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We make podcasts and newsletters that connect people with the cities they love.

City Cast Austin

Let us help you find Mother Nature in this concrete jungle.

Kelsey Bradshaw

It’s that time of year again, y’all! Birds are migrating through Texas and need our help traveling.

 building owners, businesses, developers, and homeowners to turn off all non-essential nighttime lighting on buildings and other structures from 11 p.m. to 6 p.m. during bird migration season.

Migration season started March 1 and runs through June 15, according to Audubon Texas. Peak migration happens between April 22 and May 12. During these times, 

 where temperatures are more mild, daylight hours are longer, and food is more abundant.

Most North American birds do their traveling at nighttime. That’s where we come in. Lights from buildings, your porch, or even your living room, can confuse birds.

“In fact, between 100 million and 1 billion birds die every year in collisions with manmade structures – one of the biggest killers of migratory birds,” Audubon Texas says.

So, what can you do? Turn off all your outside lights between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., close your curtains and blinds, turn off exterior floodlights, and avoid using overhead lighting when working late, 

. Use warm lightbulbs when possible, and direct the light you use to fall only where needed.

You can also help the birds’ cause by getting a free “Lights Out Texas” sign! Signs are currently available 

for free at the following Austin libraries

Spicewood Springs: Pick up on Tuesdays 9-11:30 a.m., and Thursdays 4:30-7:30 p.m.

John Gillum: Pick up on Wednesdays 2-5 p.m.

Hampton Branch at Oak Hill: Pick up on Saturdays 2-5 p.m.

Windsor Park: Pick up on Fridays 1-4 p.m.

Why Birds in Texas Need You To Turn Off Your Lights Right Now

Why Texas Birds Need You To Turn Off Your Lights Right Now

Get to know the natural side of Austin: the plants, animals, weather and more that make our city unique.

Austin Urban Almanac

Urban Almanac

It’s My Park Day, a twice-a-year volunteer event at Austin’s many parks, is on Saturday. You can volunteer to help beautify, restore, clean up, and more. Here’s what you need to know:

It’s My Park Day kicks off at 9 a.m. on Saturday and runs until noon. 

 and make sure you RSVP. Volunteers receive a free T-shirt, sticker, and access to discounts at spots like Zilker Brewing Co. and Rosen’s Bagel Co.

Volunteer opportunities are located all over the city, so finding a park to help should be easy! You can spread mulch at the 

, or fill holes and do other beautifying tasks at 

. The options are endless! Restore a trail at 

, or promote responsible pet ownership in 

 to help care for trees, fence lines, and shared park spaces at 

. If you’re interested in being part of a group that is community-engaged, learn more about 

It’s My Park Day generates roughly $650,000 in volunteer labor for park improvements every year, officials say. In the fall, volunteers completed 177 projects and collected more than 25,000 pounds of trash.

“Every volunteer who spreads mulch, collects trash, or maintains and restores our greenbelts is helping to shape Austin’s green spaces for the better. The energy and care Austinites bring to this day ripple across our neighborhoods all year long,” said Colin Wallis, Austin Parks Foundation CEO.

It’s My Park Day Is Coming Up. Here’s What You Need To Know.

Ava Wojnowski

, you brave runners may be wondering the best way to manage cold temperatures while running outside, especially since it always feels cooler out at Lady Bird Lake.

Before you set out on your run, check the weather! This will help you determine what kind of supplies you’re going to need.

 You want to keep your chest warm, so even a tank top as a first layer helps once you add your long sleeves.

 Winter means wind and cold temperatures, so make sure your jacket is prepared to fight the elements.

 Smartwool socks can help keep your feet warm, even if they get wet from rain or snow.

 Make sure the shoes you are running in have a good grip to help with traction. 

Some running shoes are even made of waterproof material

 to keep your feet dry when running in wet conditions.

 Put Vaseline on the parts of your face that are exposed to keep them insulated and warm on cold runs. Windburn is the worst!

Get those ears and hands nice and toasty. When it’s really cold, you can also try hand warmers.

 Winter running often means running in the dark. Make sure you wear some reflective gear to stay visible.

The Spurs Austin International Half Marathon also 

Doing a warm-up or activation before any run is crucial, but it’s especially important when it’s cold outside.

This may seem obvious, but the most important tip for after a cold run is to get out of your sweaty workout clothes as soon as possible. When you are wet AND cold, that’s a recipe for disaster.

Always pack a change of clothes if you have to drive home after a cold run. A thermal cup with hot coffee inside isn’t a bad idea, either.

Take a hot shower as well to loosen up your muscles before you stretch for post-run recovery, too.

If you are planning to go inside immediately after your run, let your breathing come down before doing so. Going from cold to hot too quickly 

How To Safely Run in the Austin Cold 

Freezing rain and sleet are expected throughout the Austin area starting Saturday and lasting through Sunday morning, 

Forecasters are warning that roads, including bridges and overpasses, will become slick and ice could accumulate on power lines and tree limbs, which could lead to power outages, starting Saturday. Wintry precipitation will be possible in the Austin area as early as Saturday evening.

Temperatures will be around 45 degrees during the day on Saturday before dropping to 21 degrees at night. There’s a 90% chance of precipitation on Saturday, which will fall to 30% on Sunday. Sunday will also see freezing temperatures with a high near 31 degrees and a low around 16 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

Wind chills from Saturday evening to Monday morning could get as low as 2 degrees below zero, forecasters say.

Forecasters recommend delaying all travel this weekend. But if you must travel, use extreme caution and pack a winter storm kit. A kit should include items like tire chains, booster cables, a flashlight, shovel, blankets, and extra clothing. Make sure to pack water and a first-aid kit, too.

When venturing outside, dress in layers and wear gloves.

The city can alert Austinites through phone and email, but you can sign up for other alert services, too. You can sign up for notifications from 

 online. The city will be providing weather updates 

 and recommends signing up for Ready Central Texas alerts or downloading their mobile app.

An accessible alert system for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or deaf and blind is 

It’s always good to have a few supplies on hand during a winter storm in Texas. The Department of Homeland Security 

has a great guide to building an emergency supply kit

 for your home. Items you should have include:

One gallon of water per person per day for several days

A several-day supply of non-perishable food

Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert

Medicine including prescription and things like Tylenol

Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery

A wrench or pair of pliers to turn off utilities (and, make sure you know where your water shut-off valve is)

Want to know more about the storm, and how to tell weather facts from fiction online? Listen to today’s podcast episode for a breakdown from CBS News Meteorologist Avery Tomasco. ⬇️

What To Know About the Winter Storm Hitting Austin This Weekend

Austin has not exactly been a winter wonderland lately, as unusually high temperatures have plagued the city in recent weeks, peaking at 88 degrees on Jan. 2.

And it looks like you won’t need your winter sweaters too much this year — warmer-than-normal temperatures are expected to continue all season due to La Niña, forecasters at the National Weather Service say.

A La Niña pattern happens when the eastern Pacific Ocean near the equator cools, which can lead to warmer and drier conditions across the southern U.S., 

the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says

. Austin has been in a La Niña pattern since the fall, and as long as it persists, any cold fronts the Austin area experiences for the next few weeks won’t be long-lasting, said Bob Fogarty, an NWS meteorologist.

“We could still get cold events,” Fogarty explained. “Even though it's La Niña, you can still get nasty winter weather. It’s just going to be that way every so often.”

This week, high temperatures will be in the 80s before a cold front moves into the area on Friday, Fogarty said. The front will pull temperatures down into the 60s during the day and 40s at night. Temperatures into next week will drop into the 30s, but likely won’t hit freezing.

January in Austin normally sees highs in the 60s and lows in the 40s, Fogarty said.

“The way this winter has been going, I suspect it’s going to get warmer to the point where we don’t like it,” Fogarty said.

But it’s not all bad news – warmer-than-normal temperatures for the season could mean a high of, say, 69 degrees or in the 80s like we’ve been seeing.

For now, we recommend taking advantage of the unseasonably warm conditions. Go for a dip at Barton Springs Pool 

It's going to be unseasonably warm this winter in Austin.

Warmer-Than-Normal Temperatures Expected This Winter in Austin, Forecasters Say

All brave, weirdo Austinites to the front, please! The new year is right around the corner and if you can’t start 2026 without jumping into a frigid body of water, we’ve got you covered. Not in a towel, of course, but hopefully you have one of those handy!

Here’s where you can plunge on Jan. 1, 2026:

Save Our Springs Alliance hosts a polar bear plunge at Barton Springs Pool, 2131 William Barton Drive, every year. While the organization has not posted full information about its 2026 plunge, they 

You also can just go to Barton Springs Pool whenever you want on Jan. 1! The pool is open year-round and has free entry during winter months.

Six of the city’s pools are open all year, including Bartholomew, Barton Springs, Big Stacy, Colony Park, Deep Eddy, and Springwoods. Pop in to one and do your own polar bear plunge! Just be sure to check the temperature – pools will close if the air temperature on a pool deck is at or below 32 degrees.

The Austin Aquanauts Dive Club is hosting a dive at Mansfield Dam Park on Lake Travis, 4370 Mansfield Dam Park Road, at 11 a.m. on Jan. 1. Entry fees are $15 for members of the dive club and 

Leander’s polar bear plunge starts at 10 a.m. on Jan. 1 at Robin Bledsoe Park Pool, 601 South Bagdad, and includes a hot cocoa bar, giveaways, games, and more. The event is $10 for plungers and free for spectators. 

The city of Cedar Park is hosting its polar bear plunge at Veterans Memorial Pool, 2525 New Hope Dr., at 10 a.m. on Jan. 1. 

 and has a hot cocoa bar for after your dip!

Where to Polar Bear Plunge on New Year’s Day 2026 in the Austin Area

Picking up birding as a hobby can be as simple as going outside and looking up. But if you’re looking for ways to be a little more involved, here are our best tips for getting started:

To do birding right, you’ll need a comfortable pair of walking shoes, and a notebook. Plus, a pair of binoculars — t

 either a 7 x 35 or an 8 x 42 pair. It’s probably best to test binoculars in person at an outdoors store like REI or Academy Sports and Outdoors. You’ll want to consider how easy they are to use, how comfortable they are, and how clear the image is.

Bring a small notebook with you on your birding trips so you can write down bird characteristics or other trail notes. You can also download bird identification apps like 

Birding is a great hobby because you can pretty much do it from anywhere. The Travis Audubon Society has 

Commons Ford Ranch Metropolitan Park, 614 Commons Ford Road

Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory, 2210 S. FM 973

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave.

Laguna Gloria – The Contemporary Austin, 3809 W. 35th St.

Mary Moore Searight Metropolitan Park, 907 Slaughter Lane

Texas State Capitol Grounds, 112 E. 11th St.

Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park, 12138 North Lamar Blvd.

Some birds, like a cardinal for example, are easy to identify. But for your lesser known birds, the Travis Audubon Society recommends paying attention to a few bird characteristics and matching them to a bird in a birding guide like the 

“National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 7th Edition.”

The bird’s bill shape, length, and color

What colors its back, rump, and under-tail are

How big the bird’s head is and what their eyes look like

How To Start Birding in Austin

Monday’s chilly weather may have you thinking about how to take care of your garden as winter approaches. We’ve got you covered:

🥶 It May Not Be Freezing Yet, but Be Prepared for When It Is.

If you have outdoor plants and vegetables, you’ll want to pay attention to the weather for more reasons than figuring out what kind of jacket to wear. When temperatures are predicted to fall below 28 degrees, you’ll need to cover your plants to protect them, 

officials at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension say

Use light blankets, plastic sheets, or plant cover fabric you can find at a garden center to cover your plants at night. Make sure the blanket you’re using isn’t too heavy! You don’t want to crush your plants.

Covering plants helps them hold in heat, so during the day, take the covers off to let the sun warm up the soil before wrapping them up again at night, 

Keep an eye on your plants that are in containers – they’re bad at acclimating to colder weather and often don’t develop a tolerance for lower temperatures.

💧 Don’t Forget To Water Your Plants, Even When It’s Cold Out.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension officials recommend 

 before freezing temperatures are expected. This helps protect them, as plants that are stressed from drought conditions are more likely to experience a cold weather injury.

Moist soil also helps plants absorb heat throughout the day before radiating it out on a cold night. Just make sure you don’t over water! Soil tends to dry out slower when it’s cold.

🌱 You Don’t Have To Stop Planting Just Because It’s Winter.

A benefit to living in Texas is our milder winters. Take advantage of this and plant to your heart’s content. 

 says you can plant the following during winter months:

How To Take Care of Your Garden This Winter in Austin

The Austin area received some much-needed rain over the weekend, accumulating 2.76 inches of rainfall between Friday and Saturday, 

. But forecasters say drought conditions are not expected to change much.

“It’s a beneficial rainfall, but it’s going to have little bearing on the drought status,” said Matthew Brady, a lead forecaster for the National Weather Service.

Travis County is experiencing severe and extreme drought conditions, according to the 

latest update from the U.S. Drought Monitor

a precautionary wildfire disaster declaration

, it’s good to be prepared for such an event in Austin.

Making your home resistant to fire is all about prepping your space ahead of time to keep embers from sneaking in. Here are some simple 

steps you can take from the Austin-Travis County Wildfire Coalition

Do not store combustible materials under your deck or porch.

Bring any outdoor furniture inside if there’s a fire threat.

Block off open areas on your roof, like roof valleys, open ends of barrel tiles, and gutters.

Roof coverings should be Class A fire-rated and be made of materials like metal, tile, or composition shingles.

Enclose your eaves with noncombustible materials.

Bring flammable items like doormats, wreaths, and planters inside 

Make sure wooden fences do not directly connect to your home.

Why Austinites Should Worry About Wildfires (and What To Do About It)

This tip may be the biggest – you don’t want 

at your home when fires are possible. That includes vegetation like weeds, dried grass, brush, leaves in your gutters, litter on your roof, and firewood. Removing debris slows down the spread of fire, 

 and make an evacuation plan with your family. You’ll need to pick an emergency meetup location outside the wildfire hazard area and practice an evacuation route. 

Check your home’s wildfire risk online.

Don’t forget to pack a go-bag that includes a three-day supply of non-perishable food and water per person, a first aid kit, a flashlight, a battery powered radio, your important documents, and medications, 

🧑‍🚒 Stay safe out there, y’all!

How To Prepare for a Wildfire in Austin

Calling all Lady Bird Lake walkers, joggers, runners, bikers, and whatever-else-you’re-doing-ers! The newly expanded sidewalk along the Pleasant Valley Road bridge is now open.

The expanded sidewalk, which was previously just 

, is part of the city’s $25 million revamp of the area which includes the construction of a wishbone-shaped bridge connecting the north and south ends of Lady Bird Lake. Construction on the bridge started in July 2024 and is expected to be finished by the end of this year or 

 earlier this year that the project was 10 months ahead of schedule.

Installing bollards to keep vehicles from driving onto Krief Fields

 the Holly Shores Peninsula pedestrian bridge

Workers still need to add lights and a pergola to the wishbone bridge, a water fountain near Canterbury Street, and a mosaic art installation, 

Traffic closures will be in place until construction is finished and includes lane closures and sidewalk detours.

Construction on the bridge started in July 2024. 