After a snowy Tuesday, Austin has a couple more days of freezing weather before temperatures rise through the weekend. Here’s what you need to know:
🥶 A Cold Weather Advisory Is in Effect Until Noon.
National Weather Service forecasters extended a cold weather advisory until noon today, due to expected very cold wind chills. Wind gusts could move up to 20 mph, forecasters said. Since Monday, Austin-Travis County EMS has responded to about 20 cold-related illness incidents, including two deaths, and police have been summoned to dozens of weather-related crashes
Officials are urging Austinites to use caution while driving, keep pets inside, and to wear warm clothing, including gloves and hats, to avoid hypothermia.
“Make frequent checks on older family, friends, and neighbors,” forecasters said.
📆 Cold Weather Shelters Could Open Overnight.
The city’s Cold Weather Shelters, which are activated when overnight temperatures are expected to be 35 degrees or colder, will remain open until at least 10 a.m. Roughly 550 people stayed at such shelters overnight on Monday.
🌡️ Austin Public Libraries Are Open As Warming Centers Today.
All Austin Public Library locations have regular hours and are open as warming centers, the city said.
The Central Library, located downtown at 710 West Cesar Chavez St., opened an hour early at 8 a.m. today to serve as a warming center. A map of warming centers can be found online.
☀️ Sunshine Is Expected Through Friday.
Sunshine is expected during the day today through Friday, with high temperatures in the 50s and 60s. Freezing temperatures will return tonight and tomorrow night with lows in the 20s and 30s. Friday night will be cold but not freezing with a low around 35 degrees, the National Weather Service said.
☎️ The Austin-Travis County Emergency Operations Center Is Open.
The Austin-Travis County Emergency Operations Center was activated on Monday and city officials say it will stay open until at least later this morning, when the situation will be reassessed. The center is where local departments and organizations gather during weather events so they can respond together.
Updates will be posted online, and you can also sign up for emergency alerts from Warn Central Texas.
