AUSTIN, Texas – The city is grappling with persistent freezing temperatures, prompting authorities to advise residents against driving and venturing onto icy roads.
The City of Austin has activated the Austin-Travis County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and is currently operating under modified conditions. This means that while Cold Weather Shelters and Warming Centers remain open, all other city facilities are closed to the public.
The National Weather Service has reported that extreme cold conditions continued overnight, with temperatures consistently falling below freezing, reaching lows in the teens across the Austin area.
Current Weather Conditions
Although the Arctic blast has passed, cold temperatures linger. The Extreme Cold Warning is set to remain in effect until noon today. Any melting that occurred during the day on Sunday could have refrozen overnight, contributing to hazardous conditions on roads, bridges, and overpasses.
While significant wintry precipitation has ceased, residual ice and ongoing cold temperatures create dangerous situations. Residents are strongly encouraged to avoid travel whenever possible, as even treated road surfaces may still be unsafe. For those who must travel, exercising extreme caution and checking DriveTexas.org for updates on roadway conditions is essential to ensure the safety of emergency responders.
Emergency Shelter Operations
In collaboration with the Austin Area Urban League, the city has been providing cold-weather shelter services at seven locations, with the ability to expand capacity as needed. Last night, a total of 879 individuals were accommodated across various Cold Weather Shelters and family shelter facilities.
The shelters will remain operational 24 hours a day until Tuesday morning, with embarkation available Monday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at One Texas Center located at 505 Barton Springs Rd. Transportation assistance can be obtained by calling Austin 3-1-1.
Warming Centers
Several locations are functioning as Warming Centers from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., which include:
- Central Library – 710 W. Cesar Chavez St.
- Terrazas Branch – 1105 E. Cesar Chavez St.
- Little Walnut Creek Branch – 835 W. Rundberg Ln.
- One Texas Center – 505 Barton Springs Rd. (open until 8 p.m.)
A complete map of Warming Centers is accessible at austintexas.gov/alerts.
