Austin-American Statesman > Weather Watch
More sun, pleasant temperatures today
A sunny forecast and cool temperatures continue today, with a high near 66 and calm winds, according to the National Weather Service.
Warmer temperatures are expected during the day after a cold start this morning, the service said.
Tonight looks to be partly cloudy with a low around 42.
Thursday looks to bring more of the same pleasant weather.
Friday looks to bring a cloudy forecast with it with a 20-percent chance of rain and highs in the mid-60s through the weekend.
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Sun on tap for next few days in Austin
After a light sprinkling of rain in some places overnight and a chilly morning, today and the next few days are shaping up to be pretty nice.
High temperatures for the next few days are expected to be in the mid-60s under sunny to mostly sunny skies, according to the National Weather Service.
Clouds are expected to roll in Saturday, and there is a slight chance of showers Sunday.
Overnight, several places in Central Texas — mostly to the west and south of Austin — saw a few tenths of an inch of rain, readings from the Lower Colorado River Authority show.
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Scattered showers expected to clear out by sunset
Stormy Monday is not expected to last much longer. Thunderstorm systems in Pflugerville and Round Rock are expected to move out of the area by early evening, and scattered showers around Austin are expected to stop by sunset, said Pat McDonald, a forecaster with the National Weather Service.
As of 2:30, about half an inch of rain was measured at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and a little more than half an inch was reported at Camp Mabry near downtown.
“We’ll see cloudy skies for the rest of the afternoon,” McDonald said. “There’s a 60 percent chance of rain but that should go away by sunset.”
Lows tonight will be in the upper 30s with cloudy skies and winds at 10-15 mph.
Starting on Tuesday, McDonald said, Austin will see pleasant weather with sunny skies and highs in the mid 60s.
“Rest of the week should be very pleasant, fair, dry and mild,” McDonald said.
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Sunny today, but rain is in the forecast
Today’s sunny start will turn breezy and colder by this afternoon with more rain likely, according to the National Weather Service.
A Pacific storm system will move across Texas today and this evening, bringing light patches of rain and a potential cold front by early this afternoon, the service said.
By this evening, more clouds may move in, the service said.
The day’s high is expected to be close to 57, with a calm wind of 15 to 20 miles per hour that could reach gusts of 25 miles per hour. Rain chances are 70 percent.
Daytime rain amounts will be below one-tenth inch, with possibly higher amounts north and east of Austin, the service said.
Tonight’s low could reach 39 degrees and stronger wind gusts up to 30 miles an hour, the service said.
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Heavy rain tonight for Central Texas
A series of showers are moving through the Central Texas region now, and will linger in the area until the morning, The National Weather Service says.
Parts of the Austin area are experiencing light rain sprinkles right now, which will increase to potentially heavy storms shortly before midnight. The rain is expected to hover around Austin until just before noon on Monday. After a short lull in precipitation, a second wave of light showers will most likely occur for a few hours, eventually tapering off in the afternoon.
The high for Monday will be 57 degrees, lows hitting around 40 degrees. The rest of the week will be mild and sunny weather with highs in the low 60’s.
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Breezy, mild today, sun, maybe rain this weekend
The Austin area should see a breezy and mild day, with a high near 60 degrees and a 20 percent chance of rain, according to the National Weather Service.
Northwest winds will be between 5 and 15 miles per hour, and tonight looks to be mostly cloudy with a low of about 40, the service said.
This weekend will bring some sunshine, with Saturday looking to be mostly sunny and a high near 64. Lows will be around 37 for another cloudy night, the service said.
Sunday looks to be a partly sunny day, with a high near 60.
By the Sunday evening, with a low at 48, showers are likely with a 60 percent chance for precipitation, the service said.
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Cool, sunny weather continues
Cool and sunny temperatures will continue in the Austin area Thursday with a high near 63 and slight winds, according to the National Weather Service.
Tonight will bring clouds and a low around 43, the service said.
Enjoy the sun today, as there’s a 20 percent chance for showers Friday, with chances increasing again on Sunday, according to the service.
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Snow day is gone; sunny, warmer conditions expected today
The one-day snow event in Austin is gone, and today is expected to be sunny with temperatures in the 50s.
“We should see a lot of sunshine today and warming up into the 50s, maybe mid-50s,” said Bob Fogarty, a forecaster for the National Weather Service.
Overnight conditions weren’t sufficient enough to create any major concerns of ice on the roadways this morning, Fogarty said.
For example, Camp Mabry reached freezing only for about an hour overnight.
The rest of the week and into the weekend is expected to be sunny, with highs in the 50s and 60s and lows in the 40s. But there is a 20 percent chance of rain in the forecast on Friday and a 40 percent chance of rain Sunday.
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Winter weather advisory canceled
The National Weather Service has canceled its winter weather advisory for the Austin area as the snow has moved to the east of South Central Texas.
Moisture from the earlier rain, sleet and snow may linger on roads overnight and cause problems when temperatures drop below freezing, allowing ice to form, the weather service said. Motorists should use caution.
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Light snow expected this evening; roads could be slippery
Central Texas can expect light snow through the late afternoon and the early evening, but the area has gotten the most accumulation it will see with this snow event, said Chris Morris, a forecaster with the National Weather Service.
“It’s all downhill from here,” he said. “All the snow and rain should be out of the area by midnight.”
Most of the accumulations have been on grassy areas, the weather service said. Any snow that does fall on roads will become slushy as it melts, resulting in slippery bridges and roadways, the weather service said.
“We’re not anticipating any problems through the evening rush,” said John Hurt, a spokesman for the Austin district office of the Texas Department of Transportation. “We’ll have crews on through the night, but we’re not seeing anything to cause a great deal of concern.”
He said the warm weekend had left road surfaces “so much warmer than we would normally expect this time of year.”
“If we had had several days of cold weather leading up to this, we’d have a major weather event (traffic wise),” he said.
He said drivers should still use caution and be mindful that fallen precipitation could refreeze as temperatures drop. He also said drivers should be careful as they drive north into Bell County, where icy conditions have been reported.
Morris said the overnight low in Austin would be about 30 degrees. Williamson County will get a tad cooler, and the Hill Country lows tonight will be close to the mid-20s.
Wednesday is expected to be sunny and warmer, with highs in the low 50s, the weather service is reporting.
Around the area, several school districts have dismissed classes early or have canceled after-school and evening events. Some will start classes late Wednesday morning.
Click here to see updated school and weather-related closings.
Photo: It snowed in Austin on Tuesday and these juniors from McCallum High School decided to play. Mackenzie Carson, Jacob Backhouse, Blayr Brophy and Caitlin Austin play around and throw snowballs at The Hancock Golf course in Central Austin this afternoon. Laura Skelding, American-Statesman.
Click here to see more photos of snow.
A winter weather advisory remains in effect for Travis, Hays, Blanco, Bastrop and Lee counties until midnight. A winter storm warning is in effect for Williamson, Burnet, Llano and Gillespie counties as well as areas north until midnight.
In much of Austin, snow that has been falling since about 10 a.m., is accumulating in grassy areas and on rooftops and parked cars. Farther north and west, in Georgetown, Burnet and Llano, snowfall totals have been greater.
In the Hill Country town of Llano, snow has been falling since about 8 a.m., sometimes heavier than others. Snow is covering sides of roads and is building up on rooftops, but melting quickly when it hits the wet asphalt.
Kenneth Johnson, a police officer from Temple in Llano for DWI training, stopped at Cooper’s for barbecue.
“The snow has probably stopped people from out of town from getting what they want here at Cooper’s,” Johnson said. “I started driving this morning, it was raining but there was a little bit of sleet and snow. Now the snow has been coming down a little bit harder, but the roads are pretty clear. It’s not too bad.”
Click here to see how other Central Texans are enjoying the snow.
In Austin, emergency officials said there was been a marked increase in vehicle crashes between 10:30 and 11:30 a.m.
Austin paramedics have responded to 21 crashes since 10:30, officials said, including several vehicle rollover incidents and two serious vehicle crashes at the 5300 block of E. Ben White Blvd. and in the 17200 blk of FM 973.
Earlier today, there was an accident involving a school bus in Northeast Austin, and several other accidents were reported along Research Boulveard (U.S. 183).
The sheriff’s office and Department of Public Safety reported no road closures today.
Capital Metro said that all of its buses are still running on schedule, but that customers should expect some delays because of the wintry conditions.
There are also reports of air travel delays at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, but largely because of canceled flights out of Houston and Dallas because of winter weather conditions there.
“We are seeing some minor stuff,” said Jason Zielinski, a spokesman for the airport. “It’s more of an impact on what’s going on elsewhere.”
However, Zielinski said things could change later in the day and cautioned travelers to check their flight times with the airport or their respective airline.
Snow or ice in your neighborhood? Tell us about it here.
Send us your snow pictures here.
See what kind of conditions other Austinites have reported.
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Postcards from a snowy day
Several people were at Hancock Golf Course in Central Austin, riding down a hill lightly covered in snow on water skis, wake boards and laundry baskets.
It snowed in Central Texas on Tuesday and these juniors from McCallum High School in Austin decided to play. Kellie Berkel-Hoffman throws a snowball at Jacob Backhouse at The Hancock Golf course in Central Austin. Laura Skelding AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Click here to see more photos of snow.
Related story: Snow falling downtown, other parts of Central Texas
Patches of grass could be seen around the golf course, but there was a light dusting of snow that made sledding possible.
Stan Olano, 31, was with his brother, Tomas, 23, sledding on two plastic sleds that he bought on visits to New Mexico.
“People said ‘you’ll never use them,’ and here I am doing it,” Stan Olano said.
He said he sledded on the golf course five years ago using a shelf from a book case and laundry baskets.
“It’s defininitely magical right now,” Tomas Olano said. “It makes me want to move up north where there’s winter.”
Mark Eissler, 30, and his friend Cari Vincent, 27, were at the course during a lunch break from their PR jobs. Vincent said it was the first time that her dog, a yellow Lab named Sophie, has seen snow.
Eissler was using a knee board to go down the hill.
**
Today was not a day for the classroom. Attention spans were apparently short at Williams Elementary in Georgetown, where snow had completely covered the grass by early afternoon.
Christian Hernandez, 9, said he got to play in the snow most of the day.
More than a dozen students were throwing snowballs at each other in front of the school as they waited to be picked up early from school.
When he gets home, Christian said, “I’m going to play in a snowball fight with my brother and hit him as hard as I can.” His brother disputed that claim.
The Georgetown district did not cancel classes, but asked parents to pick up their children early if they were concerned about the weather.
Click here to see updated school and weather-related closings.
**
At Southwestern University in Georgetown, a large grassy sports field was covered in snow and a six-foot tall snowman stood in the middle.
Snowball fights broke out around campus. Andy Cantu, 19, from Elsa, said he’d been collecting snowballs and making snowmen since 9:30 this morning.
“I think it’s great. It was predicted like 10 times already this (season) and this is the first time it actually did snow. It feels good,” Cantu said.
Nearby, Laura Pfeffer, 21, from the Dallas area, and a friend slid down a snow-covered hill using plastic box lids as sleds.
“It’s from a box that actually has t-shirts in it underneath my roommate’s bed. We’ve just been going down the hill and having fun today,” Pfeffer said.
**
Elsewhere in Georgetown, resident Mike Loprinzi, 62, used a spatula to scrape off the about 4 inches of snow that had covered his white Buick.
“You don’t see it very often, so I don’t mind it,” he said. “As long as it’s not trecherous on the roads. Other than that, you know, it’s okay. It’s good for the kids.”
**
The old courthouse square in Georgetown was transformed into a winter playground.
Residents were outside constructing snowmen. One group, including accountants who work nearby, were decorating their snowman with paper binders as buttons, berries for eyes and a carrot from their mini fridge. He was carrying a calculator.
“We’re in tax season, so we needed a break, I guess,” said Angela Washburn, one of the accountants.
One woman said her boyfriend working as a contractor at Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq, called her asking about the snow. He received a call this morning from his mom in Georgetown.
Chris Buerger stood by as his 13-year-old daughter Gabby built a snowman. He said he let Gabby stay home from school because of the snow and how rare it is.
“I think this is great because it almost never snows,” Gabby said. “This is fantastic. It’s like Colorado or something.”
**
In the Northeast Austin neighborhood of St. John’s, Ivan Gomez and friends made a snowman on the hood of a car. It had celery sticks for arms and a carrot for a nose. A yellow towel served as a scarf.
“It’s kind of crazy how two days ago it was sunny and now it’s snowing,” said Gomez. “I think it’s great.”
**
In the Crestview neighborhood of North Austin late this morning, snow on the ground was partially covering front lawns, though grass could still be seen peaking through. On the streets, snow was melting as soon as it hit the ground. Small flakes were steadily falling and parked cars were covered with about a quarter of an inch of snow.
Rachel Dolman, 29, and neighbor Benjamin Levario, 28, were making a 4-foot-tall snowman in her front yard on Dwyce Drive this morning.
Dolman said the snow they had found was mixed with grass, making their snowman look patchy. “He’s a little hairy right now,” she said.
She said the last snowman she made in Austin was on Valentine’s Day five years ago.
She planned to dress the snowman in costumes she had leftover from Halloween.
“I tried to make a snow angel on my car, but I fell off,” Dolman said.
Just down the street, Laura Shoumaker, 33, was watching her 2- and 3-year-old daughters play in the front yard.
“They were trying to catch snowflakes with their mouths earlier today,” Shoumaker said. She said she was taking a lot of pictures because her children had never seen snow before.
A neighbor who lived across the street, Julia Crowfut, 8, was also playing with Shoumaker’s daughters.
“I love it!” Crowfut said, who added that she liked to make snowballs and that she plans to try to make a snowman later in the day. “I am just amazed.”
**
In the Hill Country city of Llano, some mothers said they had a hard time pulling their elementary-school children away from the rare sight of snow. For many youngsters, this is the first time they have ever witnessed this winter scene.
But, it’s just a regular school day, said Llano ISD Superintendent Dennis Hill. “The kids are really excited about the snow, but then again I am too.”
Sarah Hoffman, mother of two elementary students, said she and other mothers rushed to get to the front steps of the school because the snow was coming down so quickly. However, kids were reluctant to stay inside.
“The teachers took them outside to see the snow as soon as school started,” said Cyn Franklin who also dropped off her two daughters at school this morning. “They didn’t waste any time.”
Franklin, Hoffman and Cassandra Leeds, whose daughter also attends Llano Elementary, decided to enjoy the winter scene from inside Fuel Coffee House. The mothers don’t expect an early release from Llano Schools but there is a possibility, they said.
“We’re still monitoring this,” Hill said. “Everything depends on the road conditions, for now roads look clear so it’s a normal school day.”
Click here to see updated school and weather-related closings.
Click here to see more photos of snow.
Snow or ice in your neighborhood? Tell us about it here.
Send us your snow pictures here.
See what kind of conditions other Austinites have reported.
Photos: Miguel Liscano and Rodolfo Gonzalez/AMERICAN-STATESMAN
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A little fun naming the Austin Snow Event
We’re having a little fun throwing out names for the Austin Snow Event of Feb. 23, 2010. Follow @austinweather on Twitter and then tag your entry with the #atxsnowname hashtag.
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Snow being reported across Central Texas; more expected today
Snow is accumulating throughout the Austin region on Tuesday morning, and will continue throughout the day, according to the National Weather Service.
Austin is projected to see a half to 1 inch of snow, while the snow is projected to reach 1 to 2 inches in Western Travis county. Accumulations are expected to be higher in the Hill Country and counties to the north of Austin, the service has said.
However, the snow is accumulating mostly on grassy areas, while melting when it hits asphalt.
Photo of snow on the ground in Cedar Park by Melissa B. Taboada, American-Statesman.
Patches of snow have been spotted throughout Central Texas on Tuesday, causing some traffic headaches and air travel delays from other parts of the state harder hit by the wintry system.
There has been only one school closing at this time: Killeen ISD said it will dismiss classes at 10 a.m.
“It’s still early in the system, … we still have a long way to go,” said Chris Morris, forecaster for the service, referring to the rest of the day of projected snowfall. “We are not seeing much of any accumulation (on asphalt), as soon as it hits, it melts.”
Snow has been reported across Central Texas, including downtown Austin.
Around the area, sleet and snow have been reported in Spicewood, Georgetown, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Jollyville and Jarrell.
In the Hill Country city of Llano, about 75 miles northwest of downtown Austin, snow has begun to fall, replacing sleet and rain that had been falling for much of the morning.
The sheriff’s office and Department of Public Safety reported no road closures this morning.
Photo of snow on the ground in Georgetown by Karen_Eden.
A winter weather advisory remains in effect for Travis, Hays, Blanco, Bastrop and Lee counties until midnight. A winter storm warning is in effect for Williamson, Burnet, Llano, Mason, Gillespie and Milam counties until midnight.
“It just looks like a cold, windy day,” David Schumacher, a forecaster with the service, said Tuesday morning. “Winter is definitely back for today.”
Starting tonight and into tomorrow, the winter conditions should begin to dissipate, Schumacher said.
As the morning snow has accumulated, there’s been a spike in reported collisions, including one involving a school bus in Northeast Austin and several reported along Research Boulveard (U.S. 183).
However, the Texas Department of Transportation was reporting an increase in traffic early Tuesday morning, thanks in part to commuters leaving earlier than usual.
The traffic pileups were seen in increasing intensity in usual spots such as the Pflugerville and the St. John area.
“It’s caused everyone to leave early, everyone is taking an earlier start than usual,” said John Hurt, a spokesman for TxDOT’s Austin district. “It’s still flowing well but it is heavy, heavier than usual.”
There are also reports of air travel delays at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, but largely because of canceled flights out of Houston and Dallas because of winter weather conditions there.
“We are seeing some minor stuff,” said Jason Zielinski, a spokesman for the airport. “It’s more of an impact on what’s going on elsewhere.”
However, Zielinski said things could change later in the day and cautioned travelers to check their flight times with the airport or their respective airline.
To see more photos of snow, click here.
Snow or ice in your neighborhood? Tell us about it here.
Send us your snow pictures here.
See what kind of conditions other Austinites have reported.
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Winter weather advisory until midnight
A winter weather advisory remains in effect for the Austin metro area and the counties of the Hill Country until midnight, according to the National Weather Service.
A rain and snow mix is expected this morning, with snow becoming the predominant precipitation later on for the Hill Country and southern parts of Central Texas.
Snow accumulations through tonight are expected to be from one to two inches in the Hill Country. Surface temperatures at freezing will limit the amount of accumulation in Austin, with most occurring on grassy patches, the Weather Service predicts.
Roadways could be slippery overnight with freezes on overpasses and bridges. Take care when driving.
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Central Texas weather closings, delays
Private schools | Universities | Roads| Airport | Transportation | Energy | Business | Miscellaneous | Sports
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Public schools
Austin: AISD anticipates operating on a normal schedule Wednesday.
Bartlett: Buses will run two hours late, school starts at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday.
Bastrop: School will be delayed two hours Wednesday. Pre-K through fourth grade will start at 9:45 a.m., and fifth through 12th grades will start at 10:30 a.m.
Blanco: School will start at 10 a.m. Wednesday; all buses will run two hours late. Mother’s Day Out is canceled for Wednesday.
Burnet: Schools will have a two-hour delayed start Wednesday. Burnet girls basketball regional quarter final game with China Springs has been moved to Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Belton High School.
Coupland: School will start at 10 a.m. Wednesday; all buses will run two hours late.
Dripping Springs: Schools and buses will be on a two-hour delay Wednesday.
Eanes: All schools will operate on a two-hour delayed start Wednesday.
Elgin: Classes will begin two hours later than normal Wednesday. Buses will also run two hours later than usual.
Florence: School will be on a two-hour delayed start Wednesday.
Georgetown: Schools and buses will have a two-hour delay Wednesday.
Giddings: School will start at 10 a.m. on Wednesday. Buses will run regular routes, two hours late. The playoff basketball game will be on Wednesday at Luling at 7 p.m.
Granger: Opening at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
Hutto: Elementary schools start at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. Middle and high schools start at 10:45 a.m. Wednesday.
Jarrell: Classes will start at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, with buses running two hours late.
Johnson City: Schools will have a 10 a.m. late start tomorrow.
Killeen: Killeen ISD will have a two-hour delayed start Wednesday. All buses will run two hours late.
Lago Vista: School will start at 10 a.m. on Wednesday. Buses will run regular routes, two hours late.
Lake Travis: All students will have a delayed start Wednesday as follows: Elementary at 9:45 a.m. Secondary at 10:45 a.m. The District’s Extended Care program and all-after school activities have been canceled and/or postponed. Extracurricular and athletic activities have been canceled and/or rescheduled with the exception of the Lake Travis High School Boys Basketball bi-district playoff game against McCallum High School.
Leander: Schools will operate on a two-hour delayed start Wednesday.
Liberty Hill: Liberty Hill will start two hours later Wednesday.
Manor: Manor ISD will have a two-hour late start on Wednesday. All buses will run two hours later than normal.
Marble Falls: Buses will run two hours later, and classes will begin two hours later than normal on Wednesday.
McDade: School will have a two-hour delayed start Wednesday.
Pflugerville: Classes and buses are on a two-hour delayed start Wednesday. The UIL Basketball Playoffs playoff date is rescheduled for Wednesday at the original scheduled time.
Round Rock All after school activities and events — including all athletic events — are canceled Tuesday. Round Rock ISD schools and offices will operate on a two-hour delayed start Wednesday. All buses will run two hours late.
San Saba: Classes will start at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
ThorndaleSchool will start at 10 a.m. Wednesday and end at 2 p.m. for scheduled early release. Playoff basketball games will be on Wednesday.
Thrall: Thrall ISD will begin school at 10 a.m. on Wednesday. Buses will run two hours later than their normal pick-up times.
Wimberley: Buses will run two hours late on Wednesday, with the school start time of 10 a.m.
Private schools
The Khabele School: Classes will start at 9:45 a.m. Wednesday. The school will not be open until 9:30 a.m.
Odyssey School will be open at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
Riverbend Christian School will be closed on Wednesday due to anticipated inclement weather.
St. Louis Catholic School starts at 10:00 am Wednesday.
Universities
Austin Community College: Campuses and centers will re-open at 9 a.m. Wednesday. Classes scheduled to begin before 9 a.m. are canceled.
Concordia: Classes at all Austin locations are canceled Wednesday morning until 10 a.m. Offices at all Austin locations will open at 10 a.m.
Huston-Tillotson: The university will open at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
Southwestern: The campus will open at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
Texas State University: Classes will resume and the university will re-open at 9 a.m. Wednesday. Buses operating Austin and San Antonio routes on Wednesday will observe normal hours. Buses serving local San Marcos routes on Wednesday will begin running at 8 a.m.
University of Texas: The university will open at 10 a.m. on Wednesday.
Roads
Airport
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
Public Transportation
Energy companies
Austin Energy. To report outages, call 322-9100; To find outages, click here.
Bluebonnet Electric Co-op: To report outages, call (800) 949-4414.
Pedernales Electric Co-op To report outages, call 219-2602.
Oncor To report outages, call (888) 313-4747.
Businesses
Allergy and Asthma Center of Austin will open at 9 a.m. Any additional changes will be posted on their Web site at www.nosneezes.com.
Brushy Creek Municipal Utility District: The community center and the administrative offices will re-open at 9 a.m. Wednesday.
Health and human services offices in the following counties are scheduled to open at 10 a.m. Wednesday: Bell, Coryell, Falls, Freestone, Hamilton, Hill, Lampasas, Limestone, McLennan, Milam, Mills, Robertson, San Saba, Travis and Williamson. Health and human services offices in Rusk, Jacksonville, Palestine and Athens will open at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
Pflugerville: City offices and the Pflugerville Recreation Center will open at 10 a.m. on Wednesday. Any additional cancellations or snow alerts are posted at www.cityofpflugerville.com.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality will open at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
The City of Austin and Travis County will resume normal operating schedules on Wednesday. Employees are to report to work at regular times.
Williamson County: All county offices will open at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. Please check the Williamson County Web site at www.wilco.org for changes and additional information.
Miscellaneous
Austin Parks and Recreation Department: Balcones, Barton Springs, Dick Nichols and Stacy pools are temporarily closed due to the safety hazard posed by the accumulation of snow and sleet on the pools’ decks. The pools are expected to re-open Wednesday.
The Parks and Recreation Board Meeting scheduled for Tuesday evening has been tentatively rescheduled for March 2 at 6 p.m. at the Parks and Recreation Department Main Office, board room, 200 South Lamar Blvd.
Early voting: All early voting locations in Travis and Williamson counties will re-open at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Fort Hood updates: Reporting time on Wednesday will be at 10 a.m. across the installation for both military and civilian.
Georgetown: Residential trash and recycling collection will resume Wednesday, starting with those missed Tuesday. Texas Disposal Systems asks that customers put their carts and bins at the curb on their regular day and leave them out until collected.
The Jewish Community Center: The JCC Fitness Center plans to open at 7 a.m. Wednesday. Call the Welcome Desk at 735-8000 for information on possible delayed opening Wednesday.
Williamson-Burnet County Opportunities: The following Head Start centers will delay opening by two hours Wednesday: Bagdad Head Start in Leander, Bartlett Head Start, Burnet Head Start & Early Head Start, Florence Head Start, Harris-Ross Head Start in Taylor, Highland Lakes Head Start in Granite Shoals, Liberty Hill Head Start, Marble Falls Head Start, Round Rock Head Start Center, Mary Bailey Head Start Center in Georgetown, Rawleigh Elliott Head Start 0-5 Center in Georgetown. Hutto Head Start will open at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.
YMCA of Greater Williamson County: Branch locations are planning on being open at their regular times Wednesday and will update any class schedule changes as of 7 a.m. If you have any questions, please contact your local branch: Round Rock (512-246-9622), Cedar Park (512-250-9622), Taylor (512-365-9622).
Sports
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Snow on Tuesday? Forecasters still say yes
Travis County will be under a Winter Weather Advisory on Tuesday
The forecasters say a winter storm will develop late tonight, and it will bring a “wintry mix” of precipitation to the Hill Country, and even into Austin by late Tuesday morning. The weather service says any snow will only stick on grassy areas.
The advisory, which begins at 6 a.m. Tuesday morning, means that “periods of snow will cause travel difficulties.”
Most of Central Texas, north of Travis County, is under a Winter Storm Warning.
The weather service says 1 to 2 inches of snow could fall in the Hill Country, though it predicts “lesser amounts across the Austin metro area.”
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Wintry mix expected in Austin area Tuesday
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening for Llano, Burnet and Gillsepie counties.
A winter storm watch is in effect Tuesday for Travis, Kerr, Gillespie and Blanco counties.
“A winter storm developing late tonight will bring a wintry mix of precipitation to the Hill Country and much of South Central Texas through Tuesday evening,” the weather service said in a statement. “Rain later tonight will change over to a rain and snow mix after midnight. This will become all snow for the the HIll Country and northern sections of South Central Texas by Tuesday morning.”
The weather service said accumulations through Tuesday evening will range from a half inch to an inch.
“Air temperatures are expected to remain above freezing during this snow event, and soil temperatures are also warm,” the statement said. “Thus snow accumulations will occur mainly in grassy areas.”
The snow will melt to a slushy mix on bridges and roadways, making them slippery, the weather service said.
The chance for rain and snow is 90 percent Tuesday, dropping to 30 percent by Tuesday evening.
The winter weather is expected to last through early Wednesday when drier conditions and slightly higher temperatures are expected, the service said.
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Snow in the Austin area? Forecasters say it’s likely
UPDATE, 10:45 a.m.: Mark Lenz, a forecaster with the National Weather Service, said Central Texas could see accumulations of snow and ice tomorrow, mostly in the afternoon.
Accumulations of up to a half an inch are possible, he said. The weather service still has the chances of snow at 90 percent.
Lenz said Tuesday will be cloudy and cold, with a light rain mixed with snow starting in the morning. An upper-level low-pressure system is expected to pass over the region tomorrow around noon, increasing the chances for a wintry mix and a light accumulation, he said.
Northern portions of the Hill Country could see accumulations of up to an inch, Lenz said.
Lenz said streets will be wet Tuesday for much of the day, and some ice and snow could accumulate. “I’d urge drivers to use caution on roadways,” Lenz said.
EARLIER: The week is off to a chilly start, and the chance that we’ll see some snow on Tuesday is increasing. The National Weather Service, which says the Austin area could get 1 to 2 inches of snow on Tuesday, is issuing a winter storm watch for parts of the Hill Country and South Central Texas.
Today, Austin is expected to see a high of 57 and a low of 36, with scattered clouds with rain and possible snow after midnight tonight.
Although forecasts for snow in the past have missed the mark, forecasters have raised the odds of snow on Tuesday by 30 percentage points overnight. The weather service increased the odds for snow to 90 percent in the Austin region, with 2 to 4 inches expected in some areas in our region. Sunday night, the service said there was a 60 percent chance on Tuesday of a wintry mix of rain, sleet and snow.
A winter storm watch is in effect from Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening for Travis, Williamson, Blanco, Burnet, Gillespie, Kerr and Llano counties, the service said.
The advisory means there is a potential for “significant snow accumulations that may impact travel.”
Two inches of snow or more are projected across Llano, Burnet and Williamson counties, the service said.
A trace to a half-inch of snow is forecast for south of San Antonio.
The winter weather is expected to last through early Wednesday when drier conditions are expected, the service said.
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Sunny skies won’t last, extreme cold front hits on Tuesday
You didn’t really think this nice, warm weather would last, did you?
Monday will be a little cooler with sunny skies and highs near 60, but prepare to get the winter jackets out again on Tuesday. A “very strong cold front” will move through the area on Tuesday morning, dropping temperatures into the upper 30s, Chris Morris of the National Weather Service said. We will also see a 60 percent chance of rain and wintery precipitation that day, with lows in the upper 20s on Tuesday night.
On Wednesday, highs will be near 50, but overnight lows will be in the lower 20s, even colder than Tuesday, Morris said.
Over the weekend, we’ll see skies turn cloudy with highs in the 60s.
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Springtime conditions expected this weekend
It should feel like springtime in Austin this weekend.
Temperatures are expected to remain mild this weekend, with highs near 70 and lows in the 50s, said Pat McDonald, a forecaster for the National Weather Service. Saturday could see some light showers; the weather service is predicting a 20 percent chance of rain.
A cold front will blow in Sunday, dropping temperatures to the upper 30s or low 40s Sunday night and Monday morning. Highs on Sunday will be in the mid to upper 70s with a 50 percent chance of morning and afternoon showers, McDonald said.
But the spring weather wont last long, another cold front is expected to blow in Tuesday. The weather service is predicting a high near 40 and a 20 percent chance of a rain/snow mixture, McDonald said.
Is this recent rainfall unusual?
The weather service released a hydrological outlook this morning that said rainfall totals in the Austin/San Antonio area “since January 1st are 150 to 450 percent of normal.”
According to the outlook, the past six months have been the second wettest on record for the area. The outlook said the area will see below normal temperatures and above normal rainfall for the next few months, which could also provide increased chances for flooding.
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Sunny, chilly today, with cloudy days arriving Friday
We’re getting a sunny but chilly start Thursday, with a high near 62 and clouds rolling in later today, according to the National Weather Service.
So still grab those jackets or sweaters. The low tonight is slated to reach 45, the service said.
Enjoy the sun today, because mostly cloudy days appear headed our way starting tomorrow, with a chance for showers by Sunday and perhaps into next week.
The weekend is expected to be warm, though, with highs near 70 and lows in the mid-50s.
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Cool weather continues, with light freeze tonight
The sweater weather continues, with temperatures slated to reach a high of 59 today, according to the National Weather Service.
North to northwest wind is around 5 miles per hour, the service said.
Tonight, a light chill is headed our way with a low of about 27.
The rest of the week’s outlook brings much of the same, with more sunny days and temperatures hovering in the 60s and lows closer to the mid-30s.
By the end of the week, however, winds could reach gusts as high as 20 miles per hour, with a chance of showers by Friday, the service said.
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Cold front drops temperatures twenty degrees
A cold front blew into the Austin area about 3 p.m. today, dropping temperatures 25 degrees and bringing in a strong wind, according to the National Weather Service.
The service has issued a high wind advisory through the night and areas could see gusts of up to 40 mph.
Marianne Sutton, a meteorologist with the service, said the temperature at 5 p.m. was 45 degrees, a noticeable difference from earlier today when temperatures were in the upper 60s. There is also a slight chance for thunderstorms tonight.
Sutton said the strong winds will last through tonight, but should calm by morning. She said temperatures would probably hover above freezing and some areas in the Hill Country could see a light freeze.
“It was nice earlier but now it’s good snuggle weather for Valentine’s Day,” Sutton said.
The cooler weather will continue tomorrow with highs expected to be in the 50s with sunny skies.
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Icy patches could pop up in morning commute
Colder temperatures near freezing Friday morning could cause some icy patches on roads, according to the National Weather Service.
Pat McDonald, a meteorologist with the service said in Austin the expected temperature Friday morning will hoover above freezing. Remaining water from the rains Thursday and Wednesday could turn into shallow, icy patches, he said.
He said the Hill Country has a higher chance of freezing temperatures and a higher chance of seeing icy roads. The greatest possibility for ice is around 5 a.m. until 8 a.m.
“However, we should mention that some areas with water on the road like overpasses, bridges and low-lying areas are the most-likely areas to form ice,” McDonald said. “I hate to say it but it’s going to cause some accidents and some traffic problems, but this is the commuter’s reminder to take it easy out there.”
Cloudy skies should clear up mid-morning, bringing temperature up to a possible 50 degrees. Temperatures could dip down again at night into the 30s.
By Saturday, all clouds should clear and the sun could bring temperatures up as warm as 60 degrees.
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Thorndale ISD to start 2 hours late Friday
According to information released by Thorndale ISD, classes will begin two hours later on Friday, February 12 due to weather.
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Sleet widely reported north of Austin
The National Weather service has received a few calls from residents in the Northern Travis County area from people who are driving in a little bit of sleet.
Robert Blaha, a meteorologist with the service, said he had received calls from Round Rock, Pflugerville and north west of Austin from drivers who said they were driving through sleet.
Blaha said less than one tenth of an inch has probably fallen in the area.
He said the sleet is not expected to last through 8 p.m. tonight.
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Less rain, but still cold expected in Austin area tonight
Here’s something to think about: It’s been as hot as 101 degrees in February in Austin. But that was back in 1996.
Today, we’ve had temperatures in the low 40s, with light rain. Tonight is expected to be colder, with temperatures near freezing.
The chance for mostly rain remains at 100 percent for rest of the afternoon, changing to 70 percent tonight, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures near freezing tonight mean some of rain could fall as snow or sleet, the weather service said., and there could be some patches of ice Friday morning as small puddles freeze.
The rain is expected to clear out after midnight, and Friday is expected to be dry and slightly warmer, the weather service says.
Central Texas has seen only a few tenths of an inch of rainfall in the past 24 hours, according to readings from the Lower Colorado River Authority. The heaviest totals have been to the east, where more Gulf moisture has moved in.
Officially, Austin-Bersgstrom International Airport has seen about 0.18 of an inch in since midnight. Camp Mabry has seen 0.12 inches.
The same system has brought several inches of snow to North and West Texas, causing problems for travelers.
Tomorrow and the weekend is expected to be sunny and warmer, with highs in the mid 50s and low 60s.
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Snow slows travel across Texas; some Austin flights canceled
Snow blanketed parts of Texas in a winter storm that slowed traffic and led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights, including several to and from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
The National Weather Service says snow was reported Thursday morning in Amarillo, Lubbock, Tyler and the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
American Airlines spokesman Steve Schlachter told The Associated Press that the Fort Worth-based carrier had canceled 478 flights systemwide Thursday.
Southwest Airlines, with its main hub at Dallas Love Field, said it was monitoring the weather system. Southwest advised travelers in the Baltimore-Washington, Philadelphia and New York City areas that many of its flights had been canceled Thursday.
At Austin’s airport, several flights to and from Lubbock, D-FW and the East Coast have been canceled today.
Meantime, the East Coast is digging out from record-breaking blizzard conditions.
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Rain and sleet expected to continue overnight
Rain and sleet that has fallen across parts of Central Texas today is expected to continue into the evening and overnight, officials with the National Weather Service say. But officials are quick to point out that no accumulations of ice and snow are expected.
Since midnight, Central Texas has seen a few hundredths of an inch of rain, some of it falling as sleet, according to readings from the Lower Colorado River Authority. Officially 0.03 inches has fallen at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, said Steve Smart, a forecaster with the weather service.
Readers reported sleet across the area this afternoon, including South Austin, downtown and Round Rock.
The rest of the evening could see a few more hundredths of an inch of rain and sleet, Smart said, as Pacific moisture moves across the area fueled by a low pressure system over California.
The low tonight is expected to be near freezing, the weather service said, and tomorrow’s high will only be in the low 40s.
The low pressure system is expected to move over Texas by tomorrow, bringing more rain as it pulls in moisture from the Gulf, Smart said.
As much as a half an inch of rain and sleet could fall in the Austin area tomorrow, he said. The heaviest accumulations will likely fall to areas east of Interstate 35, he said.
But because ground temperatures will stay above freezing, no accumulations are expected, Smart said.
Things should begin clearing up — and warming up — by Friday morning and throughout the weekend, with partly sunny skies and highs in the 50s.
Photo by Rodolfo Gonzalez, American-Statesman
Colleen Kehoe, 21, a University of Texas French major, takes cover with her yellow umbrella as she leaves campus walking past the iconic “Hi, How Are You” mural near the University of Texas campus in Austin.
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Sleet reported, but few problems in the forecast
UPDATE 12:40 p.m.: Some sleet has been reported in parts of the Austin area this afternoon. There is a 30 percent chance of rain and sleet today, with more expected tonight. However, the National Weather Service has said accumulations are not likely.
EARLIER: Blame the groundhog for seeing his shadow: We’re not quite out of winter yet.
It was hovering around freezing this morning, and the National Weather Service has put the chance of snow or sleet in the forecast for tonight and tomorrow morning.
It shouldn’t create too many problems, though, because ground temperatures will remain above freezing. Little or no accumulations of sleet and snow are expected across Central Texas, including in the Hill Country, said Steve Smart, a forecaster with the National Weather Service.
The high today will remain in the low 40s, and cold rain is expected this afternoon, as an upper-level disturbance brings moisture into the area.
The overnight low the next few nights is expected to be close to freezing, the weather service said.
Streets will probably be wet for tomorrow’s morning drive, but Smart said ice will likely not be a factor, even on most bridges and overpasses.
The weekend will begin to warm up, with partly to mostly sunny skies and highs in the 50s.
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Several flights to and from East Coast canceled in Austin
Although the Austin area is not likely to have much snow or sleet the next few days, the white stuff is affecting travelers at the airport this morning.
Several flights at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to and from the East Coast have been canceled today, the airport’s Web site shows.
Snow, wind and slush hounded eastern commuters early Wednesday as blizzard warnings from Baltimore to New York City heralded the second major storm in a region already largely blanketed by weekend snowfall, The Associated Press said.
More than 10 inches of new snow fell before dawn in parts of Maryland that had received up to 30 inches just a few days earlier. Plows and salt spreaders fought heavy snow in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, where the flakes briefly turned to rain to make a slushy mix.
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Several Austin flights canceled because of snow storm
About a dozen flights have been canceled today and Wednesday at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport because of a snow storm in the Midwest and Northeast.
Jim Halbrook, a spokesman for the airport, said three Continental flights Wednesday to the Newark, N.J., airport have already been canceled. Five other arrivals and departures — with destinations ranging from Baltimore, Chicago and Washington, D.C. — were canceled today.
Halbrook said anyone planning a flight tonight or Wednesday to the Midwest or Northeast from Austin should check travel plans on the airport’s flight information Web site.
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Forecasters backing off chance of snow in Austin
It looks like the chances for snow in Austin this week were about as short-lived as snow in Austin.
Yesterday, the National Weather Service put the chance of snow and sleet Wednesday and Thursday as high as 80 percent. Their forecasters have backed down today, putting the chance for rain and snow Friday at 50 percent.
It’ll still be cold this week — with temperatures not expected to get past the mid-40s through Friday. And there is still rain in the forecast, with a 70 percent chance Wednesday night and into Thursday.
A cold front blew into the Austin area yesterday morning, bringing as much as 2 inches of rain in some places. The recent rains have also helped water levels in lakes Travis and Buchanan.
Today should be mostly sunny and cold, with temperatures in the mid-40s.
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Lake Travis level restored, other lakes on their way
Lake levels in Central Texas are restored and others are on their way because of the rain patterns from El Nino, said Lower Colorado River Authority meteorologist Bob Rose.
Rose said Lake Travis, at 671 feet, has surpassed its February average of 670 feet. The last time Lake Travis was at capacity was March 2008, he said.
Lake Buchanan is about nine feet below its 1,012-foot average, standing at 1003.5 feet.
For both lakes, the lowest levels recorded last year were in early October.
“We are typically this wet in December, January or February, but it has been a pretty wet year because of El Nino,” Rose said. “Usually we get the most rain in late spring, but patterns are showing us we will continue to get rain throughout spring, which will add to the runoffs in the lakes, rising the levels.”
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Rain expected to clear out of Austin area this afternoon
A cold front that moved through the area this afternoon has pushed the rain out of the Austin area and is expected to keep temperatures low for most of this week, said Joe Baskin, a forecaster with the National Weather Service.
Areas to the east of the Austin area, including Bastrop and Caldwell counties, could still see some heavy storms, including small hail, until 5 p.m., the weather service said.
Since midnight, Central Texas saw as much as 0.8 inches of rain, the Lower Colorado River Authority is reporting.
Austin-Bergstrom International Aiport has seen 0.46 of an inch since midnight, Baskin said, with most of that — a third of an inch — falling between 2 and 3 p.m. Camp Mabry saw 0.33 inch since midnight, Baskin said. Some showers are possible this afternoon, the weather service said. A flood advisory that had been in effect until 3:15 p.m. has been canceled, Baskin said.
The cold weather is expected to hang around this week, the weather service is reporting. Tomorrow is expected to be windy, clear and cold, with a high in the mid-40s.
The chances for rain, snow and sleet pick up for Wednesday and Thursday as a system moving in from the west draws moisture from the Gulf into Central Texas, Baskin said. At this point, there is a 70 to 80 percent chance of snow and sleet Wednesday night and Thursday, the weather service said.
Friday is expected to be mostly cloudy and warmer, with a high in the 50s, the weather service said.
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Flood advisory for Travis, Williamson counties
From the National Weather Service:
The National Weather Service in Austin San Antonio has issued an
Urban and small stream flood advisory for minor flooding of poor drainage areas in… Travis county… Williamson county…
Until 315 pm CST.
At 122 pm cst showers and thunderstorms increasing across Travis and Williamson counties will produce brief heavy rains.
Brief heavy downpours across Travis and Williamson counties including the austin metropolitan area will cause minor flooding of streets. Rainfall amounts between one half and one inch are possible over the next one to two hours. Motorists should exercise caution.
Precautionary/preparedness actions…
Do not drive where water covers the road. Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles…Including SUVs and pickups. Turn around don`t drown.
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