Hello Sailors!
I'd never seen large hail before last night when a massive thunderstorm cell passed over Hood River. I was almost convinced that large hail was an old wives' tale. When I ran out to close my car windows last night during the storm, large hail fell from the sky, to land on me. It's a good thing the terminal velocity of large hail is low, or I would have had bruises.
With upper flow still southerly as of 7am, thunderstorms haven't dispersed. This isn't stopping westerlies, though. Gradients are at .13 and rising, and the wind is 24 at the Hatchery. I have a bit of work to do this morning, or I'd be on my way. But then again... it's going to pick up and get more consistent as the day goes on and flow turns more westerly. No need to hurry. Watch for 27-31 later from (probably) Doug's eastward. The marine deck crawled a little too far east last night to guarantee strong Hatchery wind. Should be plenty wind for slalom sailing and kiting at the Sandbar.
Yet another unseasonably strong front strikes the PNW tonight and tomorrow morning, sending low clouds way out east (no, the band is "way out west"). I wouldn't be surprised to see the cloudline at Lyle tomorrow, sending best winds to Celilo (if you can handle the bad juju of sailing over the drowned falls), Avery, Maryhill and Arlington. Dawn Patrol out east will be in the 22-26 range. Afternoon sesh looks like 26-30 or better after the front passes.
Strong winds are shortlived as another upper level low takes up residence off the Oregon coast. Winds will be in the 15-18 range.
Now... on to weekend events...
Saturday: Free outdoor movie at Jackson Park this week is Shrek II.
Sunday: Kiteboarding for Cancer. This awesome event raises money to help fun the search for a cancer cure. Please take the time to donate to one of the participants. Even $5 makes a difference. You can donate to Arla Funk (she's just downright cool too) at:
http://www.active.com/donate/kb4c2008/arlajfunk
If you haven't lost anyone to cancer, I'll give you a quick story to ponder. Kevin Young, inventor of the Da Kine Thermoform Harness and Core Contour footstraps, and all-around damned cool guy, passed away four years ago from complications of cancer treatment. At this point, the treatment can be as deadly as the disease. Since our government can't seem to find enough money to support research into a cure, or at least less damaging treatments, we have to do it ourselves. So, take the time to donate to this good cause, and maybe, someday, we'll not be losing our best and brightest to this miserable disease.
On that note...
Have an awesome day on the water! I'm planning for an all-around awesome weekend!
(and best of all, my coffee is ready for pressing)
Temira
Print | posted @ Friday, August 08, 2008 7:22 AM