Heat — Seattle and Vicinity, Washington

2016-04-19 · Seattle and Vicinity, Washington

Event narrative

During a period of unseasonably warm weather with Puget Sound area temperatures near 90 degrees, officials say 17-year-old Jeramiah Smith was swimming across the Green River in Auburn with six friends about 7:30 p.m. when he started having trouble about halfway through. Smith's friends said they saw him travel downstream and then go under water. River temperatures were near 50 degrees and cold water immersion was thought to be the cause of the youth's trouble in the water.

Wider weather episode

During a period of unseasonably warm weather, 17-year-old Jeramiah Smith swimming across the Green River in Auburn with six friends had trouble and then went under in the cold river water.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 630266. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.