River and lake summer safety: What to know before you go

AccuWeather

When the summer sun blazes, there's nothing better than cooling off in a lake or river. But before you jump in, officials say you should know the risks. AccuWeather's Ali Reid has more.

Transcript

00:00Fast-moving water and hidden hazards can turn a relaxing day at the lake or river into a dangerous one.

00:07Experts say having a plan before you go can make a huge difference.

00:11A little research before you go to a river or a lake, especially moving water, makes a big difference.

00:18That research includes checking for strong currents, underwater hazards like logs or strainers, and especially watching the weather.

00:26If there's high winds, it sometimes creates really strong currents that can be dangerous on the lake.

00:33Knowing that the water temperature is important, cold water itself can just be dangerous for swimming in.

00:38Be on the lookout for rising water levels, too.

00:41After heavy rain or snowmelt, rivers can quickly go from calm to deadly.

00:46You never really want to swim in a river that is in a high water stage or flood.

00:51Some rivers across the country are in that stage now because of snowmelt and high temperatures.

00:58And don't rely on looks alone.

01:00Some rivers rise fast, even within hours, especially with heat or storms upstream.

01:06Sometimes a river can, you know, look kind of low or a creek can look low when you're in the mountains in the morning.

01:13And then by the afternoon, it's actually in kind of like a flood-type stage because it's been really hot weather on snowpack.

01:20The amount of rainfall in a day could also change the dynamics of a river quickly.

01:26Ultimately, experts say avoid going solo and always come prepared.

01:30For AccuWeather, I'm Allie Reed.

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