Temira's Gorge Forecast

I find all this recent talk about "river nose" fascinating. I've read about it in the Hood River News, in the Oregonian, in the Socialist Worker and heard about it on NPR (one of those isn't true). It seems odd to me that the investigation's focus (or perhaps the focus of scare-loving news organizations) is on e. coli and industrial pollutants. Shouldn't we be testing the level of pollen in the river first, if "river nose" is what we're concerned about? After all, it's highly unlikely that e. coli is causing sneezing and runny noses. Don't get me wrong; I think we should know what's in the river if we're going to spend so much time in it, and I applaud Riverkeepers for their investigative work. But e. coli = "river nose"? I, for one, will stick with my steroid nasal spray that saves me most of the time.

Anyway...

I hope everyone had a fun day on the water yesterday. I hope also that not too many of you were forced to camp at Roosevelt due to the fire closing SR-14. Meredith and Ron and Ricky took the road along the Wall to get around the roadblock, and made it home safely. They don't recommend this route, as it's terrifying, not to mention dangerous. Ricky (the dog) was not impressed.

Thanks to Dayna Reed (Sign Art) for pulling rocks and boulders out of the Arlington launch. Walking out should be much easier on bare toes now.

I picked up two harnesses and two helmets at Arlington yesterday. If these are yours, please drop me an email to i.d. and claim.

Gradient support collapsed overnight as the upper level low forced its way near the Oregon coast. Isobars now point east from Portland to Astoria and light west from Portland to The Dalles. With sprinkles falling west of Portland and desert temps expected to hit the mid 80's, we'll see a bit of wind this afternoon, but nothing to write home to grandmama. Winds climb to the 15-18 range by noon, but you'll have to head east of the clouds for steady conditions. Look for Doug's/Rowena/Lyle sandbar to be your spot today. Evening should bring winds in the 19-22 range at Doug's, if you'd like to work out some of the kinks from yesterday.

Saturday brings another day of sailboat racing. It's a long race; Hood River to Cascade Locks is your course. If you'd like to get on a boat, show up at the Marina sometime between nine and noon, and start begging. Winds start the day perfect for sailboat racing: 15-18. As the day goes on, frontal clouds fill into Portland, giving residents SAD flashbacks. Winds jump in the Gorge as the front creeps eastward. Anemometer readings rise to the 23-27 range from Mosier on out. And that means all the way east. Sorry Hatch lovers. It looks like the clouds will make it too far (there hasn't been much windsurfing at the Hatchery this season, has there?). However, do watch for a quick Hatchery session before the clouds fill in.

Sunday models and forecasts remain tempermental at this point. Models are trending towards the expected strong front waiting until Monday, leaving Sunday with winds in the low twenties instead of high twenties. We're looking at sailable conditions, but with variability in the sources, I'll have to wait until tomorrow to pinpoint numbers.

So, Monday is looking good now.

Upper level flow remains southerly for the period of this forecast. This, as you've heard many times, favors The Hook, Mosier, Rowena/Doug's, Avery, Celilo and Arlington. Swell and The Wall suffer under southerly flow.

Okay. I must go to work, as my clients were kind enough to let me use the wind clause yesterday. I'll see you guys on the water tomorrow and out on the town tonight!

Have a great day!