The Gorge is my Gym

Good morning!

This week’s report is brought to you by Columbia Gorge Windsurfing Association. It’s PSA week, so no prizes. You’re actually supposed to join CGWA this week. Why? Because they work hard to keep your beaches open for you, because they organize beach cleanups to keep the Hatchery and Doug’s pretty and clear of garbage for you, and because CGWA is working hard to get new people into windsurfing with Gorge Groms, a low-cost program to get kids into the sport. So, consider joining CGWA for $25 by clicking here. I’m a member. You should be too.

Want to bitch and complain? Want to compliment and praise? At the end of the day, you can rate today’s forecast. If you think it’s super-rad, you can make a donation by clicking at the bottom of this page. That’ll get you on the email list, and put you in the running for cool prizes!

It’s a cool and cloudy morning, but the west winds will blow again today. The low clouds were just past Hood River early, and they’ll fill in a little more this morning. Wind this morning will be in the 22-25 range from Mosier to Maryhill. As the low pressure trough along the coast moves east, winds build into the 24-28 range, filling in from the Hatchery all the way east to Arlington. Depending on the timing of high pressure building behind the trough, we could see a period of very strong wind near Hood River today.

High pressure builds across the Cascades tonight, leaving us with very weak west gradients tomorrow morning. It may blow in the 5-10 range early tomorrow morning, before slowly dying and leaving us with glassy conditions by midday, for excellent wakeboarding and waterskiing.

High pressure builds east of the Cascades on Tuesday and a heat low sets up over the coast and the Willamette Valley, for east winds. Tuesday morning easterlies blow in the 23-26 range before fading in the afternoon. By Wednesday, west winds return.

If you’re up early today, there’s the Sunday Sicko Swim, leaving the east end of the Hood River Inn at 7:30. If you’re a strong swimmer, join these crazies for a swim to the middle of the Columbia, under the bridge, and back to the event Site.

Boaters, the White Salmon’s just under two feet and the Klickitat’s getting low at 772 cfs. Cross your fingers for some rain (well, after they pick all the peaches and cherries, but not before)!

Have a great day today!

Temira

p.s. If you find this report useful, entertaining, or just want to recognize all the hard work that goes into it, please take the time to make a donation by clicking on the button at the bottom of the page. For a suggested donation of $10, I’ll add you to the email version of this list ‘til May 2011, putting you in the running for cool prizes donated by the weekly sponsors.

Good morning!

This week’s report is brought to you by Columbia Gorge Windsurfing Association. It’s PSA week, so no prizes. You’re actually supposed to join CGWA this week. Why? Because they work hard to keep your beaches open for you, because they organize beach cleanups to keep the Hatchery and Doug’s pretty and clear of garbage for you, and because CGWA is working hard to get new people into windsurfing with Gorge Groms, a low-cost program to get kids into the sport. So, consider joining CGWA for $25 by clicking here. I’m a member. You should be too.

Yesterday’s wind didn’t quite pan out like I’d hoped, but it was windy enough to get on the water, and today’s going to be windy too. It didn’t blow 25-28 because I added a “rate the forecast” survey at the end of the forecast yesterday. At the end of the day, you can rate today’s forecast too.

The 5am gradient was already .13 from Portland to The Dalles, it’s was blowing 27 at the Hatch before sunrise (why am I up this early?), and Portland was buried in clouds early. I know this even though it was dark when I posted this forecast. How? Because I have superhero night vision!

An upper trough on the Oregon coast will deepen today, keeping areas west of the Cascades in the gloom. As the desert heats up, Gorge winds will build. We’ll see low twenties early from Hood River to Mosier, building to 25-28 by midday. However, if the low clouds push in past the Hatch (even little low clouds, not just the Wall of Clouds, but you can ignore the high clouds), you’ll need to make a move east. In the afternoon, it’ll get gusty at the Hatch and Sandbar, but the wind will fill in at Stevenson, Doug’s, Maryhill, and possibly Arlington in the 24-28 range.

The low pressure trough moves across the Cascades tomorrow, causing the wind to back off into the upper teens to low twenties. It’s going to be cloudy in Hood River tomorrow, so the wind will be quite gusty at the Sandbar and Hatch. For steadier wind, head east of the cloud line… you’re probably headed to Maryhill or Roosevelt tomorrow if you want sunshine.

Coming up Monday, a ridge builds over the Cascades, setting up a light west wind day. The next big day looks like Wednesday.

Boaters, the White Salmon’s a little under 2 feet and the Klickitat’s at 788 cfs. If you’d like to run the Middle today, the Kayak Shed’s shop paddle meets at 10am at the Husum put-in. You must have class III skills and a roll to join this paddle, or the river will give you a serious beating.

Coming up tonight, The Spy Who Loved Me plays on the big screen at Jackson Park in Hood River. Free outdoor movie. Bring warm clothes and a blanket!

Have a great day today!

Temira

p.s. If you find this report useful, entertaining, or just want to recognize all the hard work that goes into it, please take the time to make a donation by clicking on the button at the bottom of the page. For a suggested donation of $10, I’ll add you to the email version of this list ‘til May 2011, putting you in the running for cool prizes donated by the weekly sponsors.