Don't forget the "Swamp Meet" at the expo center this morning. There you'll find a plethora of windsurfing bargains and windsurfing junk. You'll find all your good buddies strolling around a parking lot, and you'll find you dear old wind forecaster passing out flyers for, what else, the forecast!
It's a perfect day for the swamp meet: no wind yet, not too cold, and no rain. Two days later and we'd be buying and selling in a downpour!
Wind, right. You want to hear about wind. We have a .04 gradient to start the day today, a bit better than during yesterday's long-lasting wakeboard session. Speaking of, Cathy's boat is fixed, so you can call her for a quick session before the wind picks up. Scott, on the other hand, still has boat problems, so don't call him. Cathy, maybe you can call Scott!
Wind. Yes, wind. A problematic upper level low lurks just beyond the Oregon coast today, reducing available pressure gradients. This beast is so powerful that it's turned gradients offshore from Portland west. We're only looking, once again, at thermal development today, and NOAA has upped Portland temps from their prediction yesterday. With PDX headed for 80, and The Dalles grasping at 90, we'll see windspeeds in the high teens starting late afternoon. Despite the late afternoon start, the Corridor is the place to be. With upper level flow southerly, look for the Event Site and the Hook to outshine the Hatchery and Swell.
Labor Day morning brings more wakeboarding weather, with a chilly desert night and low pressure looming off the coast. A weak front passing Sunday night aids the river ripping cause; if we're lucky, it will drag clouds into Portland in its wake. NOAA still predicts 80 for Portland, which doesn't bode well for wind, but I'll call 18-22 by afternoon anyway.
Tuesday's our day. Clouds rush into Portland, like fans onto a field at the end of a Packers game (that's for you, Arthur). Well, I guess Packers fans don't really rush the field. Late Monday night, clouds pile into Portland, like Brasilian World Cup fans onto their field (Pat, that's for you). You get the picture, right? Clouds crush Portland spirits, like the Hood River inversion crushes Meredith's gentle spirit in winter. This means? This means it's going to rain in Portland and marine clouds are going to push past Hood River. This means we're driving out east on Tuesday afternoon. Graphical models aren't actually predicting wind out east yet; they're saying wind will concentrate in the corridor. I, however don't think this is right. With the upper level low crossing the PNW Tuesday, and cold air (8000 foot snow levels) filling in from the west, strong temperature and air-pool-driven gradients will develop.
In addition, the North Pacific High rushes to fill the space left by the vacating upper level low. This turns upper level flow westerly, setting up good conditions at The Wall. Finally.
I think Tuesday looks like fun. If you don't, well, you're no fun!
Have a great time at the Swamp Meet and on the water later!
Print | posted @ Sunday, September 02, 2007 7:52 AM