Central Texas Heat Emergency: What You Need to Know
The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Heat Warning for the Austin area as temperatures soar past 100°F, posing life-threatening dangers to residents across Central Texas.
Austin Emergency Management Assistant Director Janet Pichette warned that “extreme heat is one of the most dangerous weather hazards we face in Central Texas,” urging residents to take simple precautions to prevent emergencies.
Cooling Centers Are Open
All Austin Public Library and Austin Parks facilities are serving as cooling centers during normal operating hours. Travis County Community Centers are also open as cooling centers Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
On days with an Excessive Heat Warning, CapMetro provides rides to cooling centers at no cost for those unable to pay the fare. For the latest locations and hours, visit austintexas.gov/alerts.
Tips to Stay Safe
Health officials recommend drinking water regularly, wearing lightweight clothing, and taking breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas. Warning signs of heat exhaustion include dizziness, nausea, heavy sweating, and weakness. More severe symptoms — confusion, rapid pulse, and a body temperature above 103°F — may indicate heat stroke, which requires immediate medical attention.
Never leave children, adults, or pets unattended in a vehicle, even for a short period of time.
For heat safety information, visit austintexas.gov/heataware.
Austin’s third homicide in as many days reportedly occurred Wednesday afternoon at an apartment complex in South Austin.
Austin 911 received multiple calls for a shoot/stab hotshot response at the Waters at Bluff Springs.
When officers arrived on scene, they found a Hispanic woman in her 40s with trauma to her body, outside in a public area of the complex.
This is the city’s third homicide this week.
Austin police said a man shot and killed 28-year-old Jose Salgado-Amador on Monday.
Salgado-Amador was working as a mechanic in a parking lot off East Riverside Drive when police said the man demanded something from him, then shot him, ran, and drove away in a light-colored sedan.
Tuesday, officers responded to the 4700 block of East Oltorf Street where two people were found dead after family members requested a welfare check. (FOX 7 Austin)
Counting yesterday’s incident, Austin has seen 29 murders so far in 2026.
Austin Police (APD) Commercial Burglary and Metal Theft detectives are seeking the public’s assistance with identifying two suspects wanted for stealing metal from a construction jobsite on May 20. (Austin Police Department)
A man with a lengthy criminal record is back in jail after police say he broke into three West Campus apartments in the span of three hours last week.
Governor Greg Abbott weighed in on social media.
Austin ISD’s Board of Trustees is set to vote this evening on budget cuts as the district navigates a $181 million shortfall.
The City of Austin is inviting community members to share their budget priorities for the upcoming year through a citywide survey. The survey results will be shared with City leadership, along with the City’s FY 2026-2027 Proposed Budget, to help guide decisions on the final approved budget.
Tech leader Joshua Baer, 50, co‑founder and CEO of Austin‑based venture capital firm Capital Factory, has been identified as the sole fatality in a deadly private jet crash on Loop 20 in Laredo, Texas, on Tuesday night.
Students in the Austin school district outperformed state averages in most courses during the recent round of STAAR testing , with some scores surpassing pre-pandemic levels — but there are still groups of students falling behind the state standard. How the district is planning to address that.
(Episode from June 17, 2026)
After closing in March due to a state investigation, the Lodge Card Club in Round Rock is reopening.
P. Terry’s Burger Stand will close its flagship location at Capital Plaza later this month as Interstate 35 construction progresses through Central Austin, the chain’s co-owner Patrick Terry announced Wednesday.
CapMetro will be operating on Saturday-level service tomorrow in observance of Juneteenth.
Recent rainfall has brought flow back to Barton Creek and other waterways across Central Texas. Because creeks and streams in the area have not seen flow like this in several years, accumulated pollutants—including pesticides, fertilizers, pet waste, and more—are being washed from surrounding surfaces into the water. As a result, elevated levels of bacteria, nitrogen, and phosphorus are present.
WEATHER
WEDNESDAY’S HIGH/LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
...EXTREME HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions with heat index values of 113-118 expected. * WHERE...A portion of south central Texas. * WHEN...From noon today to 8 PM CDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Heat related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat and high humidity events.
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
A mass of showers and thunderstorms that has been sprawling across Texas and northern Mexico consolidated into Tropical Storm Arthur on Wednesday. As of late Wednesday, the storm had moved inland and lost wind intensity, becoming a tropical rainstorm. Life-threatening flooding, property damage and disruptions to commerce and travel may unfold as inches of rain pour down over a portion of the southeastern United States into Friday. (AccuWeather)
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says a Texas GOP convention will take place in the Lone Star State just before the November midterms.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick joined The Texan‘s Reporter Meridith Dyer at the Republican Party of Texas’ 2026 state convention to discuss Texas’ U.S. Senate race, other primary results, and interim charges the Texas Senate is working on prior to the 90th Legislative Session.
Can Democrats actually flip the Senate?
We analyze the latest Texas Senate race polling and the path to control for both parties. This episode of The Sean Spicer Show breaks down the most critical Senate race predictions for the upcoming cycle. We examine the current political landscape to determine if the numbers support a shift in power or if the status quo will hold. Whether you are following specific state contests or the national map, this analysis provides the context you need to understand the stakes.
Guest: Rocha Rodeo, James Talarico‘s senior strategist
A Texas Department of Safety trooper was killed in the line of duty yesterday in Childress County.
Internal disagreements regarding the redesign of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center have pushed its completion date to 2030, requiring the relocation of scheduled events. This marks the second delay for the $3.8 billion project, triggering concerns among Dallas City Council members regarding the municipal oversight of the major downtown redevelopment initiative.
A former Fort Hood soldier, convicted by a military jury of indecency and sexual assault of minors, has been sentenced to 25 years, marking a significant collaboration between Army and local authorities.
The San Marcos City Council has banned data center developments.
Texas Bolsters Fight Against New World Screwworm Threat
With the New World screwworm (NWS) continuing to threaten livestock nationwide, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is funding targeted research and mitigation initiatives to halt the parasite’s spread.
As part of this effort, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced the pre-award approval of a cooperative agreement between the state and the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services. This federal funding will allow Texas to hire additional inspectors to reinforce state containment and monitoring efforts.
SPORTS
MLB: The Houston Astros tamed some Tigers last night.
Jeremy Peña homered and had an RBI single, Peter Lambert allowed just one run on two hits and the Houston Astros beat the Detroit Tigers 4-2 on Wednesday.
Yordan Alvarez extended his on-base streak to 24 games and scored Christian Vazquez on a double for his 55th RBI of the season. (Associated Press)
The Astros are off today.
After a one-day break, the Texas Rangers conclude their series with Minnesota this afternoon.
WORLD CUP: The best moments from matchday seven of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
When the Houston Astrodome opened in 1965, the world’s first domed stadium was hailed as the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” and became one of America’s top tourist attractions. But after decades of decline, the Dome now sits empty beside its successor, NRG Stadium.
Go inside the landmark with those debating its fate, and those reimagining its future.
