"Sunny skies this time of year have people looking to enjoy Washington State's many bodies of water. But warming weather on land can be deceiving: Rivers, lakes and Puget Sound remain dangerously cold.

"Anyone venturing out onto a body of water should wear a life vest, tell someone where they’re going and check the marine forecast and water temperatures in addition to the weather, experts say.

"Popular rivers for recreation in both Western and Eastern Washington get especially cold in spring because they have snowmelt coursing through them.

"For example, the water temperature in rivers originating in the mountains, like the upper reaches of the Green River, are in the upper 30s, while the lower portion temperatures are in the 40s, said meteorologist Ted Buehner.

“Those who survive in cold water long enough to get hypothermia are lucky. A fall into cold water can drown a person within minutes due to cold-water shock,” said Rob Sendak, the boating program manager for Washington State Parks and Recreation."

[seattletimes.com]