Why So Many Drownings in Mid-Columbia, Northwest This Summer?

According to officials, it's the weather.

The Oregon Marine Board, and Washington state officials report record warm temperatures are the cause of so many water deaths this summer.

Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, 36 people drowned in Washington and Oregon, up from 30 in 2014 and 24 in 2013.

The Oregon Mariner board says hot temperatures drive a lot more people to the waters of rivers and lakes, and lower water levels actually made many rivers more dangerous.

Officials say especially in rivers such as the Tieton, Yakima, and even Spokane, lower levels make the currents much stronger. Many of the drownings occurred with inexperienced swimmers being swept away by currents and pulled under the water unexpectedly.  Hot weather drove many people to the Columbia and Snake Rivers as well, with a marked increase in drownings.