Good Morning Sailors!
Sunny skies, .07, and deep marine clouds burying Portland - not a bad way to start an autumn day in The Gorge. Temperatures climb to the mid-seventies today, making for pleasant play on the water. Winds increase as the day goes on, as high pressure builds into Portland. Look for 23-27 come afternoon. With these types of fast-building highs, nuker potential does exist (but is notoriously hard to predict).
High pressure builds across Oregon tomorrow, and a heat low sets up in Portland for mild east winds in the morning. The lovely heat low (possibly the last of the year) shifts eastward, setting up low pressure in the desert and high pressure over Portland by late afternoon (if we are lucky... the heat low may not shift until overnight). This signals, yes, west winds. Best chance of hitting the water for westerlies is very late in the day at the corridor, but I'd say we're only looking at a 20 percent chance of west winds before dark. Don't hold your breath for wind for the sailboat races.
Thursday looks quite interesting. We start the day with the heat low over Eastern Oregon, high pressure building over Western Oregon, and a (very) cold front approaching the coast. West winds fill in all the way to the Idaho border, but strengths are questionable at this point. Depends on timing, as always with the frontal systems. For now, it looks like best winds will be east of Doug's, and in the 24-27 range. The Wall should be the right direction, with upper level flow out of the northwest. Unless they let more water out of the dam, though, it's going to be pretty pancakey.
Unfortunately for me, I've got to go to Portland Thursday night, so driving to Arlington is really out of the question. You guys, on the other hand, should be prepared to drive (and plant some trees to offset your carbon emissions).
Our weather picture looks dismal after Thursday. With the jet stream aimed at us, one cold front after another strikes the Pacific Northwest. Snow levels fall to 4000-5000 feet, and rain wets the mountain bike trails. This is good for skiers and mountain bike fanatics, but not so good for windsurfers. Looks like the winter rain might not hold off until Halloween this year (have you started thinking about your costume?).
Ok... you guys have a great day on the water. I'm taking my computer to work to cook more delicious desserts at Abruzzo tonight.
Print | posted @ Tuesday, September 25, 2007 8:17 AM