neither in-bounds nor out-of-bounds snowsports are available at this time. Some of you will be tempted to go out backcountry skiing. Take a look at this sobering article about a recent BC rescue and consider carefully if you want to put others at risk. Remember, Timberline, Skibowl, and Meadows are all closed to uphill traffic at this time. This is to comply with Kate Brown’s executive orders. It’s the law, folks. Obey it!Wednesday looks partly to mostly cloudy on the mountain with some scattered mist possible in the morning. The sky clears overnight. The snow/freezing level will be around 6000′ all day, dropping to 4000′ under clear sky. Wind: N 15 early, NE 10 in the afternoon, and ENE 20 overnight.
Thursday starts clear and stays that way. The free air freezing level will be 4000′ early, 5000′ in the afternoon, and 9000′ overnight. Wind: NE 10 early, ENE 20 in the afternoon, E 15 in the evening, and light and variable overnight. I’d previously mentioned the possibility of a downslope windstorm on Thursday. It now appears that the stable layer will be too low to set that up for Mt. Hood. Some other lower areas of the Cascades could see downslope wind acceleration during the day. Combine that with low humidity for increased fire danger.
Friday looks clear and dry and sunny. High clouds move in after midnight. The free air freezing level will be 9000′ in the morning, 10,000′ in the afternoon, and 7500′ overnight. Wind: light and variable early, WSW 15 in the afternoon, and W 20 overnight. On Saturday, we’ll have clouds and a wee bit of mist. Sunday looks clear and sunny.
Hood River Weather Forecast
Partly cloudy sky starts the day Wednesday, and partly cloudy sky sticks around. Temps will be near 50 early and in the mid 60’s later. Moderate westerlies. No rainbows. Thursday looks sunny. Temps will be in the upper 30’s early and upper 60’s later. Moderate easterlies. No rainbows. Friday looks sunny and very dry. Temps will be in the mid 30’s early and near 70 later. Light and variable wind. No rainbows.Looking for a complete Columbia Gorge forecast? Looking for more humor in your weather? Obscenities? You’re looking for my TATAS: Temira’s Awesome Travel Advisory Service on Facebook.
Cycling
ALL trails in the Gorge are closed. Hood River County (Post Canyon, Pinemont, HRC forest roads), SDS (Underwood, Whoopdee), and Kreps (Hospital Hill) lands are closed to prevent the spread of coronavirus by incoming hoards of visitors. DNR land (Nestor) is closed per the DNR website and a little tiny sign at the bottom of the Nestor trail. USFS (44 Road trails, Syncline) are closed. State Parks (Columbia Hills, Twin Tunnels) are closed. There were two considerations: protecting medical professionals, and keeping crowds away when the weather is nice. Google Sun Valley’s Covid-19 rate if your are curious what crowds of recreation visitors can do to spread coronavirus.
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Have an awesome day!
Temira