Good Morning Sailors!
NOAA's forecast this morning was disheartening; "This is the last warm day of the foreseeable future," predicted the unknown forecaster, who didn't have the guts to attach his name to such a statement.
Unfortunately, it's true. Starting tonight, with the jet stream aimed squarely at Hood River, we'll see rain interspersed with clouds interspersed with wind. This is awesome news for those of us who like to mountain bike for exercise, as dusty Post Canyon will be fantastic again.
Right now would be a great time to get one of the last perfect wakeboarding sessions of the summer; glassy conditions rule the Columbia for a few more hours. As the first strong, cold frontal system approaches, westerlies pick up this afternoon. Unfortunately, models are showing much less wind than they did a day ago. I'm inclined to call for more wind than the models, as Portland shouldn't break 70 and the desert is predicted to be 80 (the dessert, on the other hand, is Apple Gelato with apple chips and apple jellies, but I won't be there to serve it, as I'll be eating Pho and dancing to Paul Van Dyk). Westerlies will start in the corridor and quickly fill in out east. With upper level flow westerly, your best bet is The Wall, where winds should hit the 4.2 range. Anything is possible with frontal pasages, and I'd hate to tell you it's going to be fantastic when that's only a small possibility.
Strongest winds actually look to be overnight and early tomorrow morning in the eastern Gorge, as cold air slams into the northwest after the frontal passage. Dawn Patrol at The Wall and Arlington? Is that a valid call, or is that just silliness? It doesn't really matter, as wind should fill back into the central/near east Gorge tomorrow. Conditions will be inconsistent, as shower clouds pass by from time to time. However, models suggest 23-27 from the Corridor to The Wall tomorrow afternoon, so we'll go with that. Stay east of the showers, if you can, and wind quality will be better.
Saturday and Sunday look rainy here in the Gorge. If you're up in Seattle, this is your first wind alert of the season. You might just be hitting Magnuson, Richmond, and Alki late in the afternoon on Saturday. If the strong associated system doesn't blow itself out overnight, you too may be seeing dawn patrol of the post-frontal type!
If you somehow missed it, Paul Van Dyk is spinning at the Crystal Ballroom tonight. Should be a great show! Depending on what time I get home, tomorrow's forecast could be either a poor example of a forecast or no forecast at all.
Everyone have a great day on the water today. Enjoy the (hopefully not) last of the warm weather!
Temira
Print | posted @ Thursday, September 27, 2007 7:37 AM