Hello Sailors!
This is killing me.
What I'd like to see is a "normal" Gorge setup, with the North Pacific High established off the coast and a heat low camped out in the desert. That's how it's supposed to work around here. Instead, weatherwise, we're hanging out somewhere in late spring or early fall. That's why the wind has been so fluky and inconsistent.
Seems to me that in years past the NPH was a given off the Oregon coast. Now... I hope this isn't what global warming does to the Northwest. It makes my job difficult. All this guessing at what time fronts will pass and predicting the paths of upper level lows makes forecasting a challenge.
Speaking of fronts and lows....
I wouldn't rush out to Arlington right now to catch that 28 reading. There's no gradient support. I think the wind will die pretty quickly out there. NOAA is giving a complicated picture today, again. A weak front speeds (at 100 kts, apparently) over the PNW, maybe giving a bump to winds today (unlikely). More likely is that we'll see great kite conditions, that's 17-21 in the Corridor and out east today. Looks like uncrowded conditions for the tangleboarders. No poles in the way.
Tomorrow starts off light, with weak high pressure over Oregon and a burly upper level low off the coast. As another, yes, yet another, front approaches the coast late and the ULL sends clouds swarming into the Coast Range, winds will pick up into the gusty 24-27 range. With the low off the coast, winds will have a decided southerly cant, setting up Stevenson, Doug's/Rowena, Avery, Celilo and Arlington for least gusty conditions. With the ULL that close, we may see a few developing thunderheads. If that happens, just give up on windsurfing. 1) it's dangerous and 2) winds get screwy and unpredictable once we get enough lifting (air pulling off the surface) to create thunderclouds.
Friday looks a little better, but not until late. The ULL slips away from the coast and over Washington (watch for another shot of summer south winds in the Sound) and high pressure begins to rebuild (cross your fingers) at the coast.
No thoughts on the weekend yet. This weather pattern is too dynamic to make a call.
Have a great day!
Temira
Print | posted @ Wednesday, July 30, 2008 8:16 AM