Central Texas Takes a Hit
Wrecks and Effect
Extreme cold and a sleet and ice storm that swept through Austin this weekend left the city scrambling to respond to dangerous conditions that have claimed at least one life and disrupted nearly every aspect of daily life in the Texas capital.
The tragedy unfolded overnight Saturday when at least one person died from exposure to the frigid conditions.
In response, the city quickly expanded its emergency shelter network, with six facilities housing 652 people by Sunday morning. Three Austin Public Library branches — Central, Terrazas, and Little Walnut Creek — were pressed into service as warming centers to provide additional refuge from the deadly cold.
Mayor Kirk Watson and other city officials held a news conference Sunday to provide updates and other information.
Statewide, ERCOT said things went fairly smoothly during the storm.
The roads became treacherous battlegrounds between ice and vehicles.
Austin police documented approximately 67 weather-related crashes between noon Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday, though miraculously no other fatalities were reported from these incidents.
A rollover accident on I-35 at Slaughter Lane Sunday afternoon.
City and state crews worked through Saturday night treating about 350 miles of high-priority roadways, with special attention paid to 66 bridges that provide critical access to hospitals and warming centers.
The ripple effects extended into Monday, with most Central Texas school districts, including Austin ISD and the University of Texas, announcing closures.
in The Mood for a snow day🤘☃️#HookEm pic.twitter.com/UrxIFHgCs6
— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) January 25, 2026
CapMetro planned a delayed restart with limited bus and rail service beginning at noon Monday. Rail service was expected to resume with trains departing from the Lakeline station at 12:22 p.m. and downtown at 12:29 p.m., while Bike Share remained suspended.
Service information for Monday, January 26, 2026
— CapMetro (@CapMetroATX) January 25, 2026
CapMetro will begin Bus, Rail, Pickup and Access service at 12 p.m. Delays and detours are expected throughout the day. The following routes will NOT operate:
-Lago Vista Pickup zone will NOT operate
-All Express, Flyer,… pic.twitter.com/yjIZbsVxyy
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport stayed open but operated under constrained conditions. Officials closed one runway and worked to clear slushy conditions from taxiways, focusing resources on the east runway in what Deputy Chief Sam Haynes described as a standard winter weather response.
By midday Sunday, the disruptions were mounting: 117 departing flights and 87 arriving flights had been canceled, with airport officials warning travelers to expect additional Monday cancellations and urging them to check with airlines before making the trip.
On Sunday, Gov. Greg Abbott amended the state’s disaster declaration for the ongoing winter storm to include 85 additional counties, bringing the total number of affected counties to 219.
As the city begins the slow process of recovery, the human cost of this ice storm serves as a stark reminder of how quickly winter weather can turn deadly in a region unaccustomed to such conditions. While crews continue working to restore normal operations, Austin residents face another day of closures, cancellations, and the sobering reality that their city is still very much in the grip of winter’s dangerous embrace.
A LOOK AT THE FORECAST CAN BE FOUND FURTHER DOWN THIS POST IN WEATHER
Austin Pets Alive! said a surge in community support leading up to this weekend’s winter weather resulted in the lowest onsite animal count in the organization’s history.
ICE activity reported in the region Sunday, including reports of an arrest of two people on La Frontera Boulevard near SH 45.
A pursuit took place Sunday afternoon that ended with at least one ICE stop at Howard Lane and Dessau Road. One person fled on foot and it is unknown if he was overtaken by officers who cornered the vehicle to get them to stop.
Meanwhile, Austin City and Travis County officials addressed online rumors concerning local involvement and cooperation with ICE.
Meanwhile, the killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis by federal agents has U.S. Senate hopeful James Talarico calling for the abolishment of ICE in that city and others.
ICE shot a mother in the face.
— James Talarico (@jamestalarico) January 26, 2026
ICE kidnapped a 5 year-old boy.
ICE executed a man on the street.
It’s time to tear down this secret police force. pic.twitter.com/uIM2baIuUW
Did a Texas Border Patrol agent kill Alex Pretti?
Texas Sen. Lloyd Doggett (D):
Alex Pretti, a nurse who cared for our veterans, was dedicated to helping others in any way he could serve. Though he posed no threat, this beautiful life was cut far too short by trigger-happy ICE agents. pic.twitter.com/fOzkafzRdW
— Lloyd Doggett (@RepLloydDoggett) January 25, 2026
Conversely, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton reposted support for ICE on X:
— Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) January 25, 2026
Sen. John Cornyn reposted this:
You have a right to carry a firearm to a protest.
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) January 25, 2026
You have a right to approach law enforcement while carrying a firearm.
You do not have a right to commit a felony while carrying a firearm.
Waterline, is set to be delivered later this year. With other super-tall towers possibly on the horizon, what can be learned from Waterline’s construction? (Austin Business Journal)
Less than five years after its founding, Austin-based digestive aid maker Wonderbelly has been acquired by a major company. (Austin Business Journal)
More Central Austin homes sold in December 2025 compared to December 2024. The 78752 ZIP code saw the greatest increase in homes sold, by 300%. (Community Impact)
PODCAST
It’s a new year, and even in Texas, that means there are new laws that can catch the unaware in a crime. But how well do you know our existing statutes — like our oyster-related felonies or the ordinance that says it’s illegal to throw things off of Mount Bonnell? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Geoff Burkhart, Travis County Executive for Community Legal Services, to talk about new crimes for 2026 and the weird, wacky, and painful laws of Texas’ past, including some that are still on the books and could come back to inflict more harm. Plus, Burkhart explains why Travis County is one of only a few in Texas that ensures people have legal representation at their first court appearance.
WEATHER
SUNDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
A record low temperature was set earlier Sunday morning at Camp Mabry, breaking the old record of 20 degrees set in 1929.
PRECIPITATION
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
Some photos of a closed Barton Springs Pool yesterday. (Photos: Maness Richards / Barton Springs Refugees Facebook Page)
An investigation is underway after a 16-year-old girl was killed in a sledding accident in Frisco.
Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett and Texas State Representative James Talarico took the stage Saturday afternoon to debate for the first time since they both launched their bids for the U.S. Senate. This week’s edition of State of Texas focuses on a few highlights from the debate, including discussions of campaign style, ICE, artificial intelligence, and foreign policy.
(Episode from January 25, 2026)
As our ongoing series of live debates continues, we present a discussion between the Democratic candidates for Texas Attorney General: Dallas State Senator Nathan Johnson and former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski (attorney Tony Box is also running, but declined to participate in this debate). Thanks to the Richardson Area Democrats for organizing and allowing us to participate!
(Episode from January 25, 2026)
In recent months the United States has witnessed a resurgence of protesters taking to the streets calling for change on social, political and environmental issues. These marchers are walking in the footsteps of other protesters who fought for civil rights, labor and peace. What makes a protest successful? How can a mass demonstration lead to substantial and long-lasting change. We discuss “A Protest History of the United States” by Gloria J. Browne-Marshall.
SPORTS
hope y’all had as much fun today as Bevo in the snow 🤘❄️#HookEm pic.twitter.com/DHltsySLJr
— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) January 26, 2026
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Coming off their upset of No. 21 Georgia over the weekend, the Texas Longhorns (12-8 overall, 3-4 SEC) remain outside of the AP Top 25 College Basketball Poll.
The Big 12’s Houston Cougars move up to No. 6.
Texas Tech moved up three spots to No. 12.
The Longhorns play at Auburn on Wednesday.
Texas Sports Unfiltered | LIVE STREAM | 1/26/26 | Texas Football | NFL | Austin Sports Talk
NBA: The Dallas Mavericks saw their game in Milwaukee postponed due to the winter storm in Texas.
The Mavericks road game against Milwaukee scheduled for today at 6 p.m. has been postponed due to weather conditions in North Texas that prevented the team from departing Dallas in time for tipoff.
— Mavs PR (@MavsPR) January 25, 2026
The date for the rescheduled game will be announced by the NBA at a later time.
The San Antonio Spurs, meanwhile, should have wished for more snow.
Saddiq Bey and Zion Williamson each had 24 points and 10 rebounds and the New Orleans Pelicans squandered a 20-point lead before rebounding to beat the San Antonio Spurs 104-95 on Sunday night. (NBC Sports)
ON THE SCHEDULE
Dallas and San Antonio are off tonight while the Houston Rockets are home tonight against Memphis.
More ariel scenes of Austin and Central Texas after the weekend’s winter storm.
