Austin residents woke up to a historically chilling morning on Monday as temperatures plunged to record-breaking lows and a wintry mix swept the area. Central Texas experienced a rare occurrence of lake-effect snow from Lakes Travis and Walter E. Long, with locals sharing snapshots of the unusual weather. Freezing rain and flurries were reported across the region, from Leander to Pflugerville and nearby suburbs such as Burnet and Kingsland, according to KVUE.
The cold snap didn't just bring ice and snow—it also recorded a new low for the day, dropping to 16° around 2 a.m., surpassing the previous record of 19° set in 1944. As the wintery precipitation moves out despite improving road conditions, travelers should remain vigilant for icy patches, especially on bridges and overpasses. Monday's high temperatures are forecasted to remain in the exceedingly chilly low to mid-20s, potentially setting another record—the coldest high for that date since 1917 as per KXAN.
With the harsh climate setting in, officials have responded. Warnings to protect residents from the severe freeze, including Hard Freeze Warnings and Wind Chill Warnings, are in effect through Tuesday morning. Residents are bracing for feel-like temperatures that could dive below zero degrees, an unusual and dangerous level of cold for the typically temperate Austin region.
Despite the record-breaking cold, there is a light at the end of the frigid tunnel. Temperature are forecasted to creep above freezing on Tuesday, before another deep freeze on Wednesday morning. The city looks forward to Wednesday afternoon, when it's expected to climb out of this brutal cold snap and thaw out somewhat. A Wind Chill Advisory remains in effect until 10 AM Wednesday as Austinites bundle up and ride out the tail-end of this icy blast, as reported by KXAN.
