Temperatures in Boise are set to soar close to 100 degrees later this week, and with the calendar having ticked over to June, it seems like the perfect time to take a splash in one of the Boise area’s many water recreation areas.
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But don’t be so keen to go swimming outdoors just yet, particularly in rivers.
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Waterways throughout Idaho remain both dangerously cold and fast-flowing, National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Cantin told the Idaho Statesman on Wednesday.
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“I think it’s that time of year when people get really interested in cooling off,” Cantin said. “However, people need to be aware that the rivers are still flowing strong, and there’s plenty of water moving through with dangerous currents.”
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Cantin added that unexpected dangers can occur if you decide to jump in.
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“The water temperature itself is still quite cool,” he said. “It will be a shock to the system, and cold water can cause cramps and other things that make it difficult to swim. And it becomes a real dangerous situation very quickly.”
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Here’s why you should wait a little bit longer before enjoying a hot day in the river.
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Cold water in the Boise River
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The hottest week of the year so far is about to descend upon Boise, with temperatures rapidly increasing through the week. The Weather Service forecasts that the high temperature will quickly climb to 96 degrees on Friday and peak at 98 degrees by Saturday.
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But just because the air is hot doesn’t mean the water is, too.
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The United States Geological Survey measures water temperatures along the Boise River; the closest measuring point to Boise is in Caldwell, where a temperature of 58 degrees was measured at 10:45 a.m. Wednesday.
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Water that cold can cause hypothermia, but according to the National Center for Cold Water Safety, one of the main concerns is cold shock. Water below 60 degrees can cause cold shock, forcing the body to seize up and resulting in swimming failure and drowning.
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The water is likely even colder in Boise and at other popular recreation spots, such as Lucky Peak Dam, as it’s closer to the source in the Boise Mountains.
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“Further in town, people who are floating the river through the town, in Boise specifically, it’ll be colder than that by probably at least a couple of degrees,” Cantin said. “Because it flows downstream as the sun’s beating on it for several miles, and it does warm it up slowly.”
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The city of Boise expects float season to begin in late June once water temperatures warm up, river flows calm down even more and any hazardous material has been removed from the Boise River.
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The city warns that current conditions can make the river unsafe for untrained floaters and recreators, but no rule prevents people from entering it. Quinn’s Pond and Esther Simplot Park’s ponds are also open for swimming, floating and paddleboarding, but no lifeguards are present.
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Fast river flows in Idaho
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It’s not just the cold temperatures that pose a risk, but also the speed of the water.
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Heavy thunderstorms throughout the region, followed by warm temperatures this week, have caused snowmelt to rush downstream and into Idaho’s rivers and reservoirs.
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Water flow is measured in cubic feet per second (cfs). On Wednesday at 11:45 a.m., the USGS measured a flow of 1,940 cfs. The historical average water flow when the city begins float season is 1,130 cfs.
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“We understand the excitement and eagerness to float the Boise River, but it’s crucial to wait until the conditions are right and hazard mitigation can be completed,” Boise Fire Dive Captain Scott Hall said in a news release. “The dive team will continue to monitor the river for downed trees and other hazards as we approach the opening of float season and will remove them as necessary.”
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Cantin also warned swimmers to be wary of smaller canals around the city, which are fast-flowing and can pose underwater hazards.
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“The water looks nice, but it’s moving pretty quick,” Cantin said. “It gets dangerous real fast, and the canals that are running under bridges and small kinds of drains, that type of stuff, you can get wedged in there.”
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People have been recreating in Idaho’s other rivers already as well, and there were a pair of drownings in the Payette River in late May.
This story was originally published June 5, 2024, 1:30 p.m.
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