Winter hazards still lurk in mountains and rivers, officials warn

Temperatures today are expected to make it feel like summer, but winter's perils still remain.

Experts are warning people about avalanche danger and the risks of drowning in lakes, still bitter cold, and fast-moving rivers fueled by melting snow.

People planning to enjoy one of the season's first heat waves need to take extra precautions, officials said.

Rain earlier this week followed by rapidly rising temperatures have created extreme instability in the snowpack, said Kenny Kramer, an avalanche expert with the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center.

"It's a good time to stay away" from the mountains, he said.

Rushing rivers and serene lakes may look refreshing, but the water temperatures are in the 30s and 40s. That's cold enough to be deadly, said Snohomish County sheriff's Sgt. Danny Wikstrom, who oversees search and rescue operations.

"We'll have people getting into the water and underestimating the cold and the power of that water," he said. "I'm very concerned about the potential for drowning this weekend."

Temperatures are expected to rise as high as 90 today, said Dennis D'Amico, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Seattle.

At Stevens Pass, the temperatures are likely to be in the 70s. The freezing level is predicted to rise to 15,000 feet, about 600 feet higher than the summit of Mount Rainier, the state's tallest peak.

"It's going to be hot wherever you go," D'Amico said.

The warm air likely will melt snow and fill area rivers with frigid runoff.

Snohomish County emergency management officials will keep a close eye on river levels, said spokesman Steve Hagberg.

Rivers in the county aren't expected to flood, he said. That doesn't mean they'll be safe.

"Unfortunately with the rivers running at a higher rate, the danger of people getting into trouble is definitely increased," he said.

Wikstrom worries most about those who may be tempted to float a swollen river in department store rafts with six-packs of beer.

"Alcohol and the outdoors in that kind of environment is a recipe for a family disaster," he said.

Local trails that typically are clear by now still have deep and increasingly unstable snow, he said.

"I fear that we'll have people caught up in an avalanche," Wikstrom said.

This past winter was the deadliest avalanche season for Washington in modern history, experts said.

Avalanches killed at least nine people in Washington state, including three from Snohomish County. Among the victims was Emily Swanson, 13, of Mukilteo, who died Jan. 4 while hiking with family and friends near Lake 22 on Mount Pilchuck.

The risk this weekend for catastrophic avalanches is high, Kramer said.

On Thursday, state transportation officials closed the North Cascades Highway at Liberty Bell Mountain because of an avalanche. Highway 20's connection over mountain passes is expected to remain closed all weekend.

In the back country, even trails at low elevations can be treacherous, Kramer said.

"These are the kind of wet, fast-moving slides that can travel all the way to the valley bottoms and be really dangerous," he said.

River and stream crossings also pose serious risks for hikers, said Lauren Braden, a spokeswoman for the Washington Trails Association.

"If you have any concern about a stream crossing, turn around," she said.

Warm weather brings additional dangers.

Parents should be sure window screens are secure to prevent children from tumbling out, experts said. People also need to remember to stay hydrated.

Summerlike weather is forecast to last through Sunday, D'Amico said.

People should enjoy the nice weather and steer clear of the dangers, Wikstrom said.

"I'm the worst-case-scenario guy around here," he said. "Hopefully I'll be proven wrong."