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Friday: sunny today. snow on the way. go out and play!

The best snow forecast for Mt. Hood. The best wind forecast for the Gorge.
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The Forecast

Mt. Hood Snow Forecast – 5000′
4a-8a 8a-12p 12p-4p 4p-8p 8p-4a
Friday
6500′->9000′
Saturday
9000′->2000′
>Sunday
2000′->500′

Mt. Hood Weather Forecast

Sunshine on the mountain Friday gives way to clouds on Saturday and snow Sunday into Monday. We’re expecting about a foot of new snow over the Sunday-Monday period, which should be plenty to refresh at least the groomed slopes, Nordic, and parks. Off piste? Well, it’ll take feet of snow to get rid of the moguls, but some snow is better than no snow!

Friday will be sunny all day and clear all night. The free air freezing level (FAF) will be 6500′ in the morning and 9000′ overnight. No precip. Wind: NW 20-25 in the morning, WNW 10-15 int eh afternoon, and W 25-30 after midnight.

A cold front pushes Hood-ward on Saturday and brings snow from late afternoon on. The freezing level will be 9000′ in the morning, 6000′ midday, and it’ll fall to 2000′ (snow level) in the afternoon and 1500′ after midnight. About 0.3” water equivalent (WE) is forecast overnight, but we could see 50% more thanks to terrain enhancement. Call that 3-5” new snow. Wind: W 25-30 in the morning, WNW 30-35 midday, WNW 35-40 in the afternoon, and W 40 overnight.

Snow, wind, and cooler weather are in the forecast for Sunday. The snow level will be 1500′ in the morning, 1000′ in the afternoon, and 500′ overnight. About 0.5” WE is forecast during the day, for 5-7” powder. Another 0.3” WE is forecast overnight. That will add 3-4” powder. Wind: W 40 in the morning, NW 25-35 in the afternoon, and NW 15-20 overnight.

The snow level falls to the surface near Mt. Hood and the Gorge on Monday. Just a couple inches of additional snow are forecast. Wind: NW 15-20 in the morning, E 10-15 in the afternoon and evening. By Tuesday morning, 850mb (5000′) temps fall from -8C to around -15C leaving us with a low single digit start to (sunny) Tuesday and Wednesday. The weather starts to moderate during the second half of next week, and models are hinting at precip starting up again next weekend.

Note on wind speeds. Different wind directions are experienced in different ways on Mt. Hood. For example, west wind at 50mph will hit the slopes and exposed ridges at W 50. SW 50 may hit the ridges at SW 50, but will likely only be SW 20 below tree line. Hence the ranges for wind. Depends where you are on the mountain. Hopefully that helps clarify.  

Gorge Wind Forecast

Three more days of westerlies are on tap. Cold air then pushes into the east side and switches the wind from westerly to widespread easterlies midday Monday. For Friday, gradients start at 0.09 and 0.04. Combine that with clear sky in Hood River for a clear sign to stay in the Corridor. Westerlies start at 17-20 from Viento to Rufus and hold all day long, perhaps picking up to 21-24 from Viento to Mosier. Stevenson starts at 5-10 and picks up to 13-16. Arlington: don’t bother – it’ll max out in the low teens. River flow is 149kcfs, river temp is 38F, and high temp forecast is a balmy 55F.

Saturday starts with 22-26 from Stevenson to Mosier with 13-16 east of The Dalles and 7-10 near Rowena. The wind fills in to gusty 27-32 from Viento to Threemile with 21-24 near Stevenson. High temp: 47F. Sunday sees a front moving through. The wind starts with gusty 13-16 and showers most places with 20-30 at Viento. Everything settles down a bit in the afternoon, but atmospheric instability will make for gusty and unreliable conditions. That said, you’ll find 23-27 from Avery to Threemile with 11-14 in the western Gorge. High temp: 45F. Monday starts out with light westerlies and quickly switches to widespread easterlies at 10-20mph as cold air arrives from Canada.

BONUS COAST FORECAST (north/central/south, waves). Friday: 10-=15/20-25/30-35, W swell 6′ @ 14 seconds. Saturday: SW 10-15/LTN/N25-30, W 5′ @ 13. Sunday: NW 10-15/NW15-20/N 20-30, W 5′ @ 14 becoming NW 9′ @ 9. Remember that the coast air and water temps are both warmer than the Gorge right now.  

Coast, Jones, Coast

Done until spring, unless there’s an obvious Coast or Sauvie’s or Jones day.  

Hood River Weather Forecast

Clear sky this morning stays that way. Temps will be in the mid 40’s early and mid 50’s later. Moderate westerlies. No rainbows. Saturday will be clear and then quickly cloudy. Rain moves in late afternoon. Temps will be in the mid 30’s early and upper 40’s later. Strong westerlies. 18% chance of rainbows. Sunday will be mostly cloudy and showery. Temp will be in the mid 30’s early and mid 40’s later. Moderate westerlies. 99% chance of rainbows. Light snow is possible Sunday night into Monday.

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

Out in the woods, the trails above 2000′ are snow covered. Down below: brown pow to the east and wet conditions in Post Canyon. Freeze-thaw information: if you notice that temps were below freezing last night and will be above freezing today, don’t ride any trail that’s not under a tree canopy. If you do so, you will cause significant damage. Then people will have to come fix your messes instead of building new trails. Better idea: gravel and road riding.  

Local Events

Please let me know about events. I often only hear about them if you folx let me know!

Ferment’s Tuesday night 4-mile walk/run is back. Meet there at 6pm. At 7:15am on Wednesdays, there’s a run from the White Salmon Bakery. At 7am on Friday morning, you can get a donut and coffee for going for a run at Kickstand Coffee. There’s a night-lit shop mountain bike ride with the Mountain View Cycles crew at Syncline on Wednesday evenings at 5:45pm. The Cold Lap mixed surface ride is at Dirty Fingers at 2pm on Sundays. The John Craig memorial ski race and tour is March 19th in Sisters on McKenzie Pass.  

Sprinter Van of the Week!

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

By Temira

Temira Lital is a recreation and travel weather forecaster based in Hood River, Oregon. Temira uses they/them pronouns. They're also a mental health counselor. Temira bikes, skis, windsurfs, paddles a SUP, swims in mountain lakes, and loves gardening. Most recently they've taken up SUP foiling. Temira is powered by La Croix, protein, and beets.