Gorge Winds

The famous winds of the Gorge are driven by the temperature gradient between the desert to the east and the Pacific coast to the west.  The Gorge acts as a "wind tunnel" in the Cascade Mountains. Colder air at one end of the tunnel flows toward warmer air at the other end.  In the summer and fall, cold air from the coast rushes to replace rising hot air in the desert.  In the winter and spring, cold air flows from the east to the more temperate coast.  The larger the temperature difference the stronger the wind.

Weather Resources

Weather conditions can vary widely along the Columbia River Gorge, so click on the links below for up-to-date information.