This browser does not support the Video element.
Austin weather: Arctic chill arrives
The chilly temperatures have arrived and the big question many are asking is, will we see snow? Zack Shields has all the details in his full forecast.
AUSTIN, Texas - The wait is over and first blast of cold air has arrived and there will be more freezing nights and cold days ahead this week in Central Texas.
Gusty winds today will make it feel even colder with wind chills in the teens and 20s.
The winds will relax tonight and the skies stay clear so brace for another hard freeze tonight with lows in the 20s.
Is it going to snow in Austin and Central Texas?
The next game-changer arrives by mid-week turning on the precipitation.
It's looking more and more likely parts of Central Texas could get a wintry mix especially in the Hill Country Wednesday night into Thursday morning.
Make sure you pay close attention to the forecast this week.
Preparing for winter weather
The City of Austin has opened overnight cold weather shelters.
They opened Sunday, Jan. 5 and will remain open through at least Thursday, Jan. 9.
Registration for shelter will be each day between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at One Texas Center at 505 Barton Springs Road.
Bus routes to OTC are lines: 1, 7, 10, 20, 30, 105, 142, 801. People looking for a cold-weather shelter who cannot pay the fare will still be given a ride.
People will be taken from OTC to a shelter.
A special after-hours service will be available for people in need of transportation to a shelter outside the typical period.
Austin's Homeless Strategy Office generally determines when cold weather shelters will be activated a day in advance.
The city and community partners will text information directly to individuals registered with the city's text alert system.
Shelters open when overnight temperatures at Camp Mabry are expected to reach 35 degrees or below.
This browser does not support the Video element.
ERCOT weather watch
ERCOT has issued a Weather Watch through Friday, Jan 10 due to severe cold weather across the state.
Weather watch issued
ERCOT has issued a Weather Watch from January 6-10.
The grid operator says that the watch is due to forecasted cold weather across the ERCOT region, higher electrical demand, and the potential for lower reserves.
At this time, grid conditions are expected to be normal, and there is no current expectation of an energy emergency, says ERCOT.
ERCOT says it is monitoring conditions closely and will deploy all available tools to manage the grid, continuing a reliability-first approach to operations.
Texans can monitor current and extended grid conditions online.
ERCOT also recommends Texans sign up for TXANS notifications and ERCOT Emergency Alerts.
Residents can also reduce their electric use during peak demand times to help save and lower demand on the grid. Energy-saving tips can be found on the TXANS webpage.
Track your local forecast for the Austin area quickly with the free FOX 7 WAPP. The design gives you radar, hourly, and 7-day weather information just by scrolling. Our weather alerts will warn you early and help you stay safe during storms.
The Source: Information from meteorologist Zack Shields, National Weather Service, ERCOT, City of Austin and previous reporting.