Mt. Hood snow and Gorge wind forecast | The Gorge is my Gym

Good morning and happy earth day!

Since it’s Earth day today, just for one day, try carpooling to your preferred play spot, or pick up a ski green tag if you’re headed to the mountain. You can pick up those ski green tags for just $2, or you can purchase a yearly tag for $20 next season. Those little tags represent carbon offsets for your drive to Mt. Hood (well, they represent 150 miles worth, so two trips if you’re from the Gorge) On Hood, it’s clear, cold and windy this morning, but will be corn snow and spring skiing by afternoon.

If you like wind, find your earth day carpool partner and get ready for a big day on the Columbia. The early gradient from Portland to The Dalles was at .17, and that’s a huge start. There’s also .11 out east, meaning you could probably sail or kite anywhere you want today. I’m just saying the best call is the Hatchery (other than the SR 14 closure and detour through White Salmon).

Models suggest the strongest wind will be early, so buck up and deal with the early chill, because we’re going to see 28-32 at the Hatchery, and a little less at the sandbar and spots farther east (or west), until early afternoon. After that, high pressure starts to fill in across the Cascades, and the wind will drop off a bit.

Tomorrow starts off light, but an approaching front brings 17-20 to Stevenson and Hood River by late afternoon. Those light to moderate west winds continue on Saturday morning. High pressure rebuilds Sunday, but it’s not yet clear if it will cross the Cascades and kill the wind or stay west and drive the westerlies.

If you like watching kiting, come check out the premier of North Kiteboarding’s new movie, Behind the Scenes at the Skylight theatre tonight! Two showings: the first is at 6:30, the second, I believe, is at 8pm, way past my bedtime.

If you’re a mountain biker, once again, it’s great out there, and tonight’s the Post and Pint ride out of Dirty Fingers. Mitchell gives me tons of trail information, so support him by joining his shop ride tonight. Or just show up for the shop ride and free pint afterwards (yes, that’s why it’s called Post and PINT). Meet at Dirty Fingers at 5:30 for the hot lap.

Have an awesome day today!

Temira

Good morning everyone!

Up on the mountain, it’s raining and snowing this morning, and I think it’s cool that they report that. It’s 24 degrees at T-line with 3” of new, and it’s 29 at Meadows with no new down low and a few inches up high. It’s also inverted, unless the new temp sensor at Meadows is wrong, as it’s reading 36 up top. And… it’s blowing 15-30 up there.

The wind on the Columbia today stays a bit gusty and cold, as clouds and unsettled weather affect the wind. Morning gradients are at .19 and .11, which is pretty much huge and massive and ginormous, and it’s blowing 35 at Doug’s already. I think we’ll see 30ish all day from Mosier to Arlington, with gustier low twenties from Stevenson down to the Sandbar. If high pressure builds in early enough, we could see the Corridor kick in hard as well. Most likely you’re waiting ‘til tomorrow for the elusive early-season Hatchery day.

High pressure and sunshine are the story tomorrow, with the north pacific high setting up a steady corridor day for kiting and windsurfing. We’ll start off with low twenties, and build to 25-28 averages by midday from Stevenson to Doug’s.

At the coast, it’s 20-25 knots today and tomorrow with a 10-12 foot swell. It looks pretty much epic on the North Coast, and pretty much damned good further south. Can’t wait to see the photos from Dana and Trudy!

In biking world, it’s perfect out there, and don’t forget that tomorrow’s the Post and Pint out of Dirty Fingers Bike Repair!

Boaters, the Hood’s at 4.4 feet, the White Salmon’s at 4.4 feet, and the little White’s at 754 cfs. And don’t forget, tonight is the shop paddle out of the Kayak Shed. Meet the gang at 4:30 in front of the shop.

Have an awesome day today!

Temira