Nuking Tuesday - The Gorge is my Gym

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

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The Forecast

Your favorite beach	Dawn Patrol	9am- 11:30a	11:30a- 3pm	3pm- dusk
Today’s Gorge Wind – these are ranges for the average speed, not a predicted wind range. =)
Rooster Rock	no	clouds	buns	proud
Steven’s Locks	20-25	25-30	30-35	30-35
Viento	25-30	25-30	35-40	35-40
Swell-Hood River	20-25	25-30	30-35	30-35
Lyle to Doug’s	20-25	20-25	30-35	nuking
Rufus, etc.	25-30	30-35	nuking	nuking
Roosevelt & Arlington	20-25	20-25	30+	nuking

Gorge Wind Forecast

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Today’s the day you nuke-fans have been waiting for. No, it isn’t nuking to start the day – the cold front we’re awaiting is taking its sweet time – but it will be later! Your best shot for getting completely blown off the water will be east of The Dalles this afternoon, but everywhere will be very windy. Strong wind continues on Wednesday. We’ll have low to mid 20’s on Thursday, and we’ll return to mid 20’s for the weekend. To get the weekend wind, you’ll likely be east of The Dalles as low clouds surge into the west side. More on that later.

Let’s look at today, the day I’ve been waiting for, and maybe the day you’ve been waiting for too. Dawn wind was 20ish in the west and in the teens out east. Don’t be fooled. Early pressures were 30.03/29.84/29.80 for gradients of 0.18 and 0.04. Models drive send those gradients soaring this afternoon – the Portland-Dalles gradient should exceed 0.20. That’s exceptional! We’re expecting a cold front to fill the west side with dense, chilly marine air, and we’re expecting the desert temps to break 90F. All that heat out east creates an immense area of low pressure in our desert and also in Idaho. This draws the wind from the offshore Northeast Pacific High (approximately 1031mb today) all the way across the Northwest.

Areas west of The Cascade Crest, Stevenson to Doug’s, will see a slow build to very gusty 30+. Why so gusty? The front will induce lift, allowing the wind to rise off the river (speeds will underperform gradients this morning as a result), and the front will also allow upper-level wind (very strong) to mix to the surface. East of the Crest, things should be a bit steadier. Speeds steadily climb upwards as thermals kick in. As the front passes, windspeeds rocket upwards. Strong upper-level wind contributes to lee-side troughing (low pressure – same mechanism that clears cold air out of the Gorge after a winter snow/ice storm). By late morning, we’ll have gusty 26-30 from Stevenson to Doug’s, and areas east to Threemile won’t be far behind. Early in the afternoon, the wind goes nuclear: super-gusty 25-35+ from Stevenson to Mosier, 35+ Lyle to Threemile, 30+ east of Threemile. This is no-joking kind of wind. Take your sub-3 windsurf sail, your smallest kite, and your 2m wing, and still be prepared to get blown off the water. River flow yesterday was mostly under 200kcfs (149-241kcfs) but did have a short spike at 240kcfs. River temp is 65F. High temp forecast is 76F for Hood River and 91F for Pasco. Chance of this forecaster eating at Amayah’s Indian cart (just east of Biggs): 100%!

Cold air and marine clouds surge inland tonight and push past Hod River. They’ll burn off some during the day, but the western Gorge, west of Hood River, will remain socked in. Even Hood River may stay partly cloudy. The day starts with 24-27 from Stevenson to Threemile. As things settle out, you’ll find gusty, cloudy 13-17 at Stevenson, gusty 21-24 from Viento to Mosier, and 28-32 from Lyle to Arlington. Boardman and Threemile should join at 25-29. Models hint that late day clearing could kick Stevenson to Mosier to gusty 24-27, so keep an eye on that Executive Session. High temp: just 65F.

Thursday starts with 20-23 from Stevenson to Arlington with 22-25 from Stevenson to Doug’s in the afternoon. As we move into the extended forecast, we rely more heavily on the ensembles. They’re liking the idea of stronger wind, mid to upper 20’s, on Friday and Saturday. With rain possible in the west on Sunday, you’ll be driving way out east for your wind (and Indian Food) fix. Be safe on the river today. Consider a PFD, and keep an eye on your buddies.

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Jones, Sauvie’s, Coast

Wind speed in knots. Direction Northerly unless otherwise noted for Coast. Westerly for Jones. Northerly for Sauvie Island. North/Central/South, waves. Wave forecast provided by NWS. Tuesday: 10-15/10-15/30-35+, NW swell 6′ at 8 seconds. Wednesday: 15-20/15/35+, NW 8′ @ 10. Thursday: 10-15/15-20/35+, NW 6′ @ 9. Jones Tuesday: 18-21. Wednesday: 10-13. Thursday: 17-20. Sauvie Island Tuesday: NW 12-15. Wednesday: NW 10-13. Thursday: N 11-14.

Mt. Hood Snow Forecast

On vacation until fall unless something extraordinary happens.

Hood River Weather Forecast

Mosley clear sky this morning adds some high clouds this afternoon and turns clear tonight. Temps start in the mid 60’s and rise to the mid 70’s. Moderate westerlies early. Nuking westerlies later. No rainbows. Wednesday will be cloudy to start and partially high overcast to finish. Watch for a pretty sunset. Temps start in the upper 40’s and rise to the mid 60’s. Nice day to keep the windows open! Strong westerlies. No rainbows. Thursday will be cloudy to start and partly high overcast to finish. Temps start in the mid 40’s and rise to the mid 70’s. 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.

Local-ish Events

Please let me know of outdoor-related local-ish events. If you don’t tell me, I don’t know! Coming up Sunday, there’s a swap meet at Windance. It’s the Backyard Half in White Salmon on Saturday. The Pray for Wind party is at Kickstand on Saturday.

Regular weekly events: NK Studios in Bingen has a donation-based yoga class at 7:30am every Tuesday. Ferment’s Tuesday night 4-mile walk/run is at 6pm. There’s meditation with monks at 5:15pm (an hour) and 6:30pm (30 minutes plus a talk) at Yoga Samadhi in White Salmon. At 7:15am on Wednesdays, there’s a run from the White Salmon Bakery. At 7am on Friday morning, there’s a run from Pine Street Bakery. On Fridays at 2:30pm, there’s a free meditation and stretching class at Yoga Samadhi. On Saturday at 9am, there’s a by-donation outdoor group fitness on the 2rd floor deck above Ferment Brewing.

Regular bike rides (thanks to the Hood River Area Trail Stewards for collecting). Tuesday is Mountain View’s ride. Meet at 5:45pm on Post Canyon Drive where the pavement ends. Wednesday is the Evo/Kickstand all-ability, no-drop Post Canyon ride. 5:30 from the shop or join along the way. All abilities welcome. Thursday is Mountain View’s women’s ride. 5:30pm, Seven Streams Trailhead. No drop. Thursday is also the Dirty Fingers Post and Pint. 5:30 from the shop or later at Family Man. This is hardcore, race-pace. Saturday morning is the Mountain View road/gravel ride. Two hours. 12-14mph average speed. Starting May 6th, Oregon Ebikes has the women’s ride at 8:30am. Meet at Seven Streams parking lot for a 1.5 to 2 hour ride.

Cycling

How much rain do you need to make brown pow out of dust? Somewhere between 0.1” and 0.25”. Maybe late this weekend or early next week! Post is clear of snow to the top. Dog River and Surveyor’s are clear. Bottle Prairie, 8 Mile, and Super Connector are open and already dusty. Fifteenmile is rideable. Super Duper Connector is open. There is still snow on a short section of Surveyor’s between the Cooks Meadow intersection and Dog River. Nestor Peak is clear of snow. The USFS website says that Lewis River is open and clear. Falls Creek isn’t even close! The Forest Loop above Trout Lake is open as is the mixed surface Sleeping Beauty/8810 loop.

Cows are in on Hospital Hill. That means dogs are no longer allowed. Even if your dog is cool. Even if you’re a local. Even if … you get the picture! Hospital Hill is private land. Please respect the wishes of the landowners – they’re generous enough to let folks use that land, and dogs have been shot there before. Please don’t ride muddy trails, or you’ll do permanent damage. Always remember to consider gravel riding! If you’re parking at Post Canyon, you will need a parking pass. Those can be purchased at many local shops or online.

Valuable Advice for Gardeners Inhabiting Neighboring Areas

All that weeding you’ve (I’ve) been putting off will get done in the next week or so! Weeds (especially those that haven’t gone to seed) are nitrogen for your compost. Mix them in with some browns, and you’ll have a hot, quick pile fired up in no time at all!