Records Set In Central Texas To Greet The New Year
Central Texas experienced an extraordinary temperature spike yesterday, with Austin tying or breaking daily heat records barely 36 hours into the new year.
The high reached 88°F, near record high temperatures, marking the region’s first record-breaking day of 2026. The remarkable warmth resulted from a potent combination of meteorological factors—strong westerly winds carried dry air from higher-elevation West Texas, which compressed and warmed as it descended toward the lower elevations along and east of Interstate 35. With west winds gusting as high as 25-30 MPH combined with very low humidity, temperatures pushed past 85 degrees along and east of I-35. The 88-degree reading was potentially the hottest temperature recorded in Austin in the month of January since 2000, far exceeding the typical January high of around 62 degrees.
Looking ahead through the first week of January, Central Texans can expect more moderate but still above-average temperatures. A weak cold front is pushing through this morning, bringing highs in the low to mid-70s for the weekend—much more comfortable than Friday’s heat but still well above normal for early January.
Temperatures will climb back near 80 degrees by the middle of the week as winds shift southward, bringing warmth and humidity back to the region. Rain chances arrive Wednesday night into Thursday as a Pacific storm system moves eastward out of southern California—welcome news for an area still experiencing severe to extreme drought conditions along and east of I-35. However, forecasters note these Pacific systems are historically tricky to predict, and the exact track and timing remain uncertain.
MORE ON THE FRIDAY’S RECORD-BREAKING HEAT AND THE ENTENDED FORECAST CAN BE FOUND FURTHER DOWN THIS POST IN “WEATHER”.
Austin police have identified the victim of a shooting in North Austin early Thursday as 18-year-old Isaiah Atkinson. APD said Atkinson became involved in a disturbance at a party in a strip mall, which eventually led to him being shot in the chest. The investigation is still ongoing.
It was the city’s first homicide of 2026.
Meanwhile, there are new details concerning a shooting late New Year’s Eve in Round Rock that left five teenagers wounded. Police are still searching for a suspect. This happened after a fight in the parking lot of the Platinum Event Center at 1611 Chisholm Trail Road. The five people hurt were all teens and their injures were not considered to be life threatening. Police have said there was evidence of underage drinking at the private party, which was promoted via a flyer posted on social media.
BREAKING: Williamson County authorities were on the scene early this morning of an unspecified incident north of Austin.
Also overnight, a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle downtown on Red River Street. No other information was available.
(NOTE: Timestamp is PST. Actual time of the call was 2:32 a.m. CST)
A house near Creedmoor was destroyed by a fire Friday afternoon, according to Travis County Fire Rescue.
House fire on Crane Road under control and reducing the alarm for overhaul. No injuries – total loss of the home which also created a 1/2 grass fire that threatened a lumber storage area. pic.twitter.com/pQkUAOGLVv
— Travis County Fire Rescue (@TC_Fire_Rescue) January 2, 2026
One firefighter suffered minor injuries Friday after a partial roof collapse while battling an apartment fire in Pflugerville.
Officials estimate up to 24 apartment units may have been affected, with a number of residents being displaced.
From the Austin Firefighters Association:
These photos were taken at the first structure fire of 2026 for the Austin Fire Department, an East Austin business that caught fire right as the new year began.
While many Austinites were celebrating with fireworks, Austin firefighters spent the first hours of 2026 responding to multiple fires across the city—structure fires, grass fires, and other emergencies sparked throughout the night and into the next day. What looked beautiful in the sky created extreme danger on the ground, stretching crews thin and putting lives, homes, and businesses at risk.
PSA: Fireworks are never “just fireworks.” One spark can change lives forever. Please celebrate responsibly, follow local laws, and leave fireworks to the professionals.
These images taken by @code3_sd show just one of many calls our firefighters answered as 2026 began.
And in Mustang Ridge, a 5-acre brush fire late Thursday into early Friday off of Elm Grove/Old Lockhart was likely caused by fireworks.
Reporte Austin is tracking ICE activity in the ATX.
“…two arrests in the area of Lamar and Rundberg Lane.”
“…reports of several arrests outside a gas station in St. Johns and Interstate 35. Austin Reporte got video showing officers arriving around 9:30am. and they begin to indiscriminate persecute the people who were in the place. Several fled to nearby businesses. At least 3 people were arrested.”
@AustinJustice on X reported on a 24-year-old Austin man with a lengthy criminal history who was at it again on New Year’s Day.
AUSTIN MAN previously deported and in the country illegally gets drunk and flees Texas state troopers in the middle of the night.
— Austin Justice (@AustinJustice) January 2, 2026
That man is Brayan Marti Hernandez-Alegria, 24, arrested by DPS just after 3 a.m. on New Year’s Day.
Police arrested him for:
• Evading arrest with… pic.twitter.com/JDjd01jV7a
Construction is still underway on the North portion of the I-35 Capital Express Project in Austin.
Still have that old Christmas tree? Travis County officials remind you it is a fire hazard and it is time to properly dispose of it.
There is an elevated risk of wildfires this weekend.
WEATHER
FRIDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
5-DAY FORECAST/ AUSTIN, TEXAS
The first full moon of 2026 will appear in night skies this weekend, as one of the biggest and brightest of the year. (Austin American-Statesman)
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee has added the Texas House to its target map.
Democrat James Talarico‘s campaign says it raised $6.8 million in the last three months of 2025, bringing the total raised for his U.S. Senate bid up to $13 million.
The Texas Tribune’s politics team has compiled five of the top political stories they are watching in 2026, when voters will have their first chance to make their opinions known on the events of the last 12 months.
(Episode from January 2, 2026)
On this very first episode of our weekly roundtable session, we try to get positive for once – this time we go around the horn and talk about the ways in which all of us plan to up our political game in the all-important mid-term election year of 2026! If you’ve already blown your regular resolution, never fear – there’s still time to rise to the political challenges we ALL face in this crucial new year.
Gov. Greg Abbott is demanding Mexico extradite a man accused of murdering a South Texas businessman.
Sydney Marquez, the 24-year-old Texas A&M graduate reported missing in Houston three weeks ago, is reportedly still missing, according to her family.
While some in the Texas hemp industry welcome clearer guidelines and consumer protections, they warn a hike in licensing fees could impact small businesses.
Bexar County officials say fireworks-related blazes caused $475,000 in property damage between December 28 and New Year’s Day. (San Antonio Current)
In Lubbock, a high school senior lost their life while celebrating the new year in a fireworks accident.
Dallas County, buoyed by a recent Harris County court win, has filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration over the clawback of $70 million in public health funds. (Texas Tribune)
The start of 2026 brings a bevy of new laws across the state, with a focus on taxes. Other new legislation focuses on artificial intelligence and how sheriff’s offices will work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
New toll lanes have opened on 183 North, and the additional access could mean increased traffic on your drive home.
Looking to cut back on distractions in the new year? We’ve got some techniques that you can use to keep your focus strong in 2026.
(Episode from January 2, 2026)
It’s been a year of ups and downs, some political surprises, major development news, and growing pains for the Big Country of West Texas.
(Episode from December 31, 2025)
As the Texas Standard celebrated ten years in 2025, a yearlong tour of the state recently took them to their partners at Texas Public Radio, based in San Antonio.
Though its many landmarks bring in the tourists, new residents are rushing in, too – putting pressure on resources like energy and water.
Texas Standard explored those growing pains but also sampled the tastes and sounds that make San Antonio special.
(Episode from January 2, 2026)
SPORTS
new year. new season. @SEC play in The Mood tomorrow. 🤘#HookEm | #AlwaysCompete pic.twitter.com/SO6CcY1THc
— Texas Men’s Basketball (@TexasMBB) January 3, 2026
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: The Texas Longhorns open SEC play against the Mississippi State Bulldogs today (5 p.m. CT/SEC Network) in Moody Center. (Texas Longhorns)
Game 14: TEXAS (9-4, 0-0 SEC) vs. Mississippi State (8-5, 0-0 SEC)
A preview of a variety of games in the 2025-26 college basketball season and predictions for SEC opening day matchups.
(Mississippi State /Texas at the 21:38 mark)
The Texas A&M Aggies, Texas Tech Red Raiders and Houston Cougars all see action today.
NBA: Another win for the San Antonio Spurs.
De’Aaron Fox scored 24 points and the San Antonio Spurs won their first game since Victor Wembanyama injured his left knee, beating the Indiana Pacers 123-113 on Friday night for the Pacers’ 11th straight loss. (Yahoo! Sports)
ON THE SCHEDULE
The Spurs play again tonight at home hosting Portland.
Dallas and Houston face each other in Dallas.
MLB: The Houston Astros are making moves to solidify its pitching rotation.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Texas football wide receiver Parker Livingstone is set to enter the transfer portal. (Austin American-Statesman)
Is sports betting in Texas legal?
No…but kind of…
Let’s go to the movies!
Texas is a 1941 American western film directed by George Marshall and starring William Holden, Glenn Ford and Claire Trevor. The film was an early picture for both Holden (his seventh credited performance) and Ford (his ninth). The film was designed by Columbia Pictures as a follow-up, though not a sequel, to the previous year’s Arizona, which also starred Holden.
