Summer swimming is dangerous after winter flooding
Published 1:30 am Thursday, June 4, 2026
EVERETT — As summer approaches, people will look to Snohomish County’s rivers to cool off.
However, rivers are dynamic and people who may feel like they “know” a river may find it different, especially after the record-breaking floods in December.
Floods cause rivers to change. Rising and lowering surface levels, along with faster-moving water, form and move log jams, shift rocks and collapse stable banks, according to Meghan Jordan, spokesperson for the Snohomish County Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Sediment is pushed from one area to another, turning deep areas shallow and shallow areas deep.
In some areas, water may be moving faster than expected, carrying cold water along. During the summer, warm surface temperatures may hide much colder water below, Sky Valley Fire’s website says.
“I know this can be a dangerous time on our rivers,” Jordan wrote in an email, “as the water temperature is very cold and people can experience the shock and drown.”
Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue has already begun pulling people from the water as the weather warms, said Scott North, spokesperson for the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management.
“Swimming in open water (lakes, rivers, ponds, Puget Sound, and the ocean) is harder than in a pool,” Sky Valley Fire’s website says. “People tire faster and get into trouble more quickly.”
Always take life jackets, a rescue device (like a life preserver ring with rope), a cell phone and someone who knows CPR, Sky Valley Fire recommends.
Check river and stream conditions by contacting the U.S. Geological Survey at 253-428-3600 ext. 2635 and check beach advisories before swimming at bit.ly/49GcHK9.
For more information and safety tips, visit snofire26wa.gov/water-safety.
For those impacted by the December floods who are seeking federal financial assistance, the deadline to apply for FEMA relief funds is Wednesday.
Taylor Scott Richmond: 425-339-3046; taylor.richmond@heraldnet.com; X: @BTayOkay
