Once in a Decade: Swell and Columbia CFS

30knotwind · Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 239 Location: White Salmon, WA

The swell on Sunday blew my mind, so here is something to consider regarding CFS. The only other time it was above 500k CFS, since windsurfers have been on the river, was 1997 when it peaked in mid-June 1997 at 571k CFS. Hopefully, we've got a few more weeks of major swell!! (Use CTRL and '+' key to zoom on graphic below.)
LINK TO DATA

2bluehawaiins · Joined: 07 Mar 2002 Posts: 194

Any pictures from Sunday?

30knotwind · Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 239 Location: White Salmon, WA

Sorry, no pictures, but it was so incredible I bought a GoPro helmet cam to get some shots in the next couple weeks.

cgoudie1 · Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2011 3:22 pm Post subject:

OK, OK. People keep asking for pix from Sunday at Doug's. I was shooting that day, so here are a few shots. This guy was on a 3.5 and at
145 lbs, pretty lit. You can see that it was pretty windy.

-Craig

andymc4610 · Joined: 19 May 2000 Posts: 684

Sunday was really windy (3.5 for me) and had a great day but did not think the swell was anything out of the ordinary for the conditions, if anything a bit more disorganized at times, but fun.

cgoudie1 · Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2011 5:11 pm Post subject:

It was disorganized (at least it looked so from my red shirted position on the beach). I did see a few big sets roll through, but mostly it was
6 footers. I wouldn't call that ordinary anywhere except the Gorge
though ;*)

-Craig

dcfordo · Joined: 15 Jun 2006 Posts: 30

Where are you finding this epic swell? With this high water, the Wall has been OK, and Dougs has been terribly choppy.

awindwoman · Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 8

Amazing info CFPS information. Thanks for sharing!!

Can you provide link where you got the charts? I was looking at Corps of Engineers, but not finding it in easy-to-read format.

I'm thinking if iwindsurf had the info, it could be a normal part of Columbia River report like the River Temp at The Dalles Dam is. Very Happy

PS- I think Iwindsurf doing great job mentioning high water in daily reports!! Bravo! It will be helpful if flows continue into start of summer visitor season. Don't want people to get in over their heads.

rdies · Joined: 18 Mar 2004 Posts: 7

Here's a forecast for Lower River flow @ The Dalles.

http://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/stp/station/stpplot/stpplot.cgi?TDAO3

500+ kcfs flow like what we've been seeing likely through June and early July then rapidly coming back down to 200-300 range but still much stronger than usual through July & August.

My experience so far this year: flow way too strong for Wall/Rufus (dangerously fast current too), Dougs really fun but very messy swell, and I am guessing a big westerly day at the Hatch will be mind-blowing epic with wider river, deeper channel off the point, and heavy river flow!

River temps will likely remain colder than normal all through summer, but really not too bad - currently lagging 2-4 deg F off normal for this time of year @ ~55 deg F vs ~57 last year same time and say ~59-60 in a warmer year starting early June. I'm already wearing my 4/3 & no booties so not complaining.

Now if only the N Coast would start to fire up... maybe Saturday?

iRob

awindwoman · Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 8

Ha-Ha! I found a link at Corps right after posting.

http://www.nwd-wc.usace.army.mil/nwp/teacup/lcol/ <-- Just mouse over the dams and a pop-up give you levels. Clicking on the dam icon gives you graphs.

More information on 'Current Information' page at https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/currentinfo.asp.

Be safe and enjoy the warm weather forecasted this weekend!