Temira's Gorge Forecast

Hello Sailors,

Cathy, you can take out your ski boat for a little while if you like. Dan, you too.

The rest of you can call Cathy and Dan to ask for a ride in the ski boat.

Despite a .07 gradient to start our day, the river is glassy like the ice on a rink seconds after the Zamboni passes by. They sky is still, filled with little fluffy clouds, like bits of feather floating on the floor after you remove the duvet cover from a down comforter.

That was one hell of a sunset out here in the Gorge last night. Anyone else see that? Many thanks to Laura for giving me the heads-up.

Okay, okay, wind.

First, props go to Stu Hill at iWindsurf for downgrading his forecast last night. That was some foresight, and I'm giving it to him. I think he earns cookies for that. I should have known as well. Developing thunderstorms, southerly upper flow. Recipe for disaster, that is.

So, this morning we have minimal marine penetration (that means no cloud line) and southerly flow aloft. That doesn't bode well for morning winds. At best, with a .06 gradient now (just dropped), we'll have 18-20 by noonish. This afternoon/evening looks better as flow switches back to westerly from southerly. Now, you ask, "How will I know that? I'm not the weatherman..." Easy. Watch the sky. When these strange clouds dissipate, flow has returned to a westerly direction aloft. At that point, start checking your pagers (they will always be pagers, even when they are iPhones or Blackberrys or Nokia 3200s). If flow really does switch by afternoon, we'll see 24-28 late at Doug's and Maryhill.

Tomorrow looks much better, as upper flow starts westerly and marine clodus bury Portland overnight. We'll see a little low pressure trough crossing the Gorge in the morning. This will deepen the marine deck and bump up gradients. Dawn Patrol is likely in the 21-24 range. Watch for 23-27 later in the day. No specifics at this point.

I'm really not sure if any of this is making sense. I got  up at 5:45 to redo the radio rec report (have I ever mentioned that I am not, 100% not, a morning person?). Like I said, kudos to Mr. Hill for having a working brain last night.

I had a dream last night that I was chased out of the woods by a wildfire. I ended up in a tent town for refugees where the red cross was selling (yes, selling) clothes to us. Sam Bauer was working at the Red Cross counter, and he gave me four white t-shirts for free. I thought that was nice of him... The nice lady working at the blanket counter gave me a $24 blanket for free. (the red cross doesn't really sell things to refugees, by the way, before I get a million emails)

I then had a dream that I was up at Meadows. There was still plenty of snow to go skiing. Anyone been up there lately? I wouldn't mind throwing on some skins and going for a hike.

Did any of that forecast have to do with the wind? I should really drink coffee first.

Have a nice day!

Temira