The Gorge Is My Gym

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Gorge Wind Forecast

Given the hot, muggy, nearly-windless forecast for Friday and my need to get some stuff done in the morning, let’s try a Thursday night forecast so you have something to go on for the weekend.

For Friday, the wind will be light easterly or calm nearly all day long. Add in smoke, humidity, and temps over 95 (maybe limited by smoke). After 5pm, the wind will pick up to 10-13 from Stevenson to Mosier, although extensive smoke could keep this from happening. River flow Thursday evening was 189kcfs. River temp is 70-72F. High temp forecast is 101F minus some for smoke.

The heat low shifts eastward on Saturday and Sunday, but the offshore situation is far from ideal; a weak low/trough is hanging out there. For Saturday, that setup gives us westerlies at 20-24 from Viento to Swell for Dawn Patrol with 11-14 east to Arlington. The wind fades to 18-22 and fills in from Stevenson to Doug’s with 5-10 at Rufus and light and variable wind farther east. The smoke should clear out some, and high temps will fall to the mid 90’s.

Cooler air starts to push inland on Sunday, and that allows the cross-Cascade thermal gradient to shine. The day starts with 20-24 from Viento to Mosier with 10-13 to the east. Midday: gusty 22-26 from Stevenson to The Dalles with 18-22 to Arlington. Late afternoon through the evening: gusty 20-25 to Swell with 26-30+ from Hood River to Threemile. High temp: 89. Smoke: much less!

Temps stay seasonable (80ish) for Monday and Tuesday, and the westerlies stick around. Models are hinting at less wind and warmer temps (boo-hiss) starting the middle of next week. Be safe in the smoke and heat, and spend some time in the water!  

Coast, Jones, Coast

Coast (north/central/south, waves. Wind direction north unless otherwise noted. Swell forecast from NWS.) Friday: LTV/LTV/LTV, NW 5′ @ 10 (surfing weather!). Saturday: LTW/LTW/LTN, NW 5′ @ 11. Sunday: LTSW/LTW/LTV, NW 4′. Jones Friday: 20-23. Saturday: 15-18. Sunday: 17-20. Sauvie’s Friday: 13-16. Saturday: 5-10. Sunday: 9-12.  

Mt. Hood Weather forecast

On vacation unless some wintry weather happens.  

Hood River Weather Forecast

Hot, smoky, muggy weather for Friday. Temps will be in the mid to upper 60’s early and upper 90’s to low 100’s later. Light and variable wind becoming light westerly in the evening. No rainbows. Saturday will have high clouds. Temps will be in the upper 60’s early and mid 90’s later. Moderate westerlies. No rainbows. Sunday looks high overcast. Temps will be in the upper 60’s early and upper 80’s later. Moderate becoming strong westerlies. No rainbows.

Looking for a complete Columbia Gorge forecast? Looking for more humor in your weather? Obscenities? You’re looking for my TATAS: Temira’s Awesome Travel Advisory Service on Facebook.  

Cycling

SDS (Whoopdee, Underwood), BLC, HFM, DGS, and Kreps Land (Hospital Hill) are now closed until the end of fire season. It is also vital that people respect this closure to maintain positive relationships between the landowners and trail users. DNR land in Eastern Washington (Buck Creek / Nestor Peak) is all closed to recreation due to fire danger.

Open trails: Post, Falls Creek, Lewis River, Sandy Ridge, Columbia Hills, Gorge 400, Plains of Abraham / Ape Canyon. 44 Road: Eightmile, Fifteenmile, Bottle Prairie, Dog River, Superconnector, Cedar, Knebal, Cooks Meadows, 450 to the top, Gunsight, Underhill. Siouxon and Huffman Peak are “temporarily closed” due to wildfire last year.

Maple Road in Post Canyon is closed. DO NOT drive past the closed signs. If you do so, you will jeopardize TRAIL access for the entire summer. This is the road that runs to the west, just north of the Binns/Riorden intersection. Also, the trail from the bottom of Post Canyon to Seven Streams Staging Area is now closed. It’s on private land. Respect the closure.  

Local Events

IFPL 3 restrictions west of Highway 35 went into effect on 7/16. No more motorized use in Post Canyon trails. Mountain View Cycles women’s ride is every Thursday, bottom of Post at 5:30pm. They have an all-genders ride at 6pm on Wednesday, end of the pavement on Post Canyon Road. Their shop road ride leaves at 9am on Saturday for a 2 hour ride. Dirty Fingers has the Post n’ Pint on Thursday evenings at 5:30pm from the shop. They also have the women’s Post n’ Pinot Wednesday evening at 5:30pm from the shop. Oregon E-Bikes has ladies’ rides at 7:30am Sunday and Monday. The Small Boat Group does paddles every Thursday evening at 6pm at the Hatchery.

Other weekly events. Tuesday night there’s meditation with the Pacific Hermitage Monks at 5:15 (1 hour) and 6:30 (30 minutes followed by a talk) at Yoga Samadhi in White Salmon. In-person meditation is on “pause” due to the recent Covid surge. It will happen on the Pacific Hermitage YouTube page at 6:30. Triathlon practice with the Tri Club is Tuesday at 6pm at West Mayer State Park. Sailboat races happen Wednesday night from the Hood River Marina. There are also lesser races on Friday nights. Cheno’s workout is every Saturday at 10am at the Ferment Lawn in Hood River ($10). Families in the Park starts August 5th at Jackson Park and runs for several weeks on Thursday evening.  

Sprinter Van of the Week!

  Click here for the Sprinter Van map of the world!!!   Have an awesome day!