Winds on the Columbia River Gorge?

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01-07-18 | 07:19 AM

#26

jamawani

Hooked on Touring

Joined: Mar 2004

Posts: 3,029

Likes: 358

From: Wyoming

On any given day the winds may vary, but - -
Prevailing winds are overwhelmingly from the west.
Especially in the summer.

Early morning is the best time to ride against the prevailing wind direction -
as winds tend to strengthen with the heat of the day.
But not always.

Here is a wind rose page from Iowa State University for The Dalles, Oregon.
It covers 45 years. Hood River doesn't have wind rose data, Cascade Locks very little.

IEM :: Site Wind Roses

01-07-18 | 07:25 AM

#27

jamawani

Hooked on Touring

Joined: Mar 2004

Posts: 3,029

Likes: 358

From: Wyoming

Here's Cascade Locks, OR -
From April thru Sept - overwhelmingly west winds.

IEM :: Site Wind Roses

First run-through it only generated one year. It did 40 years, here.

01-07-18 | 09:25 AM

#28

indyfabz

Senior Member

Joined: Jan 2010

Posts: 45,475

Likes: 23,619

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamawani

Winds are "almost" always from the west. And strong.
That's why Hood River is a wind surfing destination.
In late August and September, however, they can be easterly.
That is due to heat build-up in the interior and cooler coastal temps.

Interesting. In 2005 Cycle Oregon, which is held in early September, did a couple of days heading west through the gorge. The event did not sell out that year. On the event forum several people said they had no interest in fighting the strong headwinds we were certain to have. They never materialized.