Texas weather: Hard Freeze Warning issued for parts of Central Texas

Austin weather: Arctic blast is here

The arctic blast has made it to Central Texas. There is a chance of some ice Monday morning, Scott Fisher has the latest details

AUSTIN, Texas - The National Weather Service has issued a Hard Freeze Warning for parts of Central Texas, including Austin/Travis County.

The warning will go into effect starting at 6 p.m. Jan. 14 and run through 10 a.m. Jan. 17.

According to FOX 7 Austin chief meteorologist Scott Fisher, bitter cold arctic air continues to pour into Texas. This is the coldest air of the season, by far.

Additionally, there may be a period of overnight freezing drizzle or even freezing rain. Accumulations would be very light and primarily on bridges and overpasses. Nevertheless, even just a little bit of ice can be extremely hazardous to drive on.

When we factor in the wind, feels-like temperatures will likely plunge into the single digits, with a few spots with wind chills below zero.

NWS says there will be periods of prolonged sub-freezing temperatures expected as low as 10 to 15 degrees and that some locations will not climb above freezing until Wednesday morning.

The lowest temperatures are expected Monday night through Tuesday morning and Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, says NWS. Wednesday is trending as the coldest night, especially across the low-lying valleys where lighter winds and mainly clear skies are expected.

Winter preparation tips for your home

The Insurance Council of Texas is offering winter preparation tips for your home ahead of the artic blast expected this weekend. They said being prepared is crucial to minimize risks and ensure adequate insurance coverage.

NWS is advising the public to take steps now, if they haven't already, to protect tender plants from the cold and protect outdoor water pipes and in-ground sprinkler systems.

The warning impacts the following counties: Atascosa, Bandera, Bastrop, Bexar, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Comal, De Witt, Edwards, Fayette, Gillespie, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Hays, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Lavaca, Lee, Llano, Medina, Real, Travis, Uvalde, Williamson, and Wilson.

The warning also includes the following cities: Austin, Bandera, Bastrop, Blanco, Boerne, Burnet, Cuero, Floresville, Fredericksburg, Georgetown, Giddings, Gonzales, Hallettsville, Hondo, Karnes City, Kerrville, La Grange, Leakey, Llano, Lockhart, New Braunfels, Pleasanton, Rocksprings, San Antonio, San Marcos, Seguin, and Uvalde.

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