Winter Storm Fern Grips Austin: Ice, Dangerous Roads, and Suspended Services
As midnight passed into Sunday morning, Winter Storm Fern continues to unleash freezing rain and sleet across Austin and Central Texas, creating treacherous conditions that have paralyzed the region and forced the suspension of critical services.
Current Conditions
Current surface temp of Lake Travis: 59°. Current air temp: 19°. The result: STEAM FOG. #Texas #ATXWX pic.twitter.com/PWM4OM32Pw
— Kristen Currie (@KristenCurrieTV) January 25, 2026
151 AM CST: If you see a flash and hear a rumble, that’s a thunder-sleet event currently going through San Antonio. pic.twitter.com/cI2ajYo4Pe
— NWS Austin/San Antonio (@NWSSanAntonio) January 25, 2026
The sun is coming up at MoPac and the 45 toll road in Round Rock. Most overpasses in the Austin area look just like this. pic.twitter.com/FR0mvAxT4C
— Bryan Mays (@BryanM_KVUE) January 25, 2026
The National Weather Service’s Ice Storm Warning remains in effect until noon Sunday, with forecasters now projecting more intense icing than originally anticipated.
...ICE STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST SUNDAY... * WHAT...Significant icing expected. Ice accumulations of 1/4 inch with isolated totals of 1/2 inch are possible. In addition, dangerously cold temperatures are expected Saturday night through Monday morning. * WHERE...The Hill Country and portions of the I-35 corridor, including the Austin area. * WHEN...Until noon CST Sunday.
Ice accumulation has reached one-tenth to one-quarter of an inch across much of Austin, with isolated areas in the Hill Country potentially seeing up to half an inch. An Extreme Cold Warning extends through noon Monday, with wind chills plummeting as low as minus 5 degrees.
Late Saturday evening, the Austin-Travis County Emergency Operations Center reported that bridges across the city had begun icing over, prompting urgent warnings for residents to stay home.
Air temperatures dropped into the upper 20s by evening and continued falling into the mid-20s, with freezing rain moving into the area as predicted.
Road Conditions: Travel Nearly Impossible
Emergency officials are describing road conditions as near impossible and urging residents to stay off the roadways entirely. The Texas Department of Transportation pre-treated 347 lane miles of critical streets and 66 bridges starting Thursday evening, but the sustained freezing temperatures and ongoing precipitation have overwhelmed these efforts.
City officials warn that all roadways are potentially dangerous, not just bridges and overpasses. A thin layer of ice has formed on many roads due to drizzly conditions combined with surface temperatures well below freezing. Even roads that received pre-treatment may have ice present.
“While Austin Energy has not experienced major impacts to date, crews continue working around the clock. Conditions may worsen as winds increase and ice begins to melt, which can place additional stress on trees and power lines. Water and wastewater operations remained normal throughout the overnight period. Austin Transportation and Public Works began pre-treatment Thursday evening for critical roadways and structures, but even if a street has been treated, there may be ice present. Crews will continue monitoring and treating as conditions change. Treacherous road conditions are expected to continue throughout the day Sunday. Please stay off the roads if possible.” — City of Austin (8:00 am Sunday)
Reports throughout Saturday indicated bridges starting to ice over across the metro area, with particular concerns about elevated roadways and overpasses. Drivers are being reminded that these structures freeze first and remain hazardous longer than ground-level roads.
Just saw a dude fishtail and crash his pickup into the concrete barrier right in front of me in New Braunfels, TX.
— Hunter Schuler (@hunterschuler) January 25, 2026
(driver was thankfully unharmed)#txwx #WinterStormFern @TxStormChasers @Hunt_Wx pic.twitter.com/Y9sUvB0RQH
Sleet completely covering Interstate 35 in South Austin (just south of Slaughter Lane) as a mix of freezing rain and sleet continues falling around 10:30 p.m.#atxwx #atxweather @NWSSanAntonio pic.twitter.com/MeRLN8zvGV
— Andy Sevilla (@MrAndySevilla) January 25, 2026
Pretty sure it’s safe to say it’s officially snowing in southwest Travis county!@cbsaustin pic.twitter.com/Uoej2rHlLu
— Farrah Walton (@FarrahWaltonTV) January 25, 2026
I-35 in Georgetown:
The San Antonio District reports ice forming on roadways. The same may be true for many other areas in Texas. TRAVEL IS DISCOURAGED! IF YOU DON'T NEED TO TRAVEL, PLEASE DON'T! Attached is a video from the TxDOT Amarillo District showing the severity of the situation. STAY SAFE! pic.twitter.com/vmmExbovn2
— TxDOT Laredo (@TxDOTLaredo) January 25, 2026
Major Service Suspensions
Public Transportation: CapMetro suspended all bus, rail, CapMetro Pickup, CapMetro Access, and Bikeshare services at 4 p.m. Saturday. All regular services remain suspended Sunday, with officials monitoring conditions for potential Monday operations.
This decision was based solely on safety concerns as ice accumulation made travel too dangerous.
City Facilities: Austin Parks & Recreation, Austin Public Library, and Austin Arts, Culture, Music & Entertainment closed all locations at 3 p.m. Saturday and will remain closed Sunday. Three library locations continue operating as warming centers: Central Library (710 W. Cesar Chavez St.), Terrazas Branch (1105 E. Cesar Chavez St.), and one additional location, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Education: Austin ISD has cancelled classes for Monday.
Austin Community College closed all campuses starting at 4 p.m. Saturday and will remain closed Sunday. The University of Texas at Austin, Texas State University, and Huston-Tillotson University have all canceled Sunday activities.
Power Grid Concerns
As of late Saturday night, Austin Energy reported minimal outages, with only nine customers affected across three active incidents as of 9:30 p.m.
However, officials warn that ice accumulation of one-quarter inch significantly increases the risk of power outages due to tree limbs breaking from the ice weight and damaging power lines.
Austin Energy emphasized that crews have been preparing year-round for extreme weather, with equipment inspected and winterized in advance of the storm.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) issued a Weather Watch from Saturday through Tuesday due to higher electricity demand, though grid conditions are expected to remain normal. This is a notable contrast to the devastating Winter Storm Uri in 2021, which left millions without power.
Regional outages remain relatively contained, with Pedernales Electric Cooperative reporting 10 active outages in areas including Lakeway, Lago Vista, and near San Marcos. Oncor, serving areas outside the immediate Austin metro, reported 282 outages across its coverage area, primarily concentrated in the Dallas-Fort Worth region but with some incidents in Bell County and between Georgetown and Round Rock.
Current SWEPCO power outage map: #Texas pic.twitter.com/Wc8uR19SRU
— Holly Hansen (@hollyshansen) January 25, 2026
Emergency Services and Shelters
Cold weather shelters welcomed 370 guests Friday night across four facilities. The city activated 24-hour shelter operations running through Sunday night, with guests allowed to remain during daytime hours rather than being required to leave in the morning. Shelter registration continues from 2-8 p.m. Sunday at One Texas Center (505 Barton Springs Rd.). Those needing transportation to shelters can call 3-1-1.
Austin Animal Services reported strong community response, with 66 fosters, 20 adoptions, and one reclaimed pet over Friday and Saturday, freeing critical space for additional intake during the emergency period.
WEATHER
The Winter Storm Warning and Ice Storm Warning remain in effect until noon Sunday, when conditions are expected to begin improving. However, the Extreme Cold Warning extends through noon Monday, meaning any ice that has accumulated will be slow to melt. Emergency officials emphasize that even after precipitation ends, roads will remain hazardous due to sustained below-freezing temperatures.
Areas west of Austin saw significant rainfall Saturday.
For the latest updates, visit austintexas.gov/alerts or follow @austintexasgov on social media. Report power outages to Austin Energy at 512-322-9100 or online at austinenergy.com/outages.
