Random Morning Thoughts
It’s amazing how a small change in worldview can change our entire perspective on a situation. Sometimes I find that I get caught up in one perspective on something and am not able to imagine a different side. This only happens when I’m really upset, and that’s unfortunate, because it’s when I really could use a shift in perspective. I was talking to my friend yesterday about some stuff that is going on at work.
“Friend,” I said, “I’m really bummed out because I feel like stuff’s not getting done, and it’s making me look bad.” He smiled and laughed. “T,” he said, “It’s not making you look bad. It’s making you look great in comparison.” Well duh. I smacked myself on the forehead and walked off feeling a lot better.
Anyway, my point is that we get stuck in these spaces where we’re upset and we turn everything against ourselves. I don’t know how we stop when we’re freaking out, take a deep breath, and see the bigger picture, but it’s worth thinking about. I’m going to try and learn to ask myself, “What would be another way to look at this?” when I’m super upset. You can join me in this if you want. And maybe we can ask each other that question and point out a different perspective to our friends more often and relieve some of their suffering. Thanks, friend.
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Mt. Hood Snow
It’s snowing on Mt. Hood this morning, and a moist airmass will combine with strong wind for continued orographic (terrain-enhanced) snow today. Expect the snow level around 1500′, with .4” water value (WV) by 4pm, for 4-5” of snow. Another .3” WV hits Mt. Hood tonight, for another 3-4” of powder. We’ll see some sunbreaks mixed in late in the day, most likely. Wind will be NW 35 early, fading to NW 20 by afternoon.
A dramatic shift in the weather arrives tonight, with cold, cold air pushing into the PNW. By tomorrow morning, the snow level will be at the surface. We’ll see a few flurries in the morning with sunshine by afternoon. Temps will be in the teens early and the single digits in the afternoon. Wind will be WNW 10 early and ENE 15-20 in the afternoon. That’ll give us wind chill readings into the negative teens (-15F or so) by afternoon.
Tuesday looks cold and clear on Mt. Hood with the free air freezing level (FAF) at the surface. Expect temps at 5000′ in the single digits in the morning and the low 20’s in the afternoon as a massive inversion sets up. Wind will be brutal: E 30-35 early and E 45-50 in the afternoon. That’ll give us wind chill readings around -20F early in the day.
Temps warm up on Wednesday as an offshore high pressure system sends warmer air over the top of the cold pool. It’s going to be a monster inversion, with temps right around freezing at 5000′ and in the low double-digits in the Gorge. Wow. Next chance of precip is Friday.
Gorge Wind
I was writing this part of the forecast this morning and got distracted by the wind chill readings for Meadows the next couple of days. And then I got distracted by the possible readings for the Gorge. Anyway, today’s forecast first: Expect westerlies in the gusty 20-23 range from Mosier to Maryhill this morning with gusty 13-16 elsewhere. By afternoon, we’ll see gusty 15-18 from Steven’s Locks all the way to Arlington. We’ll start off Monday with light east wind, but the easterlies will rise to 40mph at Rooster by afternoon. Expect east wind at 60-80 at Rooster on Tuesday and 50-60 on Wednesday. That should give us sub-zero wind chill readings.
Gorge Weather
Looks like we’ll see a showery day in the Gorge with plenty of sunbreaks. Temps will be in the low 40’s today, but they’ll drop below freezing tonight. Watch out for black ice on the roads. We might see a few snow flurries tonight, with up to an inch in the upper valleys. Rainbow chances are 98%.
Tomorrow may start with a few flurries, but will likely end up with a big old inversion cloud. Temps will be in the low 30’s in the morning and will drop during the day, getting into the teens or less at night. No rainbows. It’ll be too cold.
Tuesday starts off with temps in the teens or less. Less, probably. Temps will rise to the low 20’s in the afternoon. This is a very dry air mass moving in, so I’m hoping we’ll see sunshine instead of inversion cloud. I think it’s pretty likely we’ll see sun. Expect east wind through the whole Gorge Tuesday, and prepare for a miserable drive if you have to go to Portland (or Vancouver, like I do), because Rooster will be blowing 60-80.
Next chance of precip is Friday. Models currently show us above freezing, but they tend to be overly optimistic when breaking down the cold pool. Be prepared for the possibility of snow or freezing rain late in the week.
White Sprinter Van of the Day
Road and Mountain Biking
Shred it before it’s frozen! The snow level will drop to 1000′ tonight, so the upper elevation trails will all have some snow on them. By Tuesday, all the lower-elevation trails will be frozen solid, so you’ll find plenty of good riding. Between now and then ride the stuff that stays drier, and you’ll have fun. As for road biking, well, it’s wet today, it’ll be sub-freezing tomorrow, and frigid on Tuesday.
The Clymb: free membership. Cheap gear.
Temira approves. Click to join.
The Gym is my Gym – The Power Station
Let’s face it: sometimes the weather is too cold/wet/grey to use the Gorge as your gym. That’s when you head to the Power Station. Good vibe. Lots of friendly coaches. And free 10 Speed Coffee. Plus, it’s warm there. Turn off your heat, take off some of that technical clothing, and come hang out in the gym. The gym is your gym, for a little while anyway!
Upcoming Events
There’s community yoga, free or by donation, at Yoga Samadhi in White Salmon at 9am today. There’s pickup touch rugby at 3pm. Coming up next week, there’s the last race of the season, a 5k, at 9am on the 31st at the Stevenson Fairgrounds. That run is followed by a polar bear dip in a creek. I am sure there are some races and runs and polar bear swims on New Year’s Day, but I’m waiting to hear from you people about them.
Have an awesome day today!
Temira
