Posted: Mon, 13 Jun 2016 04:34 PM - 36,730 Readers

By: Calily Bien

While this week’s temperatures are expected to the warmest Central Texas has seen this year, you still won’t be able to cool off in Austin’s waterways. The Fire Chief has determined that dangerous conditions still exist, so the waterway ban is being extended through noon tomorrow, June 14, and will be re-evaluated at that time.

The Austin Fire Department has determined that dangerous conditions still exist so the waterway ban on Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake and the Colorado River below Longhorn Dam has been extended through noon, June 14. The ban means no boats, kayaks, canoes or stand-up paddle boarding are allowed on the water.

While the main waterways are closed to recreational use, the Austin creeks are still open although people should be mindful of the possible dangers before they jump in. Over the past few weeks, three people have died while participating in recreational activities on Barton Creek. Most recently was over the weekend, where a teenager died while swimming in Barton Creek near MoPac.

An Austin Fire Department spokesperson says the department can issue a ban on Barton Creek when the flow exceeds 1,500 cfps (cubic feet per second). Lately, readings from USGS equipment at Loop 360 and Barton Creek have recorded flows below that standard at the time when some people were in dire need.