Severe weather slammed Austin, Texas, over the weekend, leaving close to 20,000 residents without power as thunderstorms barrelled through the area. CBS Austin reports that outages peaked Sunday morning, impacting vast swathes of South Austin according to the latest update from Austin Energy's outage map.

As the storms hit Central Texas, the lights went out for thousands, plunging parts of the city into a temporary return to the dark ages. At 8:43 a.m. Austin Energy recorded 19,217 customers affected, according to CBS Austin. These outages were concentrated heavily in the southern regions of the city where residents, amidst an ominous downpour, awaited the restoration of electricity.

Additional power loss extended beyond Austin, with KXAN noting that areas in Travis, Hays, and Williamson counties endured the blackout as well. The Pedernales Electric Cooperative's outage map indicated approximately 4,300 of their customers faced outages, while Oncor reported over 300 customers without power in Williamson County.

These disruptions come at the heels of severe weather conditions that vexed Central Texas, transforming the peaceful night into a canvas of lightning and thunder. In the midst of the deluge, shoppers found themselves navigating through darkened grocery aisles, reported KXAN, as local businesses grappled with power outages. Both Austin Energy and local cooperatives are yet to announce an estimated time for when the lights will flicker back to life.

While the community braces for these tempestuous times, resources have been made available for those seeking guidance on severe weather and power outages. Websites for Austin Energy and other service providers are offering live updates for their customers, and local news outlets are dedicating staff to monitor the storms and their aftermath as Central Texas reckons with nature's unyielding force.