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Austin, TX – The National Weather Service has declared a Winter Storm Warning for the Central Texas region, remaining active until Tuesday, January 21 at 6 p.m. Local residents are advised to brace for unsafe travel conditions as wintry precipitation persists with a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain.
On Monday, January 20, the Austin-Travis County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was activated to facilitate a unified response to this incident among city and county departments, partner organizations, and NGOs. During the activation of the EOC, essential updates will be available online at austintexas.gov/alerts and can be accessed in 14 different languages.
City crews have been treating major roadways in advance. Icy conditions may prevail, and travel is not advised. If travel is necessary, please keep the following in mind:
Do not utilize ovens, stoves, or grills as heating sources for your home, as this could lead to carbon monoxide exposure.
Should you experience a power outage, the best methods to stay warm include:
If you have yet to sign up for emergency alerts on your phone, please go to WarnCentralTexas.org to register. Alerts can be sent via text, call, and/or email.
Cold Weather Shelters & Warming Centers
About 550 individuals were accommodated at the City’s overnight cold weather shelters on Monday night.
Please note that Cold Weather Shelters (CWS) will maintain 24-hour operations until Wednesday morning, January 22. Daily CWS embarkation will occur from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at One Texas Center (505 Barton Springs Rd).
City libraries are temporarily closed due to severe weather, except for the following four libraries which are acting as warming centers today from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.:
If you need to leave your residence for any purpose due to the effects of the winter storm, Austin 3-1-1 can connect you to community shelter options. Call 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000 for help.
The City will implement modified operations on Tuesday, January 21. During these modified operations, City personnel will provide assistance via phone, email, or virtual meetings.
Owing to adverse weather conditions, several City of Austin facilities may not be accessible to the public on Tuesday. Residents are encouraged to refrain from using the roads; however, if visiting a City facility is essential, please call 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000 to verify the building’s public status before heading out.
The Austin Animal Center is not open to the public. Essential staff are present to tend to and feed the animals in the facility.
Austin Public Health has contacted patients with previously arranged Tuesday appointments to reschedule. Walk-in services will be unavailable.
Austin Bergstrom International Airport
AUS remains operational; however, some airlines have canceled flights and delays should be anticipated. Travelers are advised to confirm their flight schedules before departing and practice caution while traveling to the airport. AUS teams are prepared and department staff are on-site to ensure that AUS remains open and safe for travelers and aircraft. The airport is collaborating with airline, federal agency, and concession partners, who have also made necessary operational modifications to prepare for passenger arrivals.
Austin Energy is actively monitoring grid conditions and is ready to respond to any outages. Customers can report power outages online, text “OUT” to 287846, or call 512-322-9100. Current outages and updates can be found on the Austin Energy Outage Map.
Austin Water continues to monitor the situation with heightened vigilance to ensure dependable service during winter conditions. Austin Water personnel will be accessible virtually to address utility inquiries or assist those needing permits.
Customers can stay updated on water service impacts by checking AW’s online Leak and Outage Map, which displays current reports and estimated repair times. Any leaks, outages, or other service issues can be reported to Austin Water’s 24/7 emergency response team at 512-972-1000. Additional winter weather tips can be found at austinwater.org.
Austin Resource Recovery
Due to winter weather conditions, Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) customers may experience delays in trash, recycling, composting, on-demand bulk, brush, and household hazardous waste collections. Customers are advised to set out carts and materials for on-demand collections by 5:30 a.m. on their designated collection day and to leave any uncollected carts and materials out to allow crews to catch up throughout the week. Customers can receive updates regarding service changes by downloading the Austin Recycles app or by opting in for reminders ataustintexas.gov/myschedule.
Furthermore, ARR’s business clients in the Central Business District may face service interruptions or delays on Tuesday. Street cleansing and litter control in the Central Business District will be paused on Tuesday and will restart as weather permits and winter road treatments like sand and gravel are prepared to be removed.
Public safety agencies (Austin Police Department, Austin Fire Department, and Austin Travis County EMS) attended to approximately a dozen calls that might be related to weather overnight, comprising four exposure incidents, six vehicle collisions, and two fires.
*All incident statistics are initial and may change as reports are completed and additional details are reconciled. If amendments are needed, these figures will be revised in future releases.
The Development Services Department (DSD) will not provide in-person services, such as inspections. DSD personnel will be accessible via phone, chat, email, and for any virtual meetings. In-person inspections planned for Tuesday will shift to Wednesday, weather permitting.
Municipal Court (MC) and Downtown Austin Community Court (DACC)
All Municipal Court and Downtown Austin Community Court engagements will be rearranged and all due dates extended. Should you have inquiries or want to have a conversation with a Municipal Court clerk, please dial 512-974-4800 or visit: austintexas.gov/municipal-court. For conversations with a DACC clerk, please call 512-974-4879.
Violet KeepSafe Storage will continue to operate at 700 7th St. For further details, please contact 512-974-1294.
All Parks and Recreation facilities will be closed on Tuesday, January 21, except for recreation centers designated as shelters or warming locations. Please visit austintexas.gov/parkclosures for up-to-date information.
Transportation & Public Works
Transportation and Public Works teams have been pre-treating essential roadways and infrastructure. Out of an abundance of caution in light of the possibility of snow, sleet, and freezing rain, please remain at home and off the roadways if feasible. If travel is necessary, plan a route in advance to avoid elevated areas where black ice tends to develop.
Online permitting services will still be accessible.
CapMetro will resume limited operations starting at 10 a.m. today, Tuesday, January 21, with the initial trips for customers anticipated closer to 11 a.m. for Bus, Pickup, and Access services. CapMetro Rail will not be in service.
Austin Boards & Commissions Cancelled
The following Boards & Commission meetings have been cancelled for January 21:
The EOC will continue to function until further notice. Alongside the Alerts page (www.austintexas.gov/alerts), updates will be shared on @AustinHSEM social media platforms on Facebook, X/Twitter, and Instagram and communicated to the official City of Austin accounts.
Everyone is urged to enroll for emergency alerts through Warn Central Texas.
In case of medical or life-threatening emergencies, please dial 911. For other types of assistance or services from the City, please call 311 or 512-974-2000 or download the 311 mobile application. Keeping 911 lines clear for emergencies ensures the City can appropriately dispatch first responders and emergency staff to those needing urgent assistance.
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