Tag: wind forecast

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12/17 forecast



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Good morning!

There’s nothing like a Thai coffee first thing in the morning. Concentrated caffeine, concentrated sugar and cardamom are good for the brain at 5am. If you have any suggestions for other things starting with “C” that I could use at 5am, that would be great.

Of course, the caffeine and sugar in my system are no guarantee that the forecast will be correct, or even that I’ll get the correct days in the forecast. That said, here goes…

We’re in the calm before the storm right now. Literally. Mt. Hood sees clear skies and light wind this morning, with clouds filtering in around midday. Early morning westerlies gradually swing around to east, building to 15-20mph by 10pm.

Easterlies on Mt. Hood build into the 30-35mph range overnight, possibility creating some issues with lifts tomorrow morning. Of greater concern than the cold-pool driven east winds is the wind shear generated by the front coming over the top of the cold air. There’s a possibility of very strong downslope winds between 5am and 11am. Otherwise, we’ll see strong east winds switching to westerlies in the 25-30mph range by 10am.

Snow starts on the hill around 5am, with a total of 8-10” falling between 5am and 7pm. We’ll see a short-lived break in the weather in the evening, but then snow picks up again around 10pm, falling all night long, for an additional 4-6” of accumulation. Light snow keeps falling all day Sunday, with a stronger period of snowfall for a few hours midday, for another 3-4” of snow. Windspeeds on Sunday will be down from Saturday, with 10-15mph all day.

If you’ve been meaning to try new skis or a new snowboard, head to Meadows on Sunday for the NW Demo Tour. It’s free, and there will be a ton of gear for you to try. Also, if you’ve been waiting for Cooper Spur, it’s open now through the end of the holiday season (and a few days a week after that). Yay for the little resort that could!

If you live in the Gorge, here’s your hometown forecast: East gradients through the gorge will strengthen today and a cold pool of high pressure will deepen today, setting up trouble for the Gorge. Snow starts falling around 5am tomorrow, and with a total of .3-.5” of water value predicted, we’ll see 4-6” of snow during the day tomorrow. It looks like snow will continue in the Gorge through Sunday, with another 3-5” falling. Watch for fun and excitement between Cascade Locks and Rooster Rock, where a full-on blizzard, due to easterlies in the 35-45+mph range, seems likely. Remember, if the freeway closes, you are free to take your snowmobile for a ride down I-84. (And please don’t quote me on that when OSP comes after you on their sled)

Have an awesome day today!

Temira

p.s. If you find this report useful, entertaining, or just want to recognize all the hard work that goes into it, please take the time to make a donation by clicking on the button at the bottom of the page. For a suggested donation of $10, I’ll add you to the email version of this list ‘til November 2011, putting you in the running for cool prizes donated by the weekly sponsors.

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Forecast

Happy Chanukah forecast: 12/2



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Access to super cheap gear including Trew, Zeal, Sierra Designs, and many more.

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Good morning!

It’s snowing in the mountains again today. I prefer starting the day with snow. Uttering the “r-word” at 5am is no fun. 2” of snow fell overnight, and we’ll see another 3-5” today, with temperatures in the mid to upper twenties. That should be enough snow to erase the evidence of yesterday’s rain from groomed runs. You’ll probably still hit the off-piste crust in areas after this snow falls, but the skiing will be to the good side of average.

Tomorrow looks dry and likely sunny on the slopes, but there’s a possibility of strange happenings on Saturday. Deep low level east flow combines with southerly upper flow for wind shear at 5-6000’ Saturday through Sunday morning. That could make for unanticipated strong winds at T-Line and Meadows Saturday evening. We’ll see 2-3” of new snow on Saturday, and we will likely see trace amounts in the Gorge as well (unless we end up in a rain shadow due to the southerly approach of this system).

Sunday looks dry with light wind on Mt. Hood.

Heavy La Nina snow returns to Mt. Hood on Monday, likely during the afternoon, making Tuesday the next powder day at Skibowl (3pm-9pm, Tue), Meadows and T-Line.

I have a wind forecast for you today as well. Nuclear force east winds hammer Rooster Rock and Stevenson on Saturday. Andrew, I know you hate the term nuclear, but these will be cold easterlies, giving your skin a healthy, radioactive glow. Easterlies continue in the 25-ish range Sunday, and then pick up to 30ish Monday into Tuesday as a deep upper low rotates off the coast.

Those east winds combined with a wet frontal system on Monday night into Tuesday give the Gorge yet another chance of snow and freezing rain, as the desert air feeding the easterlies will remain below freezing. This is getting ridiculous. Aren’t you glad you voted for the gas tax last year so we have money in Hood River to plow and sand the roads? Want to see more plowing? Buy more gas. (Arthur’s going to kill me)

Don’t forget about the 2nd Wind / USASA Rail Jam in downtown Hood River on Saturday. Finals will be in the evening, so even if you’re on the mountain during the day, you can still catch the best of the action.

Have an awesome day today!

Temira

p.s. If you find this report useful, entertaining, or just want to recognize all the hard work that goes into it, please take the time to make a donation by clicking on the button at the bottom of the page. For a suggested donation of $10, I’ll add you to the email version of this list ‘til November 2011, putting you in the running for cool prizes donated by the weekly sponsors.