Temira's Gorge Forecast

First thing this morning is a hurricane warning posted for Cabo San Lucas, Baja, and surrounding areas. Hurricane Henriette, a category one storm, will make landfall in the next 24 hours, with sustained winds reaching 75 miles per hour and predicted rainfall from 3-12 inches. That's not great news for Baja windsurfing areas. Second, and much worse, is Hurricane Felix, a category five storm (very bad news), expected to make landfall in Nicaragua and Honduras this morning. If you have nothing to do for the next couple of months, and happen to speak some Spanish, consider volunteering down there to help with rebuilding.

And on to the Gorge wind forecast...

Mother Nature played a joke on us last night, letting the pre-frontal winds blow in the dark. At least she's left us with decent gradients to start the day: .06, .06, and .18. Unfortunately, there's no additional support from Spokane to Pasco (Victor the Inflictor says if there's no Spokane to Pasco gradient, we're not sailing at Arlington. We'll test that theory today.) Over Hood River right now sits the upper level low that was stalking the coast the last few days. As it shifts east, high pressure will fill in from the west. E/W gradients increase in its wake. NOAA is predicting best winds around HR, but I think we should go to Doug's/Rowena and The Wall for strongest winds. I think we'll see 24-28 as the day goes on, but I don't think we'll see the nuker we were hoping for. One nice thing is that upper level flow is no longer due south, which makes for a better chance of good sailing at The Wall. Give the desert a chance to start heating, and give the ULL a few hours to shift east (watch for high clouds breaking up to know when to go) and start driving.

Tomorrow and Thursday look identical from the comfort of Tomi's living room this morning. The North Pacific High finally digs in and sets up camp off the coast. It's really too little, too late for this season, however. With overnight desert temps falling into the mid-40's, dawn patrol potential is close to zero and strong thermal gradients just won't have a chance to develop. Afternoon wind, however, will hit the 20-23 range. With upper level flow from the NW, Swell and the Hatchery finally get some steadier (this is the Gorge, right, so winds aren't "steady") wind.

For best fun, drive to Pistol tomorrow. 3.7-4.2 conditions set up for the next few days, at least. With the heat low over Cali and the NPH over the ocean, strong gradients pave the way for excellent sailing. Too bad there isn't a 6 foot south swell to go along with that... right, Dana?

Funny thing... I was down in Pistol River last week, and everyone down there is a meteorologist. There aren't many windsurfers, but they're all checking NOAA and other weather sites on an almost-daily basis. And we Gorge sailors thought we were hardcore. No way.

Alright. Have a great day on the water. Have fun and go big!