The Gorge is my Gym

Good morning everyone!

We’re in between systems today as weak high pressure holds over the Northwest. That’s kicked the marine clouds back west of the Gorge and flattened gradients today. As a temperature differential builds between Portland and The Dalles this afternoon, we’ll see some light thermals from Stevenson down to Mosier. Strongest winds will be at Stevenson and the Hatchery, in the 16-19 range late this afternoon.

A weak front approaches the coast this evening, probably too late to influence the wind before dark. But it will push marine clouds back into Portland tomorrow, setting up another windy day in the Gorge. It’s looking like mid-twenties is the call on Tuesday, probably east of Hood River, but definitely blowing all day long. At this point, tomorrow looks like the windiest day of the week, so clear your schedule if you can.

High pressure returns on Wednesday and Thursday, for lighter wind day in the Gorge. It’s hard to tell this early just how light, but at best, it’s looking like we’ll see wind for big kites and sails.

Since you’re not going to be too tired from windsurfing or kiting tonight, join one of Mountain View Cycles’ two bike rides. The first is a competitive, super fast ride leaving the shop at 5pm. The second ride is the alternative ride, leaving the shop at 6:15 and heading to the Thirsty Woman in Mosier. For the alternative ride, there’s no spandex or clipless pedals allowed, and lights are highly recommended. It’s super fun, and you should really come along.

Have a great day today!

Temira

Last night at the movie in the park, my friends Clint and Megan showed up with a fresh-baked, still-warm strawberry pie. They shared. That’s what I call friendship. The pie was the most delicious strawberry pie ever, made with fresh-picked organic strawberries grown in the Upper Valley. If I’d been more on it, I would have brought ice cream to go with the pie (Alden’s Vanilla is the most delicious ice cream ever), but I wasn’t. So, thank you Clint and Megan for the yummy, yummy pie.

Oh, I’m sorry, did you want a wind forecast or something? Well, let me tell you, Clint and Megan got THEIR forecast last night. =)

A weak front pushed across the Northwest last night, as an upper low shifted across British Columbia, setting up another windy day in the Groge today. The early gradient was pretty strong, at .13, and the cloud line was just past Hood River. With a setup like that, Mosier and Doug’s will be the early windy spots, with morning winds in the 26-30 range.

As high pressure builds at the coast, clouds back up later today (probably around 10:47am), letting winds fill back in to the hatchery (or so I really, really hope). By afternoon, we’ll see 26-30 from Hood River out to Maryhill.

High pressure fills in over the northwest tomorrow. Flow will still be onshore, but not as strong as we’ve seen the last few days. I think the early cal tomorrow is low teens in the corridor, building into the 16-19 range in the afternoon as a weak front approaches the coast.

That front shifts inland Monday night, setting up another windy day on Tuesday. It looks like Tuesday will be cloudy and cool in Portland, setting up mid-twenties or so west wind through the Gorge.

In other, non-wind related news, tomorrow at Wilson Park in Hood River there’s free chi gong at 5:30 and free tai chi at 6:00. And coming up later this week is the Wild and Scenic environmental film festival at Springhouse Cellars in Hood River. Also this week, on Friday and Saturday, actually, is a Sasquatch celebration, the Bigfoot Bash and Bounty, at Home Valley Park in Home Valley.

Whatever you do today, have an awesome day!