Chances for freezing rain in Central Texas remain low; local officials urge caution

City and county officials are asking residents to prepare for winter weather as the Austin area sees temperatures dipping below freezing; however, chances for freezing precipitation remain low, according to National Weather Service reports.

“We need the public to do their part and be ready. And if you haven't already begun, the time to start preparing is now,” Travis County Judge Andy Brown said during a Jan. 8 press conference. “... A little attention now will help reduce injuries and property damages for residents.”

What you need to know

An afternoon update Jan. 8 indicates a 20% chance of ice accumulation in the forecast, predominately to the west and affecting mainly bridges, less traveled, roads, trees and metal objects, according to NWS.

The Texas power grid is also not expected to face issues during the Jan. 6-10 cold snap, according to The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the state’s grid operator.

“We have far more power available this winter than we’ve had any winter ever before, and that power is far more reliable than it’s ever been,” Gov. Greg Abbott said at a December news conference.

Concerns for power outages

Stuart Riley, Austin Energy’s deputy general manager, said the company has enhanced its emergency management capabilities in recent years, noting additional mutual aid contracts and having the necessary supplies on hand for power restoration.

“Our vegetation management crews are out there trimming trees, keeping limbs off the power lines, off poles, and off other electrical infrastructure to help prevent outages,” Riley said, referencing the widespread power outages that resulted from downed trees in the 2023 winter freeze.

To date, Austin Energy crews have trimmed foliage surrounding 120 of the 305 circuits in need of trimming, prioritizing those with links to emergency services and hospitals. The company has plans to trim around another 44 circuits in the upcoming fiscal year, according to an Austin Energy spokesperson.

Riley urges Austin Energy customers to sign up for alerts by texting REG to 287-846, adding that residents can find tips on how to prepare in the event of an outage on Austin Energy’s website, which includes outage maps and current power conditions.

Here are a few tips to stay safe while experiencing an outage:

• Avoid downed power lines
• If safe, check your breakers
• Get flashlights or battery-operated lanterns
• Be careful with portable emergency generators
• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed
• Turn off major appliances
• Do not attempt to assist emergency and utility crews

The city of Austin’s Transportation and Public Works Director Richard Mendoza tells those driving over the next few days to “continually monitor the conditions,” opting for routes that reduce the chances of hitting black ice, which typically occur on bridges and overpasses.

Additionally, Mendoza said power outages and wind conditions can impact traffic signals. With over 1,000 signals throughout the city, he asks that residents treat any dark signals as a four-way stop.

Residents can report malfunctioning signals by calling 311, Mendoza said.

Where to go

Both the city and county have warming stations throughout the metropolitan area open to anyone seeking shelter.

Austin's cold weather shelter activations, managed by the city Homeless Strategy Office and the Austin Area Urban League, now take place whenever overnight temperatures at Camp Mabry are forecast to dip to 35 degrees or below.

Anyone looking to stay at a shelter overnight can register at the One Texas Center offices, located at 505 Barton Springs Road, Austin, through the night of Jan. 9.

Information about the shelters is available by calling the city hotline at 512-972-5055.

While overnight shelter locations aren't publicly released, dozens of city facilities, such as libraries and recreation centers, also serve as warming centers during daily operating hours. Travis County community centers are also open as warming centers during regular hours.

Since the start of the frigid weather earlier this week, between an estimated 200 to 300 individuals have utilized the warming centers nightly, according to the city.

One last thing

Local emergency management staff urge residents to remember the four P's: people, pets, pipes, and plants.

Find more preparedness resources here. Additionally, residents can register for free emergency alerts and information at www.warncentraltexas.org or by downloading the ReadyCentralTX app.