Heads Up El Paso – Its Time To Fill The Rio Grande

It's that time of year again - the Rio Grande, as well as its canals and irrigation ditches, will soon be full so be careful.

You've probably gotten used to just hopping over canals and ditches and just walking across, (or around in), the dry Rio Grande river bed but now you need to be careful.

They will soon be full again and the water can be both sneaky and deadly.

As water is released into the Rio Grande, it can flow very quickly and very powerfully, knocking people down and making it hard for even strong and experienced swimmers to deal with.

READ MORE: Why The Rio Grande Dries Up Every Year

The sand that makes up the river bed is also tricky and sink holes can open suddenly. Some are deep enough to pull you in over your head and the sand and/or current can be strong enough to keep you that way.

The current can be deceptive too. Even though it seems to be moving slow, it can knock you down especially if you're in a slippery spot. The current can also be stronger below the surface than you realize.

Water Safety Tips

The El Paso Water Rescue team is urging El Pasoans to be safe not only around the river, canals and ditches but also on the road. Rains, especially during the El Paso monsoon season, can flood roadways.

Flood Safety

If you're not sure how deep water is, avoid it. Remember the saying: "Turn Around, Don't Drown."

A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult. It takes just 12 inches of rushing water to carry away most cars and just 2 feet of rushing water can carry away SUVs and trucks. It is NEVER safe to drive or walk into flood waters. - weather.gov