Central Texas will begin to thaw Monday afternoon

AUSTIN, Texas — After a dangerous weekend of sleet and icy roads across Central Texas, conditions are slowly improving – but caution is still critical Monday morning.

Road Conditions: Still Slick Early

While major highways like I-35 have been treated, there are still slick and icy patches, especially:

• On untreated roads
• In neighborhoods and residential areas
• Where melted ice refroze overnight into black ice

Even areas that look wet may be dangerously slick. If you don’t have to drive this morning, the safest choice is to stay home.

ALSO | Central Texas schools, colleges announce Monday closures, delays due to winter storm

The National Weather Service’s Extreme Cold Warning remains in effect through noon Monday. Officials across the region are urging residents to avoid travel if possible.

“Passable does not mean safe,” Austin’s Transportation & Public Works department said.

In Lakeway, Flint Rock Road between 620 and Wild Cherry remains closed through Monday morning due to icy conditions, though hospital access from Highway 620 is still available in emergencies. Lakeway police assisted several stranded motorists Sunday night and continue monitoring roadways.

Cedar Park police reported that the toll road remains closed, with barricades up for safety.

In Round Rock, I-35 flyovers remain closed to traffic, with conditions actually worsening in some areas from overnight refreezing.

“There has not been much change since yesterday,” Round Rock officials said. “If you see a barricade, DO NOT go around it.”

Fredericksburg officials shared photos Monday morning showing the dangerous mix of black ice, dry patches and still-frozen sections on city streets.

“There is no safe way to drive on surfaces like this,” the city said.

Bitter Cold This Morning

Temperatures are in the teens to low 20s across the region, and gusty winds are making it feel like the single digits. The cold air is harsh, and exposure can be dangerous.

Bundle up if you must go outside, bring pets indoors, and continue to drip your pipes.

City Services Modified

The City of Austin has moved to modified operations Monday. With the exception of cold weather shelters and warming centers, all city facilities are closed to the public. City employees who can work remotely will do so.

Curbside trash, recycling and composting collection will be delayed by one day. Lakeway also suspended trash and recycling services Monday, with all schedules sliding forward one day.

CapMetro will have a delayed start Monday, with limited service beginning at noon.

Austin court dates and due dates for Monday will be extended. Austin Public Health clinic appointments scheduled for Monday will be rescheduled. Austin Animal Services remains closed Monday, though staff are on-site caring for animals.

Lakeway city offices, the Lakeway Activity Center, Swim Center and Skate Park remain closed through Monday. All Travis County Parks, including Bee Creek Sports Complex, are closed through Monday.

Cold Weather Shelters Continue

In partnership with the Austin Area Urban League, cold weather shelter operations continue at seven facilities. A total of 879 individuals were welcomed overnight across congregate shelters and family shelter locations.

Shelters continue operating 24 hours through Tuesday morning. Transportation assistance is available by calling Austin 3-1-1.

Four warming centers are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, including Central Library, Terrazas Branch, Little Walnut Creek Branch and One Texas Center.

Utilities Holding Steady

Austin Energy crews continue responding to isolated outages, with impacts remaining limited. However, ice remains on trees and power lines, and additional outages may be possible.

Austin Water operations remain stable and fully operational, with no widespread service disruptions reported.

Good News: No More Winter Weather

The good news? No additional winter precipitation is expected. High pressure is moving in, which means:

• Sunshine returns today
• Winds will gradually shift out of the south
• Temperatures will climb above freezing in Austin for the first time since Saturday

That sunshine will make a big difference. Even if air temperatures stay near freezing in the Hill Country, sun hitting the pavement will help melt remaining ice, improving conditions through the afternoon.

Looking Ahead

While it will still be cold Monday night and again Tuesday morning, each day gets warmer after that, with temperatures nearing seasonal averages by midweek. Another cold front is possible later this week, but at this point, no ice or snow is expected.

The Austin-Travis County Emergency Operations Center remains activated and will stay operational until further notice.

For emergencies, dial 911. For non-emergency city services, call 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000. Updates are available at austintexas.gov/alerts.