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Thursday: windy weather and a Junuary weekend

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The Forecast

   
Today’s Gorge Wind – these are ranges for the average speed, not a predicted wind range. =)
Your favorite beach Dawn
Patrol
9am-
11:30a
11:30a-
3pm
3pm-
dusk
Rooster Rock OPEN! naked buns rejoice!
Steven’s Locks 5-10 10-13 18-21 21-24
Swell-Hood River 14-17 21-24 21-24 21-24
Doug’s, Lyle, Rowena 5-10 10-13 18-21 21-24
Rufus, etc. 5-10 5-10 5-10 5-10
Roosevelt & Arlington 5-10 5-10 5-10 5-10

Gorge Wind Forecast

Oregon and Washington are encouraging people to not travel more than 50 miles (not mph!) to access recreation. Non-essential travel is still being strongly discouraged in ALL jurisdictions. Land managers and law enforcement are carefully watching to see if people maintain social distancing. If crowding happens, water access will be revoked. If you are local and lucky enough to have water access in your community, please do this: rig, play, leave. There is NO camping allowed at any of the river parks. Please don’t camp unlawfully; doing so risks access for everyone, including for people who just want to use the parks for a picnic. Please follow the directions of your local government officials and help keep the Gorge community safe. Thank you!

A series of weak weather systems combines with random low pressure systems moving around the PNW to diminish wind quality over the next few days. That said, there will still be plenty of wind to get on the water if you don’t mind gusty wind!

For Thursday, morning gradients were .10 and .04. That says you’ll be in the west today. Morning westerlies were in the 14-17 range from Viento to Mosier with 5-10 in other locations. We’ll see the wind build to 21-24 by late morning or so from Stevenson to Mosier. The wind fills in to Doug’s by early afternoon. Wind east of there will be W 5-10 or so. River flow is 336kcfs and temp is 57 degrees.

Friday starts out nearly calm, or perhaps with 5-8. As a cold front approaches in the afternoon, the wind will jump in response to approaching cold air. Expect 14-17 from Stevenson to Hood River by 11am. After that, it’s a quick build to gusty 25-28 from Stevenson to Arlington. The “executive session” for those of you who have to work all day, builds to 27-31 east of The Dalles.

Saturday looks showery and cloudy west of Hood River with sunshine to the east and thunderstorms east of Boardman. That’s not an ideal setup, but it’s good enough. Expect another day of westerlies. Morning wind will be 5-10 in the western Gorge with 13-16 east of Avery. The western Gorge stays mired in clouds all day, maxing out at gusty 10-13. Go east of The Dalles and west of Threemile for gusty 21-24 in the afternoon. Sunday’s shaping up to be much windier. Most members of the Euro gust ensemble have max gusts around 40mph, which should give us averages of 29-34 on the river between Lyle and Rufus. That’s still a few days out, and it could change. Fingers crossed!    

Jones, Sauvie Island, Coast

Coast (swell forecast provided by NWS. Wind North/Central/South). Thursday: 10-15/15-20/30-35+, W swell 6′ @ 13 seconds. Friday: NW5-10 everywhere. NW swell 6′ @ 12. Saturday: W 5-10/SW5-10/W5-10, W swell 5′ at 10 seconds. Jones Thursday: 5-10. Friday: 5-10. Saturday: 5-10. Sauvie Island Thursday: 7-10. Friday: NW 10-13. Saturday: nope.    

Open/Closed Launch Site List -All restrooms are closed!

Washington:
Skamania County – Phase two, recreate with 5 or less people outside household
Stevenson East Point, Bob’s Beach, Boat ramp: all open
Home Valley: Unknown
Swell City: Open
Spring Creek Hatchery: Open
Klickitat County – Stay at home order in place. Only recreate with household members
Wunderbar: high water
Bingen Point: Open
Lyle: you have to cross private property to access
Doug’s Beach: Open
Avery: Open
Maryhill: Open for day use only..
The Wall: Open.
Roosevelt: CLOSED due to windstorm damage..

Oregon: Phase one for Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam counties – recreate with 10 or fewer friends from the county
Rooster Rock: Open
Viento: Open
The Hook: Open
Waterfront Park: Closed
Event Site: Open
The Spit: Open
The Marina: Open
Boat ramp: open
Mosier: Only open for residents of 97040
Rowena: Open
Celilo: Open
Rufus: Open
Arlington: Open
Threemile: Open
   

Mt. Hood Weather Forecast

Mt. Hood Meadows is now allowing uphill travel within the permit area. However, you will need to park outside their parking lots. Timberline is open for lift-serve skiing with exemplary guidelines for protecting guests and staff from the transmission of novel coronavirus. Please read their guidelines and rules here. Well done, T-Line! The Mt. Hood weather forecast will be on vacation unless something interesting happens in the weather up there. Some of you will be tempted to go out backcountry skiing. Please don’t – accidents do happen, and you may put others at risk. Timberline is allowing uphill access outside the permit area on the climbers’ trail ONLY. No uphill traffic is allowed at Meadows.    

Hood River Weather Forecast

Partly cloudy sky this morning turns clear this afternoon. Temps will be in the upper 50’s early and mid 70’s later. Moderate westerlies. No rainbows. Friday looks sunny early with high clouds in the afternoon. Temps will be near 50 early and in the low 70’s later. Moderate to strong westerlies. No rainbows. Saturday looks cloudy with sprinkles. Temps will be near 50 early and in the low 60’s later. Light westerlies. 78% chance of rainbows.     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.    

Cycling

Trail update 6/3: Post Canyon: parking is now open. Syncline/Coyote Wall: Open. Mt. Hood National Forest: Open for day use. Surveyor’s, Dog River, and Oak Ridge snow-free. Kreps/SDS: open. Sandy Ridge: Open. Nestor Peak: open. Falls Creek: open. Columbia Hills State Park: open. Syncline: open . Skamania County trails outside the scenic area: open. Ape Canyon: Closed.

Current lawful social distancing requirements: only people from your household in Klickitat County. Only household members if you’re from Multnomah, Clark, or other ‘stay at home’ counties. Up to 5 friends in Skamania County. Up to 10 in Hood River County.    

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Have an awesome day!

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.