Las Vegas, NV – Anyone heading to Lake Mead or Lake Mohave this weekend faces a hidden danger: water temperatures remain below 70 degrees, cold enough to trigger cold water shock in less than one minute.
According to the National Weather Service in Las Vegas, unseasonably warm air temperatures are accelerating snowmelt in the Sierra Nevada and Spring Mountains. That runoff is feeding colder, faster-moving creeks and rivers across southern Nevada and keeping major reservoirs deceptively chilly despite the springlike feel in the air.
Recreation areas near US-93 by Hoover Dam and along US-95 toward Boulder City may see heavy boat and shoreline traffic. However, water this cold can quickly impair breathing and muscle control if someone falls in unexpectedly. Officials warn that roughly 20 percent of cold water deaths occur within the first minute due to shock.
Fast-moving runoff in mountain areas, including near Kyle Canyon Road and Lee Canyon, may also create stronger-than-expected currents in creeks and stream crossings.
Anyone recreating on area lakes should wear a properly fitted life jacket and avoid sudden jumps into open water. Paddleboarders and kayakers should stay close to shore and check equipment before launching.
Warm weather will continue through the weekend, but water temperatures will lag behind air temperatures. Safety officials urge visitors to treat all area waterways as cold and potentially life-threatening through Sunday.
