This week, Oregonians could see the warmest weather of 2024 so far. But health officials say people should think twice before cannonballing in the nearest lake to escape the heat.
Temperatures in northwest Oregon are expected to surge into the mid-80s Thursday, potentially reach 90 on Friday and stay warm through the weekend.
Temperatures are expected to reach the 80s this weekend, but health officials are warning people not to swim in rivers and lakes with waters that are still icy. In this 2021 file photo, people hang out on the dock south of the Hawthorne Bridge in Portland on the Willamette River.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
It’s a welcome sunny reprieve, after weeks of cloudy and rainy weather. But health officials say the warm weather also brings risk.
Chris Burling from the National Weather Service said temperatures in bodies of water across Oregon can range from the low 40s to the mid 50s.
He said those swimming or boating over the weekend should be wary.
“Even though it’s going to be warm in terms of the temperature, those rivers are still going to be dangerously cold,” Burling said, adding it could take months for the water to warm. “So people are just going to want to make sure they’re aware of that, as cold water shock can still happen very quickly.”
Anyone heading to nearby rivers or lakes to cool off should keep cold water safety in mind as water temps are currently very cold and currents are swift. #orwx #wawx
— NWS Portland (@NWSPortland) May 9, 2024
Cold water shock often occurs when the weather is hot and people suddenly fall into cold waters. The sudden change in temperature causes an involuntary gasp, increasing the risk that the person will inhale water and drown.
Ashley Massey, public information officer for the Oregon State Marine Board, said there is often a spike in fatalities during the year’s first heat wave, since many people don’t anticipate the freezing waters. She also said water levels are high this time of year and conditions can be rough.
In 2023, Oregon had a four-year low of 13 boating fatalities, according to the Marine Board, which tracks non-commercial boating accidents. It’s unclear how many deaths were caused by cold water shock.
One way to prevent cold water shock, Massey said, is to wear a well-fitted life jacket that can keep one’s head above the water.