At least 32% of Austinites lost power yesterday as the latest winter storm sweeps through Texas.
It may not look like much more than ice on our porches, but residents saw at least a quarter to three-quarters of an inch of ice in Central Texas. On Monday, Austin-Travis County EMS responded to more than 300 ice-related incidents .
The cold will soon melt away.
Graphic via National Weather Service
How much cold weather is left?
Austin has been under winter weather watch since Monday, Jan. 31 until at least 10 a.m. today . But come this weekend, hazardous conditions will ease as rainfall slows. It’s probably going to stay cold until Sunday, Feb. 5 , which is expected to bring a high temperature of 57º and a low of 39º over sunny skies.
Roads might still be dangerous after scattered rain overnight, so be cautious on roadways and stay home until temperatures rise, if possible. For the rest of the month, expect temperatures a little closer to the Austin average of 45-61 degrees.
Roadways will still be considered dangerous this morning.
Graphic via National Weather Service
Winter storm 2.0?
Between Austin Energy and Oncor , more than 180,000 Travis County residents lost power on Wednesday. That’s the biggest power loss since February 2021, but this weather doesn’t hold a candle to Winter Storm Uri, which left more than 4.5 million Texas homes powerless.
According to Austin Energy , most power outages yesterday were caused by frozen branches downing power lines, not a statewide issue with the power grid. Text OUT to 287846 to report outages to Austin Energy.
Staying safe
The easiest way to stay safe is to avoid driving until roads thaw. In addition to icy conditions, nearly a third of traffic signals lost connection yesterday.
The worst part is over, but next time Austin freezes over, remember the four Ps: protect your pipes from breakage, bring plants inside, protect pets, and check in on people nearby.