LOCAL

Cold hard facts about this week's freeze in Central Texas

Katie Hall,Kelsey Bradshaw
khall@statesman.com
David Johndrow, an employee at the Natural Gardener, covers up plants Monday at the nursery to protect them from a freeze expected overnight. [JAY JANNER/AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

8 p.m. update: A freeze warning is now in effect in Central Texas until 10 a.m. Tuesday.

Below-freezing temperatures could harm unprotected pets, plants and pipes. Anyone who is outside should dress in layers, with a wind-resistant outer layer, a hat and mittens or insulated gloves.

Strong winds are expecting in the area through the night and into the morning.

Austinites should prepare for another freeze warning Tuesday night into Wednesday morning as well, when temperatures are expected to drop even lower.

Earlier: Residents in the Hill Country and urban areas along the Interstate 35 corridor should prepare for freezing or near-freezing temperatures through Wednesday night, the National Weather Service said. Here are some cold hard facts surround the biting chill in Central Texas:

How cold is it going to get?

Tuesday's temperatures in Austin might only reach 45 degrees but fall as a low as 29 degrees, forecasters said. Wednesday will be slightly warmer with a high of 53 degrees and a low around 34, just above the 32-degree freezing point.

What should I do?

Forecasters said residents should bring in pets and plants from outside, drip pipes and check on those most vulnerable in your home, including children and the elderly, to make sure they are staying warm.

Layering your clothes while outside and staying dry can help prevent frostbite and hypothermia, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Watch for skin redness or pain because it could be a sign of frostbite. Get out of the cold and cover any exposed skin to avoid frostbite, state health officials said. Signs of hypothermia include confusion, drowsiness, slurred speech, a drop in blood pressure, shallow breathing and pinkish skin. If you notice these symptoms, seek help from a medical professional, officials said.

Has it been this cold before?

Yes, even colder. Tuesday's bone-chilling overnight low of 29 degrees in Austin is still 2 degrees shy of the coldest Nov. 13 on record. Temperatures in the city sank to 27 degrees on that date in 1911. The weather service's climate data show the 30-year normal low for Nov. 13 is 52 degrees, which is 7 degrees warmer than the expected high on Tuesday.

Is it always this cold on Nov. 13?

Nope. The normal high for this time of year is 72 degrees, according to climate data. Last year, on Nov. 13, temperatures got as warm as 78 degrees and stayed above 63 degrees at night.

When does Austin usually freeze?

Austin experiences its first freezing temperatures, on average, around Nov. 29, according to weather service data dating to the late 1890s. Freezing temperatures have arrived as early as Oct. 24 (also in 1911) and as late as April 9 (in 1914).

At least it's not snowing, right?

Correct. Forecasters do not expect any precipitation or significant ice during the deep chill.

The same can't be said for other parts of Texas, such as the Panhandle, which got several inches of snow on Monday, especially around Amarillo, the Associated Press reported.

Will it warm up soon?

Sunny skies are expected to return to Central Texas by Wednesday, and Austin should experience milder temperatures in the upper 50s and upper 60s before the end of the week. Friday temperatures could reach 67 degrees, and sunshine Saturday could help drive temperatures to a high of 69, forecasters said.