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Friday: wind today, heat next week, chance of frost for a few…

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CoronaChat

All across the land, jurisdictions are starting to open up. That seems to be confusing some people. Let’s have an example. Multnomah County is still under “stay home, save lives” orders. Hood River County has entered Phase 1. Does that mean you should drive from one county to another or across state lines to access bars, restaurants, hair cuts, massages, or to have a party? NO!

If you’re still under a “stay home” order, that’s because your community has circulating coronavirus. If you travel to another county that was able to open, you might be bringing the virus with you. You could be the source of a reinstated “stay home” order for that county. Eeek. You don’t want that on your conscience, do you? Follow the orders of the place you live, not the place you want to go. Under normal times, your city residency brings you benefits that rural folks don’t have. Right here, right now, rural residents have some benefits that city folks don’t. Breathe. Accept these differences. Have patience. Stay home, save lives.    


   

The Forecast

   
Today’s Gorge Wind – these are ranges for the average speed, not a predicted wind range. =)
Your favorite beach Dawn
Patrol
9am-
11:30a
11:30a-
3pm
3pm-
dusk
Rooster Rock beach closed buns clothed
Steven’s Locks G14-18 G14-18 G14-18 G14-18
Swell-Hood River G14-18 G14-18 G14-18 G14-18
Doug’s, Lyle, Rowena G14-18 G14-18 G14-18 G14-18
Rufus, etc. 20-25 20-25 26-30 26-30
Roosevelt & Arlington 25-28 25-28 27-31 27-31

Gorge Wind Forecast

Oregon and Washington are encouraging people to not travel to access recreation, and all land managers and law enforcement are carefully watching to see if people maintain social distancing. If crowding happens, water access will be revoked. If you are local and lucky enough to have water access in your community, please do this: rig, play, leave. Recreate and go home. That’ll help limit the spread of Novel Coronavirus. If you live in a place that’s still under a stay at home order, stay home – follow the guidance of where you live, not where you want to go.

One more round of strong westerlies is on tap today before changing weather conditions take the wind down a few notches. For Friday, we’ll still have strong offshore high pressure, marine clouds in the west, and sun in the desert. Morning wind will be 13-16 in the west and 20-25 east of The Dalles. Not much changes in the west in the afternoon as clouds stick around. Out east, the wind rises to 26-30 from Avery to Arlington. River flow is 341kcfs (too much for the Rufus stretch) and temp is 53 degrees.

Saturday starts with 12-15 everywhere. Afternoon wind fades in the eastern Gorge and climbs in the west. You’ll find 22-25 from Stevenson to The Dalles tomorrow. Thinking downwinder? Remember that river flow is 3x summer flow right now. Take that into account in whatever way you need to.

ON to Sunday: light and variable in the morning. 13-16 from Stevenson to The Dalles in the afternoon. Weather gets messier on Monday in the form of offshore low pressure and an approaching weak weather system. That gives us max wind at (subject to change) gusty 18-22, focused on the western Gorge.

Jones, Sauvie’s, Coast: this portion is waiting for those counties to be ready for visitors. They are still under ‘stay home, save lives’ orders. Please respect their wishes and do not travel there to recreate.    

Open/Closed Launch Site List -All restrooms are closed!

Washington:
Skamania County – Phase two, recreate with 5 or less people outside household
Stevenson East Point, Bob’s Beach, Boat ramp: all open
Home Valley: Closed
Swell City: closed
Spring Creek Hatchery: Closed
Klickitat County – Stay at home order in place. Only recreate with household members
Wunderbar: high water
Bingen Point: Open
Lyle: you have to cross private property to access
Doug’s Beach: Closed
Avery: Open
Maryhill: Park closed. Boat ramp open.
The Wall: Closed
Roosevelt: Open

Oregon: Phase one for Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam counties – recreate with 10 or fewer friends from the county
Rooster Rock: Closed
Viento: Closed
The Hook: open
Waterfront Park: Closed
Event Site: Closed
The Spit: Open
The Marina: Open
Boat ramp: open
Mosier: Only open for residents of 97040
Rowena: Closed
Celilo: Closed. Boat ramp open
Rufus: Closed
Arlington: Open
Threemile: Open
   

Mt. Hood Weather Forecast

Timberline is open with exemplary guidelines for protecting guests and staff from the transmission of novel coronavirus. Please read their guidelines and rules here. Well done, T-Line! The Mt. Hood weather forecast will be on vacation unless something interesting happens in the weather up there. Some of you will be tempted to go out backcountry skiing. Please don’t – accidents do happen, and you may put others at risk. Timberline is allowing uphill access outside the permit area on the climbers’ trail ONLY. No uphill traffic is allowed at Meadows.    

Hood River Weather Forecast

Partly to mostly cloudy sky with showers this morning adds high clouds this afternoon. Temps will be in the upper 40’s early and low 60’s later. Moderate westerlies. 89% chance of rainbows. Saturday looks partly cloudy early and sunny later. Temps will be in the upper 30’s early and upper 60’s in the afternoon. Moderate westerlies. No rainbows. Sunday looks high overcast. Temps will be in the mid 40’s early and mid 70’s later. Light to moderate 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

Trail update: Post open to residents of HR County. No parking in HRC forests (staging areas, or anywhere). Syncline/Coyote Wall: CLOSED (it’s in the scenic area, and all those trails are closed – you risk a parking ticket or more if you’re there). Mt. Hood National Forest: trailheads and developed areas CLOSED. Trails: open if you can park somewhere that’s not a trailhead. Surveyor’s, Dog River, and Oak Ridge open according to Strava. Kreps/SDS: open. Sandy Ridge: Open. Nestor Peak: open. Columbia Hills State Park: CLOSED. Skamania County trails outside the scenic area: open. Ape Canyon: Closed. Falls Creek: too snowy to ride as of five days ago per an email I received.

Current lawful social distancing requirements: only people from your household in Klickitat County. Only household members if you’re from Multnomah, Clark, or other ‘stay at home’ counties. Up to 5 friends in Skamania County. Up to 10 in Hood River County.    

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Have an awesome day!

Temira

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.