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 CGWA protects your beaches and keeps you updated on all the windsurfing happenings at their website, gorgewindsurfing.org. So, consider joining CGWA for $25 by clicking here. I’m a member. You should be too.
If you’re a big fan of the east winds, get down to Stevenson and get some this morning, because they’re going to die early. Right now it’s blowing in the upper teens, and you probably have a couple more hours of this before the fade and switch. As a thermal trough shifts eastward today, this morning’s light easterlies will switch to light west winds. If the incoming onshore push happens earlier than expected, we’ll see just enough west wind for slalom sailing or kiteboarding late this afternoon. Otherwise, just rest today and prepare yourself for tomorrow.
As cold air pushes into Portland tonight and the thermal trough parks in the desert tomorrow, high temperatures in the central Gorge will drop 20 degrees, setting up a huge west wind day on the water. It’s hard to tell where the cloud line will end up tomorrow. If it stays west of Hood River, we’ll see upper twenties or more at the Hatchery and Mosier early. If the clouds push further east, Mosier and Doug’s will be the windy spots in the morning. By afternoon, winds fill in at Maryhill for a 30+ day at The Wall and Rufus, and Arlington late in the day.
More clouds push in tomorrow, keeping the west wind blowing. With colder temperatures on both sides of the Cascades, the wind will be lighter the next few days, but still sailable through the weekend.
Boaters, the White Salmon’s still hovering just below two feet and the Klickitat’s right around 750 cfs. If you’re available Saturday, there’s a free kayak slalom clinic on the Clackamas. Give Alder Creek a call for more information or head here for more information. There’s also an associated race on Sunday.
Also this weekend is the Oregon Open Ocean SUP race at Newport, Oregon. Check it out here.
That’s it for today. Whatever you do today, have an awesome day!
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.