Raging Green, Cedar rivers pose dangers to swimmers, boaters

Rivers running higher, faster and colder than usual could again prove to be hazardous to swimmers and boaters if forecasts for warmer weather hold true over the Memorial Day weekend, police and safety experts warn.

The King County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday that the Green and Cedar rivers, which are now closed, are running at historic and dangerous highs. Both rivers were closed last weekend when the combination of high temperatures and heavy snow runoff made for dangerous conditions.

"The rivers are swollen right now and near flood stage," said Mark Kenny, boating law-enforcement coordinator for Washington State Parks.

"They're swift, cold and unforgiving," he said. "Only very experienced river runners can navigate them. However, all people should stay out of [those two] rivers at this time because the danger is so great."

The King County Sheriff's Office conducted 11 rescue operations on Saturday alone, when the temperature reached 90 degrees. Two men who fell into the Green River in separate incidents Saturday remained missing Wednesday, the Sheriff's Office reported.

The Sheriff's Office said it will resume searching for the men when the river is safe to navigate.

According to King County's Land and Water Management, the Cedar River is still rising and is now flowing at 2,020 cubic feet per second, the highest May reading since 1956.

Flow on the Green River has dropped slightly since it was recorded at 5,500 cubic feet per second Monday, but remains more than five times faster than normal flow.

Both rivers could remain closed through the weekend, particularly if predictions of temperatures in the upper 60s to 70s hold true, according to the Sheriff's Office.

King County sheriff's spokesman John Urquhart warned anyone who ventures into the water to wear a life jacket and forgo inner tubes and inflatable rafts.

"Don't use those," he wrote in a statement on safety. "This is in no way a 'lazy float down the river.' ... Currently this is a raging river that will kill you!"

While Snohomish County officials have not closed any rivers, sheriff's deputies are recommending that people stay out of them just the same.

"Our rivers are just below flood level. We are recommending no travel on the rivers on Memorial Day weekend," said Snohomish County sheriff's spokeswoman Rebecca Hover.

Snohomish County authorities also advise people to stay off river banks.

"There is a lot of silt and debris and you can't see the bottom," Hover said. "You don't know if it's 6 inches deep or if it's a drop-off."

Hover said there were several reports last weekend of citizens rescuing others and two near misses, including a 12-year-old boy who was swept off into the Pilchuck River but managed to swim to safety.

According to meteorologist Johnny Burg, of the National Weather Service in Seattle, the coming weekend is expected to bring warm temperatures, but not as hot as last week.

Friday is predicted to be partly sunny with a high temperature in the lower 70s, Burg said. Clouds are expected to roll in Friday evening and last through Saturday, when the high is expected to be in the upper 60s.

The forecast for Sunday through Tuesday is for partly-cloudy skies with highs in the upper 60s.

"Obviously, everyone loves to go outside and enjoy the holiday and enjoy nature," said Hover. "But we want people to survive."

Christine Clarridge: 206-464-8983 or cclarridge@seattletimes.com

Seattle Times staff reporter Jennifer Sullivan contributed to this report.