Central Texas is bracing for dangerously cold temperatures this weekend. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch for much of the area starting Friday night and lasting through Sunday afternoon. The service says the Austin area can expect freezing overnight temperatures, along with wind chills in the single digits and the possibility of freezing rain or sleet.
NWS anticipates the massive front that’s going to impact much of the country will make its way to the Austin area Friday night. Temperatures will plummet 30 degrees overnight and drop to freezing by midday Saturday, forecasters say.
The strong front will also bring gusts of wind and a chance of precipitation Saturday morning.
Temperatures are not expected to get above freezing until Monday midday, according to the weather service.
Bob Ferguson, a meteorologist at NWS’ Austin/San Antonio office, said Tuesday that temperatures could get as low as the teens in stretches of Central Texas, and strong winds will make early morning temperatures Sunday will feel like 6 degrees. The good news? Central Texas’ snow chances are much lower than they are in North Texas, Ferguson said.
“At this point, we’re thinking that there will probably be some icy conditions,” Ferguson said. “It looks like it’s going to be mostly freezing rain. We often have mixes of freezing rain [and] sleet, but [there’s] probably not going to be any snow.”
Here is a rough timing for areas regarding the freezing rain/sleet potential. Northern areas incl. the Hill Country should expect to see this transition occur by Midnight Saturday. Those further south and east by daybreak Sat. South of the I-35 Corridor during the day Sat. #txwx pic.twitter.com/VIqG2nNgOZ
— NWS Austin/San Antonio (@NWSSanAntonio) January 21, 2026
Ferguson advises Austinites to be prepared for the cold — and suggests hunkering down at home, if possible.
“It’s going to be very cold and people should be prepared for that,” Ferguson said.
As with any hard freeze, it’s always good to remember to drip faucets to prevent pipes from bursting, stock up on water if you can, take care of plants, bring pets inside and remember to check on your neighbors. The city also has more tips to prepare for cold weather.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which operates the state’s electric grid, is cautioning Texans to stay aware of local forecasts and conserve energy, if possible. ERCOT said it anticipates an increase in demand through Sunday but says it does not anticipate any widespread outages like much of the state saw five years ago.
Austin Energy General Manager Stuart Reilly told Austin City Council members Tuesday that the city-owned utility is prepared for the possibility of an ice storm, but that forecasts “aren’t for anything like 2021 or [20]23.”
Tree branches weighed down by ice hammered Austin Energy power lines and created outages for hundreds of thousands of Austinites in 2023. Reilly said, as of Tuesday, forecasts don’t suggest a risk of widespread outages on the Austin grid.
“A lot can move between now and Friday night, and so we’ll just keep an eye on it,” he said. “But, so far, the predictions aren’t for the worst case scenario.”
Reilly said Austin Energy would keep up to date on forecasts and keep the public informed of any possible risks.
The city will open up its cold weather shelters for people living outdoors Friday night, and they will remain open through the weekend.
Chris Anderson with Austin’s Homeless Strategies and Operations, is urging people who may be in need of shelter to meet at One Texas Center on Friday, if possible.
“I’ve worked in homeless services for the last 13 years and [this] is the absolute most miserable combination of winter elements for people that are literally unsheltered on the streets,” Anderson said. “So that’s what we’re telling people, trying to communicate … come in Friday, stay off the streets.”
Anderson said the city’s shelter operations can accommodate up to 750 people, if needed.
People needing shelter can go to the One Texas Center, at the corner of First Street and Barton Springs Road, starting Friday at 6 p.m.
CapMetro will also provide free rides to Austinites needing to get to the shelter check-in.
Austin libraries and recreation centers also function as warming centers during freezes.
So far, no school districts have announced plans for potential closures on Friday, though Del Valle ISD has rescheduled some games on Friday night and canceled all activities on Saturday in light of the weather.
