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The Forecast
| 4a-8a | 8a-12p | 12p-4p | 4p-8p | 8p-4a | |
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| Thursday 0′->4500′ |
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| Friday 4500′->8000′ |
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| Saturday 8000′->2000′ |
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Mt. Hood Weather Forecast
Dry weather is forecast through the middle of Saturday afternoon. We then take an abrupt turn into an active weather pattern. Models suggest we’ll see multiple systems move through. Models are also trending colder with this pattern (although there’s a lot of range in temps). That’s hinting at significant snowfall in the next 10 days. We’re unlikely to escape without some rain, but overall, things look good!
For Thursday, it’ll be intermittently high overcast on the slopes. Conditions: cold packed powder (it was 9.5F at Meadows Nordic and 26F at the top of Cascade this morning). The free air freezing level (FAF) will be 0′ this morning, 3500′ this afternoon, and 4500′ overnight. Wind: light/variable this morning, W 15 this afternoon, and NW 10-20 overnight.
Friday starts cloudy, turns clear, and has some random intermittent high clouds. The FAF will be 4500′ in the morning, 6500′ in the evening, and 8000′ overnight. Wind: NW 10-20 in the morning, SW 15-30 in the afternoon, and SW 20-40 overnight.
Saturday may start clear, but the lenticular clouds will build. Snow arrives in the afternoon. The snow level will start at 8000′, but it will fall to 4000′ or so by the time the precip hits and 2000′ after midnight. The current forecast is for 0.4” water equivalent (WE) overnight, for 4” of regular quality snow. Wind: SW 20-40 in the morning
If the current forecast holds (and take note that it’s been shifting all over the place!), there will be no lifts to start the day on Sunday. They might come back later. Why? Wind! This wind was absent from yesterday’s forecast, but it’s here today. First, the snow level: 1500-2500′ all day. Snowfall: daytime WE is 1.2”, for at least a foot of new. Add in the orographic assistance, and 2.0” WE seems possible. Let’s just call it 1-2 feet of new snow. Snowfall tapers off overnight; models suggest only 0.1” WE, but it could be a little more. Now, the wind: WSW 50-60 first thing, W 65 (goodbye all lifts) mid-morning. The wind then tapers to W 35 in the afternoon and SW 15-25 in the evening and overnight.
More uncertainty arises Monday into Tuesday with the next system. Generally speaking, we’re looking at moderate precip Monday night into Tuesday. Generally speaking, it looks too warm to fall as snow. Generally speaking, we’re looking at showery weather after that with periods of rain interspersed with longer periods of snow. That’s all I’ve got for you for now. I’m heading out on a meditation retreat, and my housesitter, sadly, is unable to take over this forecast. I will see you again the weekend after this one. Enjoy the active weather!
Note on wind speeds. Different wind directions are experienced in different ways on Mt. Hood. For example, west wind at 50mph will hit the slopes and exposed ridges at W 50. SW 50 may hit the ridges at SW 50, but will likely only be SW 20 below tree line. Hence the ranges for wind. Depends where you are on the mountain. Hopefully that helps clarify.
Gorge Wind Forecast
Not much is going on the next few days. Thursday starts calm. Westerlies pick up to 9-12mph from Stevenson to The Dalles this afternoon. River flow is 154kcfs, river temp is 40F, and high temp forecast is 50F. Friday will be light/variable in the morning with W 7-10 in the afternoon west of The Dalles. High temp: 57F. Saturday brings a weather system in. This kicks westerlies up to gusty 15-25 from Rooster to Viento with 7-10 east of there. The wind drops to light/variable in the afternoon as rain moves in. High temp: 59F.
Coast, Jones, Coast
Done until spring, unless there’s an obvious Coast or Sauvie’s or Jones day.
Hood River Weather Forecast
Intermittent high clouds are forecast today. Temps will be in the mid 20’s early and near 50 later. Calm wind in the morning. Light westerlies later. No rainbows. Friday will be intermittently high overcast. Temps will be in the mid 30’s early and upper 50’s later. Calm wind early. Light westerlies later. No rainbows. Saturday will be clear, then cloudy, then rainy. Temps will be in the mid 30’s early and upper 50’s later. Light westerlies in the morning. Light and variable wind later. 89% 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
Please be very selective about what trails you ride today. With temps in the 20’s overnight, freeze thaw conditions are likely in areas exposed to the sun. If you ride the trails when they are muddy, you’ll damage them. Then everyone has to spend time fixing the damage instead of building you new trails. Best responses if you did ride: 1) donate money to the Hood River Area Trail Stewards; 2) show up for as many trail work parties as you can this spring.
Local Events
Please let me know about events. I often only hear about them if you folx let me know!
Ferment’s Tuesday night 4-mile walk/run is back. Meet there at 6pm. At 7:15am on Wednesdays, there’s a run from the White Salmon Bakery. At 7am on Friday morning, you can get a donut and coffee for going for a run at Kickstand Coffee. There’s a night-lit shop mountain bike ride with the Mountain View Cycles crew at Syncline on Wednesday evenings at 5:45pm. The Cold Lap mixed surface ride is at Dirty Fingers at 2pm on Sundays. The Small Boat paddlers have a group paddle on Sunday at 11am at the Event Site The John Craig memorial ski race and tour is March 19th in Sisters on McKenzie Pass. Teacup has the “Glides of Spring” skate race on 3/19. Meadows Nordic has a Strava skate race happening between March 4th and, oh, sometime a few weeks from then.
Sprinter Van of the Week!
Click here for the Sprinter Van map of the world!!!
Have an awesome day!
