It’s a bit of a tricky forecast this Sunday morning as a weak frontal system moves onshore. This tends to disrupt the stable wind-generating pattern. As proof of this, I offer the 6am gradients and wind speeds: .12 (pdx-dls) and .09 (dls-psc). With gradients like that, speeds on the river should be in the mid to upper 20’s. Instead, early this morning, we were seeing low double digits most places with low 20’s at Maryhill. River temp is 66 degrees, flow is 166kcfs at The Dalles, and 1813 Chinook made it past Bonneville yesterday. Continued after the chart…
| Your favorite beach | Dawn Patrol |
9am- 11:30a |
11:30a- 3pm |
3pm- dusk |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steven’s Locks | 10-13 | 13-16 | 20-23 | 23-26 | |
| Hatchery/White Salmon Sandbar (minus a few for Hood River) | 10-13 | 13-16 | 13-16 | 20-23 | |
| Doug’s, Lyle, Rowena | 13-16 | 20-23 | 24-28 | 24-28 | |
| Rufus, etc. | 20-23 | 20-23 | 20-23 | 24-28 | |
| Roosevelt, etc. | 13-16 | 13-16 | 20-23 | 24-28 | |
|
|||||
Gorge wind forecast, continued…
On to the forecast… as you may have noticed yesterday, that weak frontal system kept the wind well below what models were predicting. I think we’ll end up with a similar situation today, where the gradients and wind speeds don’t quite match up. Expect 12-15 everywhere but Maryhill through mid-morning, with 20-23 on the Rufus stretch of the river and also at Mosier. By midday, we should be looking at 20-23 pretty much everywhere.
Late in the afternoon, perhaps early in the evening, the wind should pick up to 24-28 near Rowena, Avery and Rufus, and possibly at Stevenson if the clouds burn out. It also wouldn’t surprise me if the wind picks up to 24-28 at the Rowena stretch before it increases at other locations. On days like this, Doug’s can be the magic spot (if rather gusty).
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Monday starts off with 17-20, strongest from Viento to Hood River. For the holiday afternoon, we’ll have 24-28 from Stevenson to Rufus. Looking at Tuesday, you can expect 13-16 to start the day. Tuesday afternoon sees the wind pick up to 25-29 pretty much everywhere – all the way from Stevenson to The Dalles.
Wednesday’s models are also predicting 25-29 or so, but they’re suggesting an offshore low pressure system may interfere with the wind through the Gorge. That said, it should be windy enough to get you on the water. As of this morning, models aren’t predicting any not-windy days this week.
Big Winds SUP Club
Show up and go paddling. No car racks. No hassle. Access 100-plus boards at the Event Site all summer long. With the Big Winds SUP Club, members get multi-use passes to the Big SUP Center, home to North America’s largest fleet of SUPs. A ten session pass starts at $149, includes a lesson, and use of a paddle, PFD and leash, as well as exclusive discounts at Big Winds.
Jones, Sauvie’s, Coast Beta Test Forecast
Nuke Alley Sunday: 14-17. Monday: 12-15. Tuesday: 10-13. Sauvie’s Sunday, Monday and Tuesday: 10-13. Coast (north/central/south). Today: 10-15/25-30/30+, W swell 6′ @ 9 seconds. Monday: 10-15/15-20/30+, W 6′ @ 10. Tuesday: 5-10/15-20/30+, W 5′ @ 10.
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Thank you for using this forecast. Does it save you time, gas money, or help you have more fun in your life? Make a donation! Get your forecast here for free or donate and get on the mailing list for year-round wind forecasts and ski season snow forecasts. Just click on my photo to donate via PayPal or credit card. The email isn’t $99/year. Not $50/year. No, just $12.34 or more gets you on the list for 12 months, and sometimes there are cool prizes. Don’t PayPal? Send a check to Temira @ PO Box 841 in Hood River. Thank you for your support, and thank you for trusting my forecast.
Mt. Hood Snow Forecast
There will be snow on the ground at Mt. Hood today, and every day until the glaciers completely melt away.
Random Morning Thoughts
One of my school projects this quarter is the assembly of a play therapy kit. It’s possible to buy the toys for a play therapy kit (it’s not just random toys), but the kits are hundreds of dollars. It’s not a lot of money when compared to tuition, but it’s still a big chunk of change.
There was a time when I volunteered at one of our local thrift stores, and I remembered that they just gave away the sorts of small toys that I was gathering. Long story short, they have saved me piles and piles of toys, and I have a great play therapy kit now.
The important part of this story is not the toys. It’s the attitude of the people involved. Everyone at the thrift store was so happy to give me toys. It made their week to help me, and it made my week that they are willing to help me. I could have spent a bunch of money to purchase a kit. Instead, these folks and me, we created a ton of goodwill in the universe. They’re happier, and I’m happier. And no money exchanged hands.
This is called “being nice to your fellow humans”. When we do kind things for others (pay the bridge toll of the person behind you, for example, or give lunch to the guy on the off ramp), we create positive feelings. The more positive feelings people have, the nicer they are to each other. So, step outside the hatred-vitriol-us v them cycle, and choose a different way. Be good to others. Pay it forward. You’ll make your community a better place.
Disclaimer required by my grad school program: I am not your therapist (but I could be in 708 days). I am your weather forecaster. Take everything I say with a grain of salt, and consult with your actual therapist about your mental health issues. One other thing: I plan to keep doing this forecast indefinitely, even when I am a therapist.
Gorge Weather Forecast
In a fun twist for early July, the marine clouds snuck past Hood River last night, cooling down the air and leaving us with a partly cloudy start. Those clouds will likely persist through midday, as a weak front moves inland and reinforces the forcing. Expect temps in the upper 50’s early and the mid to upper 70’s this afternoon. Moderate to strong wind. No rainbows. Monday looks sunny. Temps will be in the upper 50’s early and the mid 70’s in the afternoon. Moderate wind. No rainbows. Tuesday looks just like Monday.
For weather specifically directed at travel through the Gorge, please visit Temira’s Awesome Travel Advisory Service on Facebook.
White Sprinter Van of the Day
Road and Mountain Biking
I went for a ride midday yesterday in Post Canyon, and it wasn’t all that crowded at all. I was surprised. Maybe everyone is riding different trails? Or maybe everyone was enjoying a nice road ride in the wind? Anyway, all your road and mountain bike options are open now, with the exception of Gunsight.
Upcoming Events
Today’s events include three free yoga classes – 9am at Samadhi in White Salmon, 4pm at Pure Yoga in The Dalles, and 6 at Pure Yoga Hood River. There’s ping pong at 10 at the Hood River Armory, pickup touch rugby at 3 at the Mosier School and pickup Ultimate Frisbee at 5 at Westside Elementary. There’s also a swap meet at Windance this morning.
One quick piece of trail news: regulated use closures have begun, but Post Canyon is still open for moto. Tomorrow is the Kollas Cranmer Run from Odell to Hood River, the Heros’ Challenge in Washougal, and the Rocket Run in The Dalles.
Looking at next weekend, There’s a Post Canyon work party Saturday, Trailgate, a 44 Road Trails celebration complete with free demos is Saturday, and the Larch Mountain Uphill Time Trial is Sunday – Ouch.
Have an awesome day today!
Temira
