You'd do well to use a pool or hose to cool off over the long weekend rather than the river.
James River Park System Manager Ralph White says high river levels from recent rains have made holiday weekend swimming risky.
"This is SOS -- stay on shore. It's not the time to be in the water," he said. "There's more water and it's going faster, so what were normally benign conditions you play around with become treacherous and you don't know it until you're in it. It's unrelenting."
White says that sunny conditions and temperatures approaching 90 through Memorial Day will make the cool waters of the James an especially dangerous temptation.
"This is the worst possible convergence of features -- warm weather and 6 feet of water," he said, noting that most rescues occur at around 6 feet because the water can look safe but the current is powerful.
"People say, 'Hey, I can still see that piece of rock over there, let's see if we can get there,' and they do foolish things," he said.
Under river rules, users must wear a life jacket when the water is above 5 feet. Above 9 feet, the river is closed to general use.
White said the rapids at Belle Isle and Pony Pasture will be the two most treacherous areas.
Signs in English and Spanish will be posted and groups of volunteers will be working with police in both areas to keep people out of the river throughout the weekend, he said.
Contact Wesley P. Hester at (804) 649-6976 or whester@timesdispatch.com.
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