Sunday: “maybe” westerlies for the next three days

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. =)
Iwash (Rooster) Rock	desperate	buns	soaking in	sun
Stevenson	LTV	LTV	7-10	12-15
Viento	LTV	LTV	7-10	12-15
Swell-Hood River	LTV	LTV	7-10	12-15
Lyle to Doug’s	LTV	LTV	LTW	LTW
Rufus, etc.	LTV	LTV	LTW	LTW
Roosevelt & Arlington	LTV	LTV	LTW	LTW

Gorge Wind Forecast

Good morning, everyone! As is usual in fall, models are bouncing around from day to day about what the wind will do. We have a slight chance of “just enough” for some folks today, a decent chance of gusty west wind tomorrow (Monday), and then a shot at an executive session on Tuesday. After that, high pressure builds in. This gives us a calm day on Wednesday followed by some easterlies.

Sunday starts off clear and cold with pressures of 30.09/30.05/30.04 for gradients of 0.04 and 0.01. Today’s results really depend on whether the desert can overcome the chilly start, or at least if the Gorge can outpace the metro area in the heating game. We do have some help from offshore high pressure and onshore flow, so… maybe? Expect light/variable wind to start the day. Make non-wind plans until early to mid afternoon. Models like the idea of 10mph from Stevenson to Hood River this afternoon, but I think there’s a middling chance of 12-15 mid to late afternoon. Don’t bank on it. But don’t be surprised if we get lucky. River flow yesterday was, well, actually, I’m not quite sure because the model stopped reporting around noon. Somewhere in the 58-64kcfs range. River temp is 66F. High temp forecast is 71F.

Monday’s marked by a weather system arriving from the NW and then moving through. If ya gotta have a weather system and you’re hoping for surface wind, this is the right direction. If you can get the morning session (temps below 50), you’ll probably have the best results. Models suggest 20-23 from Viento to Mosier early followed by gusty 20-23 from Stevenson to Rufus. From late morning on, rain make it to Cascade Locks, skips the central Gorge, and also falls east of The Dalles. Models think the western Gorge, west of The Dalles, will drop to gusty 13-16. East of The Dalles, very gusty 23-27 from The Dalles to Arlington, but it’ll probably be raining at Rufus until early afternoon and raining east of Rufus mid-afternoon on. Choose wisely. High temp: 63F.

High pressure starts building in on Tuesday. The day starts with light westerlies, under 10mph. They slowly, ever so slowly, build. Late afternoon brings, if the models hold, 17-20 from Stevenson to The Dalles. Fingers crossed for that executive session! High temp: 64F. Wednesday: calmish. Thursday/Friday: easterlies in the 20-30 range. We’ll have to wait until we get closer to see just how windy it will be. Have a lovely day today!

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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. Sauvie Island wind sensor: sauviewind.net, but it’s done for the season! Coast: North/Central/South, waves. Wave forecast provided by NWS. Sunday: 10-15/15/20-25+, NW swell 5′ at 9 seconds. Monday: variable to 20/variable to 15/20kt early fading, W 4′ @ 13. Tuesday: 5-10/10-15/20-25+, W 7′ @ 14. Jones Sunday: 15-18. Monday: calm. Tuesday: LTW. Sauvie Island Sunday: 15-18. Monday: LTV. Tuesday: 10-13.

Mt. Hood Snow Forecast

On vacation until fall unless something extraordinary happens.

Hood River Weather Forecast

Clear sky sticks around all day. High clouds arrive in the evening. Temps will be in the low 40’s early and low 70’s later. Light westerlies. No rainbows. Monday will be cloudy but probably dry. Temps start in the mid 40’s and rise to the low 60’s. Moderately strong westerlies. 2% chance of rainbows. Tuesday will be partly cloudy then partly high overcast. Temps start in the upper 40’s and rise to the mid 60’s. Light wind early. Moderate westerlies in the evening. No rainbows. The rest of the week looks sunny, warm, and dry.

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!

Regular weekly events: 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. The Tri Club has their weekly workout at Mayer Park at 6pm on Tuesday. At 7:15am on Wednesdays, there’s a run from the White Salmon Bakery. Paddle folks (OC/Surfski) meet at the Hatch Thursday evenings for laps. At 7am on Friday morning, there’s a run from Pine Street Bakery. On Saturday at 9am, there’s a by-donation outdoor group fitness on the 2rd floor deck about 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

Yesterday was brown pow. After last night’s rain, things are probably slick again. Choose your trails wisely – don’t ride in mud or you’ll do permanent damage. Trails on private land that were previously closed due to fire danger (Hospital Hill, Underwood, Whoopdee) have reopened. No trails have closed yet due to snow. If you’re parking at Post Canyon, you will need a parking pass. Those can be purchased at many local shops or online.