The Gorge is my Gym

I was out last night (yes, off my couch… amazing) and almost froze to death. Seriously. It was chilly out there. I was all bundled up in a ski jacket. I called my friend Arthur to complain (he controls the weather within the city limits… never mind that I was outside the city limits, but I had forgotten that) and he informed me that it was 68 degrees. I don’t think that’s possible.

Speaking of the City of Hood River – and I’ll keep this quick – if you do not vote for the gas tax increase, there will be approximately 50% less money for snowplowing, meaning approximately 50% less snowplowing, next year and the next four years after that. Now, isn’t that worth about $30/year out of your pocket?

(end of political ranting… for now…)

West winds continue their run today as clouds cover western Oregon. Morning gradients were at .10 and winds were blowing in the teens from Hood River to Doug’s. With the cloudline just east of Hood River, best winds will be from Doug’s to Arlington today (best from Mosier to Avery). An upper low off the BC coast makes it a bit gusty, but we’ll see 24-28 east of Hood River starting around midday today, and lasting until dark.

The upper low shifts east tonight and high pressure builds at the coast. Dawn patrol in the low twenties is likely tomorrow, with winds building into the upper twenties by afternoon tomorrow.

Saturday brings a typical Gorge setup. A ridge of high pressure builds at the coast and tempeartuers climb in the desert. The Corridor will be the place to be on Saturday, as westerlies hold in the twenty-something range.

In biking news, the Dirty Divas ride Hospital Hill at 9am today. Speaking of… remember that Hospital Hill is private land, and we’re only there thanks to the super-generous Kreps family. Please take good care of the trail system, respect all posted signs and buy beer and bake cookies for any Kreps you might run into! Tonight is the post and pint ride. PC is dusty, but still in great shape (I rode it last night and had an excellent time, and you know I’m picky!), and the Dirty Fingers bike repair after-party is always happening. Come to think of it, I’m going to skip the ride and just join the after party, just because I can!

Finally, don’t forget that the Moth world championships are in Cascade Locks all week. They’re really cool, fast little boats, and well worth the drive! Too bad your legislator hasn’t approved funding for a bike trail between HR and Cascade Locks, or you could ride your bike there. Give your representative’s office a call when you have a chance…

A weak front dissipates over western Oregon today, keeping Portland in the clouds and setting up a weak thermal gradient through the Gorge this afternoon. A light start early this morning gives way to a slowly building westerlies. By afternoon, winds top out in the 18-22 range through the corridor, if the clouds back off, otherwise best winds will be out near Lyle and The Dalles.

Tomorrow’s looking stronger as the low off the BC coast heads southwest-ward through northern Washington. Put that low east of the Cascades and combine it with weak high pressure off the coast. That gives us 23-26 east of the cloudline by midday and 26-29 from Doug’s to Maryhill, maybe as far as Arlington, by early evening. I’m going to pick Doug’s as the windiest spot tomorrow. For less wind, head to Stevenson.

The low pressure slides further east Friday, and high pressure holds off the coast. Winds shift into the corridor. It’s a low-twenties start tomorrow with upper twenties likely for the rest of the day.

In other news, tonight is the Hood River sailboat races, and it’s also the Hood River Weather Website potluck. Just google Hood River Weather and check out the website for local weather and potluck information.

Tomorrow’s the Post and Pint Bike ride out of Dirty Fingers bike repair. The trail might just be less dusty after last night’s rain. Looking ahead to the weekend, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade plays on the bigscreen, outdoors at Jackson Park on Saturday night.

Whatever you do today, have an awesome day!