As many Seattle residents look for ways to cool off during a heat wave, they'll have one less option when it comes to lakes. On Friday (August 11), city officials shut down the swimming beach at Green Lake after King County Public Health found toxic algae in the water.
Officials are asking people and pets to stay out of the lake until further notice. Visitors are advised not to swim, water ski, or drink lake water. City leaders also warn people to avoid areas of scum while boating and to clean fish "well and discard guts."
Green Lake isn't the only local body of water plagued by algae issues. The Washington State Toxic Algae website listed these lakes as having values above guidelines:
- Anderson Lake (last sample date was July 24)
- Green Lake's Duck Island Launch (August 7)
- Lacamas Lake (August 7)
- Lone Lake (July 25)
- McNary Slough (July 31)
- Pass Lake (August 7)
- Pattison Lake (August 7)
- Rufus Woods Lake (July 19)
- Sagemoor Pond (August 3)
- Wiser Lake (August 8)
The Northwest Washington region, including the Seattle area, has been under an Excessive Heat Warning since Monday (August 14), according to the National Weather Service in Seattle. Some cities and places are approaching triple-digit temperatures, while others hover in the mid to high-80s range.
"Excessive heat continues across the area today with temperatures similar to even a few degrees warmer inland (cooler along the coast as weak onshore flow starts)" NWS posted on X (formerly Twitter). "HeatRisk values have generally risen due to warmer highs and low temperatures last night."
Experts expect things to start cooling down starting Friday (August 18).