Cold/Wind Chill — Southern Sacramento Valley, California

2024-06-15 to 2024-06-16 · Southern Sacramento Valley, California

Event narrative

An adult male in his 30s went missing from a large party that was rafting down the American River toward Rossmoor Bar around 11:29 AM on Saturday, June 15th, 2024. The man was not wearing a life jacket and was swept underwater, last seen at Clay Banks. Numerous resources were called to search, including firefighters, a Sacramento Metro Fire helicopter and search party, Sacramento Drowning Accident Rescue Team (DART), and Sacramento County Sheriff's Office. His body was recovered in the morning, on Sunday, June 16th, 2024. Broadcast media reported that a sizable Sierra snowpack has led to river levels that are higher and faster than usual for this time of year, and that recent flows on the river at Fair Oaks were measured as fast as 3,600 cubic feet per second, twice the mean average for this time of year, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Water temperature observations nearby showed temperatures in the upper 50s to low 60s around the general area.

Wider weather episode

An adult male in his 30s went missing from a large party that was rafting down the American River toward Rossmoor Bar around 11:29 AM on Saturday, June 15th, 2024. The man was not wearing a life jacket and was swept underwater, last seen at Clay Banks. Cold and fast moving waterways were being observed due to snowmelt, twice the average flow for this time of year, and water temperatures in the upper 50s to low 60s.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1174700. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.