Cedar, Green rivers closed for safety

A kayaker and an inner tuber were missing Saturday in the Green River after sudden snowmelt created high water and powerful currents, authorities said.

The Green and Cedar Rivers were closed around 4 p.m. by the King County Sheriff's Office. Rescuers throughout the day were kept busy using helicopters and fireboats to get to several people stranded on logjams in the rivers.

A 33-year-old man was missing and feared dead after witnesses saw his inner tube flip near Flaming Geyser State Park, said sheriff's spokesman Sgt. John Urquhart. The man, who was not wearing a life vest, was last seen trying to dog-paddle to shore.

A kayaker, believed to be a man in his 30s, was reported overdue and possibly missing at around 1 p.m. near Hanging Gardens State Park.

"The rivers are too high, too fast and too cold," Urquhart said.

High water also caused minor flooding and road closures along the Snoqualmie River, according to King County's roads department.

Southeast 24th Street between West Snoqualmie River Road and 309th Street Southeast was blocked off because of water over the roadway. Other portions of the West Snoqualmie River Road also were closed.

Authorities urged residents to stay away from cold and swollen rivers despite the sudden outbreak of hot weather.

"Go to the lakes and Sound instead," said Ken Gresset, senior engineer with the county's Flood Warning Center.

Jim Brunner: 206-515-5628 or jbrunner@seattletimes.com.

Staff reporter Susan Gilmore contributed to this report.

Slide injures teen on Mount Hood

Hot weather has boosted the avalanche danger in much of the Northwest, with slides closing at least one highway and injuring a teenager in Oregon.

A 16-year-old boy was injured slightly Saturday in an avalanche on Mount Hood, east of Portland. The boy was able to walk down the mountain without assistance, Clackamas County sheriff's Detective Jim Strovink said.

State Route 20 has been closed by a snowslide near Liberty Bell since Thursday and won't reopen before sometime this week.

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