Someone please explain to me what I'm doing awake before 8am on a Sunday morning. I must be getting old...
Mother Nature handed Gorge mountain bikers a gift last night: rain! Trails this morning will be cool, with occasional mud patches. With winds currently light, it's a great time to ride Syncline.
Rain is dripping and drizzling all the way from Hood River to the Oregon/Idaho border. Even dusty Threemile sagebrush is gathering moisture from the sky. This second rain of the season will increase mushroom harvests (the chaterelles are already out) and bring out some flowers in the deep desert. With another shot of rain on Monday, we could see epic mushroom harvesting conditions by mid week.
As for the wind...
Although we're lacking significant gradient support this morning, we'll still see wind today. Rain in the Gorge at this time of year signals a frontal passage (a front is where two differing air masses meet), and a frontal passage signals wind. Well, a frontal passage signals difficult-to-predict, short-lived wind. The back edge of the front is near Portland now, and winds should increase after the passage. Marine clouds (separate from frontal clouds) in Portland all day keep temps at or below 70. Desert sites reach for 80, giving us a ten degree differential. Combined with the frontal passage, this will give us winds. Look for gusty 21-25 anywhere east of the marine clouds (you'll see - skies will clear in a few hours). Upper level flow remains southerly, so forget about The Wall and other sites along the burned stretch of river.
Tomorrow brings a similar situation. Another unseasonable cold front, bearing more moisture than today's, pile-drives the PNW. Carrying tropical moisture and kicked along by a 110kt jet stream, this front sends mountain bikers into paroxysms of joy. Post Canyon might just get enough rain for epic conditions(tm). Winds look lighter than today, but that could change in the next 24 hours.
Tuesday looks downright bad in the Gorge, as high pressure fills across Oregon. Pistol River, however, goes off. With the North Pacific High rebuilding, all coastal sites see north winds. A switch to north winds on the coast often signals a switch to "normal" westerlies in the Gorge. Hopefully we'll see that scenario in time for Wednesday sailboat races.
Today's race from Cascade Locks to Hood River was cancelled due to low river levels: Boats couldn't get into the CL marina after the race yesterday because the water was too low!
Ok kiddies. I need to find some delicious greasy breakfast!
Print | posted @ Sunday, August 19, 2007 8:21 AM