The Gorge is my Gym

The windy streak continues today and all week long as the desert heat low sucks cooler air from Portland through the Gorge. The early gradient was at .14 and winds were in the low twenties at the Hatchery. Marine clouds in Portland and sun in the desert give us 23-26 this morning, with the possibility of 25-29 followed by a midday lull, followed by 23-26 out to the desert this afternoon.

Another marine push tonight sends clouds into Portland, for another round of Gorge westerlies tomorrow. The models don’t look fanatastic, but they didn’t predict a big gradient today either. So, let’s go with 23-27 tomorrow for much of the day. Once again, the midday lull maims the lunch sesh, but dawn patrol and afterwork watertime look excellent.

Wednesday and Thursday see a solid marine push into Portland as the offshore low digs in off the Oregon coast. That cold, dense air combines with the desert heat low for the end of the unseasonably hot heat wave and the beginning of a couple of very seasonably windy days.

In other, non-wind related news, there’s free tai chi at Wilson Park in Hood River tonight at 6pm. Also this evening is the 5pm ultra-fast hammerhead bike ride from Mountain View cycles.

Tomorrow night, Mountain View hosts a free bike maintenance clinic at 6:30. Come learn how to change your own tire, fix hydraulic and caliper brakes and maintain your driveline. See you there!

Whatever you do today, have an awesome day!

Good morning everyone!

There’s just enough breeze to keep cool this morning, so head to the Expo Center parking for the CGWA swap meet form 8 til noon. CGWA keeps your beaches open, so if you’re not a member, join while you’re at the swap.

If this is the early morning report, you still have a chance to join the Hood River Tri club for their stealthy swim from the east end of the Hood River Inn Beach to the red bouy in the middle of the Columbia and under the Bridge. So much for stealth, right?

Now, just a quick explanatory note. If I say it’s going to blow 22-24, I’m talking average windspeeds… you know, the reading you see at iWindsurf or WindontheWater.com. You might see gusts into the 30s. You might see gusts into the 40s. I’m not going to guess at the actual wind range (unless I’m going to tell you that it’s going to be gusty and miserable). I’m just telling you the peak average windspeed so you can make your call. (There was a little confusion over this yesterday)

If you’re waiting for wind, you’ll get it today. The light start with the 09 gradient gives way to upper teens by midday, building to 22-24 by afternoon. Best wind will be from Stevenson down to Mosier..

An upper low of the California coast slides closer to Oregon tomorrow (hopefully, but possibly not), sending more marine clouds to the coast and increasing the chance of thunderstorms. The marine deck will start us off with 17-20 tomorrow, and the resulting thermal gradient gives us 22-25 tomorrow afternoon in the corridor. At this point, Tuesday looks like a carbon copy of Monday.

It looks like the heatwave will finally break, resulting in a big day (again, hopefully), sometime Wednesday or Thursday. Cross your fingers. I am ready for a big day, and I bet most of you windsurfers are too (you kiters have probably been having a fabulous time the last 10 days!)

Do keep an eye out for building thunderstorms over the next few day. Those building cumulus clouds will affect wind quality and winds strength.

Now, here’s an early heads up for a free bike maintenance clinic. Mountain View cycles Maintenance Festivus happens Tuesday at 6:30pm. Give the shop a call to sign up.

Whatever you do today, have an awesome day!