Inspector Manon Owen said people should think carefully with such treacherous conditions on rivers.
Police have warned about the dangers of swollen rivers after a canoeist died after capsizing.
The 57-year-old man died in hospital shortly after being airlifted after capsizing with a friend in the River Ogwen in Gwynedd on Saturday.
A passerby had spotted two empty canoes on the river between Bangor and Bethesda.
North Wales Police said conditions had been treacherous and river-users should think carefully before venturing out.
Emergency services were alerted at 1225 GMT Saturday and an RAF helicopter crew joined the search.
Police confirmed the 57-year-old man died shortly after being flown to Glan Clwyd hospital. Another canoeist, who had been with him, managed to make his own way to safety.
He had been located at 1328 GMT by a passerby near a caravan park at Braichmelyn and did not need hospital treatment.
The other canoeist was found near Penrhyn Castle at 1415 but died after being airlifted to Glan Clwyd Hospital in Bodelwyddan.
A rescue helicopter from RAF Valley 22 squadron, coastguard, the fire service and ambulance were involved in the search.
The search happened after the canoes were found at Pant y Ddolen The canoes had been spotted at Pant y Ddolen, near Halfway Bridge, between Bangor and Bethesda.
The dead man has not yet been named.
A force spokesman said: “The 57-year old man was canoeing with another man when their canoes capsized.”
He added: “A lady had seen two unattended canoes in the river being swept down stream.
“Police responded and initiatied a search with the help of 22 Squadron and ourselves.
“A member of the public located one of the males and he identified to us as being one of the parties. He’s not injured at all.”
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