The National Weather Service announced the Austin area will remain under an excessive heat warning from midday July 11 through at least the evening of July 12. Temperatures as high as 110 degrees are expected over that time, according to the NWS, with the summer conditions poised to "significantly increase" the risk for heat-related illness.
The weather service said Central Texans should stay hydrated, out of the sun and in air conditioning when possible, with extra precautions advised for anyone spending more time outside. For those who are working or spending time outdoors, the service recommended moving any activities to early morning or the evening and wearing loose or lightweight clothing during that time.
The service also noted that residents should check up on neighbors and family members as needed, and that children and pets should not be left unattended in vehicles.
In Austin, cooling centers were open over the weekend, and several are set to remain in operation during the regional heat warning.
According to the city, most public library branches, as well as parks and recreation and senior centers, are open for use as cooling centers during regular business hours this week.
Across Travis County, all county community centers are also open for cooling between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily with the downtown Austin Resource Center for the Homeless on East Seventh Street also open daily from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Amid the heat wave, Capital Metro is offering free rides to cooling centers for any resident in need of assistance.
“Austin-Travis County remains committed to supporting the community during severe weather events and during emergencies,” Aoife Longmore, Austin's emergency management deputy officer, said in a July 8 statement. “We want to make sure anyone who needs a place to cool down knows where they can go; anyone working outdoors knows their rights so they can remain safe and healthy; and we want to remind people of heat safety information they need to protect themselves and the environment.”
City officials have also expressed concern about heat-related health risks for Austin-area residents as temperatures reached 100 degrees over much of the past month. In response, city staff prepared a brief report covering Austin's response to the situation and also advised that residents prepare by planning for such events and readying emergency kits.
More information on Austin's emergency response may be found on the city's alerts page. More information on emergency preparation may be found here.
While the heat warning is in effect, the statewide electric grid manager, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, is also asking residents and businesses to conserve their power usage July 11. That notice comes due to record demand potentially straining the grid and follows a similar advisory issued earlier this spring.
Utility regulators in May said such requests are made for added transparency and do not necessarily signal emergency conditions. And after the deadly blackouts of 2021's Winter Storm Uri, officials also promised system reliability throughout a summer now drawing record demand on the power grid.
“The lights are going to stay on this summer, and thank you for playing your part in ensuring grid reliability," Public Utility Chair Peter Lake said May 17.
