Hi Everyone!
A weak overnight performance on the part of the marine layer has left us with another teen-strength (not teenager-strength) wind morning in the Gorge. Judging by the satellite picture, a weak front, or part of a weak front, is passing overhead right now. Pretty exciting stuff. Anyway, things should pick up this afternoon.
These arent’ thermal winds we’re hoping for today. After all, Portland and The Dalles are both aiming for eighty degrees. We’re resting our wind wishes on the passage of a weak front this afternoon. The GFS is calling for 24-28, but the NAM is calling for 10-15. I’ll split the difference and call for Stevenson, Rowena and Doug’s to hit 23-26 mid afternoon and for the corridor to lag in the upper teens to low twenties. Frontal passages do strange things with the wind, you know. They wreak havoc with forecasts and forecasters.
Then again, if everything lines up correctly, we'll see 23-26 in the corridor as well.
Don't be fooled by the midday lull. That's just Portland getting in on the heating action.
Thursday morning dishes up the last westerlies until late Sunday, at the very best. A minimal marine layer might give upper-teen dawn patrol, but whitecaps disappear quickly. High pressure builds across Oregon and Washington as the day goes on, shutting down Gorge westerlies by evening.
Friday looks hot. 90 to 95 degrees hot. You know, "Hot, damn hot." That’s Punchbowl, Lost Lake and Standup paddling weather, just in time for Windfest, soon to be known as "Standup-paddle-board demo fest." Stop by the event site and check out the Hot Sails booth (shameless sponsor plug, but hey, they ARE the best sails ever, and they look cool too!), where I will be suffering, sweating, and maybe even swearing under the blazing sun. Oh, wait, I have lots of standup paddle boards available to demo. You'll find me floating in the middle of the river having a grand old time! Please do not call the police to rescue me.
When I first moved here, everyone seemed to be a paddler. Now everyone kites. Do people still paddle? If you’re a paddler, you’re styling in this heat. The Hood’s at 4.7 feet, the White’s at 4.2 feet and the little white is at 704cfs.
Best chance for a return to real Gorge winds comes Monday as the marine layer makes its presence known again. Cross your fingers for it to return with a vengeance. Tim, your house will not be cleaned Monday if we get lucky and it blows hard. Just kidding... maybe...
Have a good day everyone!
Temira
p.s. Don't forget that tonight is sailboat racing night.