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Sunday-Monday: strong westerlies, incoming snowfall, and the Steve Gates memorial paddle out on Sunday.

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Mt. Hood Snow Forecast – 5000′
4a-8a 8a-12p 12p-4p 4p-8p 8p-4a
Sunday
7000′->1500′
Monday
1500′->500′
Tuesday
500′->0′

Mt. Hood Weather Forecast

Snowfall is finally coming for the mountains, but it’s not all that much. Once this system moves through, we’re back to cold, dry weather unless something changes drastically in the models in the next few days.

For Sunday, the mountain starts cloudy with drizzle. That drizzle will switch to snow at 5000′ around noon. While there’s not a lot of moisture available, NW flow for the next couple of days will maximize snowfall out of that minimal moisture. So… the snow level on Sunday starts at 6500′, falls to 2500′ in the afternoon, and drops to 1000′-1500′ overnight. About 0.3” water value (WV) falls before the snow level drops, for a couple inches of snow up high and nothing down low. Another 0.5” – 0.8” WV arrives tonight, for 5-8” of new snow at 5000′. Wind on Sunday will be WNW 40 early, NW 25 in the afternoon, and NW 30 after midnight.

Monday sees continued orographic (terrain-enhanced) snowfall. Again, there really won’t be much moisture around. Expect that snowfall to be mixed with sunbreaks. The snow level will be 1000′-1500′ all day, falling to 500′ after midnight. About 0.1” WV falls during the day, for an inch of new. Same overnight – one more inch. Wind will be NW 30 early, NW 20 in the afternoon, and WNW 15 after midnight.

Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s models lack the clarity we need for a snow forecast; an incoming low may go far enough north for snow on Mt. Hood, and it also may not. Generally speaking, the snow level lowers from 500′ on Tuesday morning to 0′ by Wednesday as strong easterly flow brings frigid air in from the east. As of right now, it appears Mt. Hood will only see a few inches of snow, at best. After that, our weather stays cold and dry for several days before the next system approaches (or does not) next weekend.  

Gorge Wind Forecast

Gradients to start Sunday were surprisingly large – 0.12 from Portland to the Dalles and another 0.12 from The Dalles to Pasco. With strong offshore high pressure in place Sunday and Monday, the Gorge will see strong westerlies. Get them now, because who knows when they’ll be back.

Sunday morning starts with 10-13 in the west and 12-15 east of Mosier. The wind quickly picks up to gusty 24-28 from Mosier to Rufus and then fills in back to Stevenson by late morning. Eastern Gorge wind will fade by 1pm, and western Gorge wind will start to fade a bit after that. River flow is 103kcfs and temp is 50 degrees. This morning is the Steve Gates memorial paddle out at the Nichols Boat Basin, 10:30am.

Monday starts with another round of westerlies. Early wind will be 12-15 everywhere. The wind will pick up to 24-27+ from Mosier to Rufus with 10-13 east and west of there. That wind should last pretty much all day. While Tuesday morning may start out with light west flow, a strong offshore low will reverse the wind. Expect widespread easterlies at 20-25+ from mid-morning onward through the evening. Easterlies stick around for the extended period.

COAST, JONES, SAUVIE’S: Detailed forecast is back on winter break.  

Hood River Weather Forecast

Partly to mostly cloudy sky starts off Sunday. Temps will be in the upper 40’s early and low 50’s later. Sprinkles are possible early, but most of the day should be dry. Moderate to strong westerlies. 5% chance of rainbows. Monday looks mostly cloudy with scattered sprinkles. Snow level 1500′. Temps will be in the upper 30’s early and mid 40’s later. Moderate to strong westerlies. 78% chance of rainbows. Tuesday looks mostly cloudy with scattered snow or rain showers. No accumulation. Temps will be right around freezing early (probably above), near 40 in the afternoon, and well below freezing after sunset. Light west wind early. Widespread strong easterlies later. 2% chance of rainbows (probably too cold). Models are not agreeing on Tuesday night’s weather. See TATAS for more details.   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.  

Road and Mountain Biking

Some trails are currently in freeze-thaw condition. If you see wet, sloppy mud, please turn around. If you ride there, you will do significant damage to trails. For example, the part of Seven Streams that runs through the clearcut. Bad. Mobius: bad. Syncline might be dry enough to avoid free-thaw mud, but maybe not. Turn around if you encounter freeze-thaw, and please… stay on the designated trails. Do not cut the corners or make new trails. Other options: anything up high – it’s all still snow-free. Get it now, because upper-elevation snow starting Sunday will put an end to those trails, probably for the season.  

Upcoming Events

On Sunday, there’s $5 yoga at Samadhi at 9am and Zen meditation from 3pm to 5pm at Hood River Foundation of Vibrant Living. Steve Gates’ memorial paddle-out is at 10:30 on Sunday at the Nichols Boat Basin.  

White Sprinter Van of the Week!  

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Random Morning Thoughts: on vacation.

 

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Have an awesome day today!

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.