With temperatures on the rise this weekend, swimming in the American River may sound like a great way to beat the heat, but, with the snowmelt causing the river to run so cold and swiftly,
Sacramento County Regional Parks is advising residents to find other ways to beat the heat.
“Cold rivers are dangerous rivers, and right now the American River is running colder than most people realize," said Liz Bellas, Director of Regional Parks. “Water flowing through the American River right now is in the low 50 degrees. We typically see water in the high 50-/low 60-degree range at this time of year."
According to the National Weather Service, “Cold water drains body heat up to four times faster than cold air. When your body hits cold water, 'cold shock' can cause dramatic changes in breathing, heart rate and blood pressure. The sudden gasp and rapid breathing alone creates a greater risk of drowning even for confident swimmers in calm waters."
Flows out of Nimbus Dam into the American River this weekend will be around 8,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), which is quite high. A typical Sacramento summer sees outflows into the American at around 2,000 cfs or less.
The cold water combined with the swift flows are a recipe for disaster. Don't be bold, the water is cold, so please stay off the river. For more water safety tips, visit LifeLooksGoodOnYou.org.
