It鈥檚 going to be hot this weekend in much of Oregon and Southwest Washington, with temperatures along the Interstate 5 corridor likely reaching well into the 90s.
The said daily high temperatures Friday through Monday could be 25 to 30 degrees above average.
In anticipation of that heat, first responders are urging people to be careful around area waterways.
Rick Wunsch with the Corbett Fire Department said it will feel like summer for a few days, but rivers and streams are still extremely cold.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not that time of year yet where you want to just dive into the water and go swimming,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 cold. It鈥檚 going to take your breath away when you jump in there.鈥�
Cold water shock is a leading cause of drowning, according to the .
This spring鈥檚 snowpack is nearly , and it鈥檚 currently melting, so rivers and streams will be moving swiftly.
鈥淚f you just absolutely think you have to go out and go swimming, put a life jacket on,鈥� Wunsch said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 always the first line of defense when we鈥檙e out swimming in the river.鈥�
Wunsch offered additional tips for people beating the heat in nature this weekend.
鈥淟et people know where you鈥檙e going,鈥� he said. 鈥淧lan your trip, make sure your cellphone鈥檚 charged up and bring proper footwear and equipment with you on the trails. And certainly if you鈥檙e around the water and decide to get in the water, take advantage of our life jacket stations.鈥�
Oregon Marine Board:
The National Weather Service forecast shows high temperatures dropping a bit after Monday. But they could stay in the 80s for much of Oregon well into next week.
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