First off this morning, I couldn't resist copying the NWAC's general forecast:
Current clearing and cold bring facets and hoar,
Factors to watch when storms beat down the door.
March sun melts snowflakes, and more than a few,
Yield nighttime crusts after day turns to goo.
And recent wind transport has made for some slabs,
On south and east aspects where local danger is bad.
But overall the snowpack should settle and rest,
Before the next weekend puts our skills to test.
Cooling and snow arrive Saturday it seems,
Loading hoar, crusts and facets and making bad dreams—
Follow this later Sunday with snow, winds and warming,
And ingredients are there for an avalanche warning.
In a nutshell, go skiing Saturday for best conditions, and stay the hell out of the backcountry on Sunday and Monday. We'll see decent cold snow on Mt. Hood Saturday, but a warming trend Sunday will bring heavier conditions. You Skibowl skiers, riders and telemarkers might be better served at Mt. Hood Meadows on Sunday, where higher elevations will bring the likelihood of snow, rather than rain. Speaking of Meadows on Sunday, there are all-day tele clinics available for just $75 if you have a pass, and $99 if you don't.
(Hey, why doesn't anyone ski Skibowl, anyway? It's a killer, steep mountain. I don't get it. Explanations?)
Anyway, back to the clinics: I'm not speaking as an employee here... just as a participant. I learned a ridiculous amount in the last two tele clinics, enabling me to ski like a maniac (not always pretty, though) and fall like a champion. I highly, highly recommend signing up (um, and showing up too). If you know me, you know I don't stand behind something unless it's really good. Go. Listen to the instructor. Learn.
And now for the precipitable water forecast:
Saturday: 1-1.5" (snow)
Sunday: 2" (borderline snow at Meadows. Most likely rain at lower elevations)
Monday: 2-2.5" (does not look pretty at this time. Please make sacrifices to the snow gods.)
Windsurfing and kiteboarding are also on the schedule today. East gradients are at .16 right now, giving upper twenties in Stevenson and low thirties at Rooster. In my old age <g>, I'm choosing to skip the winter windsurfing. Actually, it's mostly because Laura hasn't been around much to talk me into it. *ahem*... The easterlies continue through tomorrow morning, turning to west winds by tomorrow afternoon as a front punches through our protective shield of high pressure.
There's a chance of desert windsurfing Saturday afternoon, but once again, these winter frontal passages are tricky.
If you do go windsurfing or kiteboarding, please dress warmly. The water is a balmy 40 degrees as of this morning.
Finally, it's going to be 48 degrees and sunny in Hood River today. It's perfect mountain biking weather. See you on the Syncline this afternoon?