Since Rimrock conditions usually parallel those of the Gorge (but usually
lighter since it takes more gradient threshold to push air over the pass rather
than merely up a sea-level gash) I watch the Gorge forecast to get an idea about
Rimrock.

Gorge forecasts:

Monday. We are waking up to West winds at 20-25mph already in the Central
Gorge. With a strong Westerly gradient, look for winds building to 20-30mph
later today.

Tuesday. Tuesday looks like a repeat of Monday with a slight chance of
thunderstorms for the Eastern Gorge in the afternoon. Look for West winds at
20-30mph again for the Gorge.

That is about as good as a Gorge forecast can get. And about as good as a
correlated Rimrock forecast can get.

At the 8:00am report the cross-mountain gradient is 6 mbar, double what is
necessary to start winds at Rimrock. Ellensburg is not blowing yet, but likely
will. We'll keep an eye on that. Ellensburg is forecasted to blow 18 today and
20 tomorrow. Encouraging. The NWS mountain zone forecast for Rimrock calls for
9mph. Since this forecast has historically been conservative by about half, I
see it meaning that Rimrock will blow in the mid to upper teens both today and
tomorrow.

So, barring some drastic change in conditions (some thunderstorms are strong
enough to mean "drastic change"), we will be up at Rimrock tomorrow. Leave
early, stop at Buzzy's in Greenwater for breakfast, then spend the day at
Rimrock. Rimrock will be 30 degrees warmer than Cline. Take plenty of drinking
water.

Come on up and join us. The sailing site is 1/4 mile east of milepost 161 in
highway 12, some 10 miles east of the White Pass summit.

Steve, come on up again, and I'll give you your fin screws.

--Rick

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