The Gorge is my Gym

Good morning Gorge sports fanatics!

Today is the lightest wind day of the next four as the high pressure ridge begins breaking down. Morning gradients stood at .13 and winds were in the low twenties at the Hatche. We’l see 23-26 early, holding all day except for the midday lull, and picking up from Doug’s out to Arlington as a shortwave approaches late.

That shortwave peels off the offshore low and slides east tomorrow morning, kicking up winds a notch. We’ll have 17-19 in the morning, building to 22-25 by midday and climbing up into 24-28 from Doug’s eastward tomorrow evening.

The pesky offshore low slides inland Thursday and Friday, ramping up Gorge winds into the semi-nuclear range. A chance of showers in Portland combines with sunshine in the desert for a classic Gorge setup.

Don’t forget that Kiteboarding for Cancer takes place this weekend. Last year they raised 90 grand for cancer research and awareness. Help them break the 100,000 dollar barrier this year by donating at KB4C.org.

In other news, Mountain View cycles hosts a fr\ee bike maintenance clinic tonight at 6:30. Give them a call to RSVP, or if you’re commitment-shy, just show up. You’ll learn how to change a tire, maintain your driveline, and fix those pesky brakes.

And finally, a shoutout to Chris at the Hood River County Sheriff’s office. It was very nice meeting you yesterday, and I enjoyed our conversation about my slow driving very much!

Whatever you do today, have an awesome day!

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!