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Random Morning Thoughts
I heard from multiple sources yesterday that Meadows is closing today. People, THAT’S NOT TRUE. Meadows has zero desire to close. That’s the worst thing they can do, and the thing they’ll avoid at all cost. The skiing isn’t awesome, but the coverage is just fine on the groom and they’re still building new features in the parks. Meadows will stay open even if they have to beat up Timberline and steal their glacier (okay, they wouldn’t do that, but you know what I mean). They’re aren’t closing. And there’s snow coming next week, so please stop spreading the rumors!
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Mt. Hood Snow Forecast
There is, thankfully, a pattern change in the forecast models. See, we knew this dry weather couldn’t last forever. You’d better get some sun while you have a chance!
Today on Mt. Hood starts off clear, becoming increasingly cloudy as the day wears on. Precip starts around 10pm. The free air freezing level (FAF) will be at 8000′ early, 9000′ midday, 8000′ when the rain starts, and 6500′ around 1am. We’ll see .7” water value (WV) this evening, mostly falling as rain/freezing rain, but possibly giving us 1” of new snow at 5000′ and 1-3” of new snow higher up. Wind today will be WSW 20 early, steadily increasing to WSW 40 by the evening and swinging to W 50 overnight.
Friday morning starts with a few snow flurries under mostly blue sky, becoming clear and sunny by mid-morning. The FAF will be 4500′ at 4am, dropping to 1500′ by 7am and falling to 500′ in the evening. Wind will be WNW 50 early, 40 at 7am, and will then slowly swing to NW 30 around 1pm and then swing more to NE 20 around 7pm.
Saturday looks clear on the mountain, with the FAF at the surface early, with temps rising during the day and creeping just above freezing at 8000′ in the afternoon. Wind will be E 15mph.
Sunday looks clear and warm, with the FAF at 12,000 and light wind.
Now, on to the extended forecast, which looks pretty damned good. A weak system swings through Monday night or Tuesday morning with the snow level around 5000′. That should give us a bit of snow. Then a stronger, colder system swings through on Wednesday or Thursday for a good shot of snow. Now, this is a long-range forecast, and isn’t exactly reliable, but it does look like we’re heading into more of a westerly flow pattern with lower temps and higher amounts of precipitable water. This is very good news.
Gorge Weather
I just walked outside, and it appears to be cloudy. Since it’s clear on the mountain, we must have an inversion cloud. Yep. That’s logic working for you. Expect it (the cloud, not the logic) to break up today, leaving us with increasingly dense high clouds and temps in the mid-40’s. We’ll see some rain tonight. Tomorrow brings low marine clouds with clear sky east of Mosier? The Dalles? Temps tomorrow will be in the upper 30’s to low 40’s. It will be windy near Hood River and windier near The Dalles. Saturday and Sunday look quite cold in the Gorge, with temps hovering around freezing. It will probably be clear, but it’s hard to say at this point.
Gorge Wind Forecast
There’s a .10 east gradient this morning, and that’ll give east wind at 24-27. Expect the easterlies to fade quickly, switching to west wind late in the afternoon and increasing overnight. The strongest wind will likely be between 1am and 4am, but we’ll still see morning westerlies tomorrow at 24-28, strongest from Mosier to Maryhill, with 15-18 further east. Expect the westerlies to slowly fade during the day. We’ll see an abrupt switch on Saturday to east wind at 40ish at Rooster, with continued very strong east wind on Sunday.
Road and Mountain Biking
As of yesterday, Syncline was reportedly very good on the doubletrack and on Moab with a few mushy spots on Maui. In Post Canyon, Seven Streams is a no-go, but if you ride Twelve Bridges (the lowest sections) and then ride up the road to the top of Mitchell Ridge, you’ll find perfect dirt.
The Clymb: free membership. Cheap gear. Temira approves. Click to join.
Events – email me if I’ve missed any outdoor-related events
There’s pickup rugby tonight at Henkle Middle School in White Salmon at 3:30pm.
Other than that, I have no idea what’s going on. Doesn’t anyone do a Polar Bear Swim around here?
Have an awesome day today!
Temira
