North Austin News

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Central Texas, effective until Tuesday, January 21 at 6 p.m. The warning predicts hazardous travel conditions due to a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain.

In response, the Austin-Travis County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activated on January 20 to coordinate efforts among city and county departments and other agencies. Updates will be available online in multiple languages.

City crews have pre-treated roads, but icy conditions remain a concern. Residents are advised against travel unless necessary. Those who must travel should exercise caution and avoid using ovens or grills for heating to prevent carbon monoxide exposure.

Approximately 550 people stayed in cold weather shelters overnight. These shelters will continue operations through Wednesday morning. Libraries are closed except for four serving as warming centers from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Modified city operations are in effect on January 21, with assistance available via phone or virtual meetings. Some city facilities may be closed; residents should verify before visiting by calling designated numbers.

The Austin Animal Center is closed to the public but staffed for animal care. Austin Public Health has rescheduled appointments initially set for Tuesday.

Austin Bergstrom International Airport remains open though some flights are canceled or delayed. Travelers should confirm their flight status before heading to the airport.

Austin Energy is monitoring grid conditions and ready to address outages. Customers can report issues through various channels and check updates on the outage map.

Austin Water maintains elevated awareness during this period, offering virtual assistance for utility queries and permit needs. Customers can report service problems around the clock.

Austin Resource Recovery advises potential delays in waste collection services due to weather conditions, urging customers to leave uncollected items out until crews catch up.

Public safety departments responded overnight to several weather-related incidents including car accidents and fires. Numbers are preliminary and subject to change upon further reporting.

Development Services will not provide in-person services; staff will assist virtually instead. Municipal Court appearances are rescheduled with extended deadlines for related matters.

Parks and Recreation facilities close except those used as shelters or warming centers; updated information is available online.

Transportation & Public Works crews have treated critical roadways; drivers should plan routes carefully if travel is unavoidable due to potential black ice formation.

CapMetro resumes limited operations at 10 a.m., excluding rail services which remain suspended today.

The EOC continues operation with updates posted online and on social media platforms by @AustinHSEM and official City of Austin accounts. Residents are encouraged to sign up for emergency alerts via Warn Central Texas.