More Freezing Temps Expected For Austin Region

AUSTIN, TX — The Arctic cold front that blasted into the region last night came in like an ice-encrusted, wind-propelled wrecking ball — with sleet accumulation on roadways making travel treacherous and the bone-chilling cold air exacerbated by strong winds.

The good news: It's expected to become sunny throughout the Austin region by Tuesday afternoon. The bad news: More cold weather is headed our way.

Following the brunt of the storm, National Weather Service officials provided a tale of the tap of sorts that shows just how strong the winds got per region. At Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, wind gusts blew up to 43 miles per hour at the peak of the cold front, according to meteorologists' tally.

Previous coverage: Austin Region Braces For Arctic Cold Front

Further south, some regions experienced even stronger winds, including a top speed of 46 miles per hour at New Braunfels and Hondo. East of Austin, Dripping Springs also was hit with strong winds of up to 46 miles per hour.

Most of the region also saw temperatures at the freezing mark or hovering just above it, as weather forecasters had predicted ahead of the front. The recap:

The cold front didn't just rudely arrive abruptly and then leave. Periods of light freezing rain, sleet and rain continued through 6 a.m. on Tuesday for Central Texas, the Edwards Plateau and the Hill Country, and Central Texas. More good news for some: "Precipitation will linger, but decrease, through 9 a.m. for areas south," forecasters wrote.

The front isn't done yet, however. Tuesday night will be mostly clear and winds will be comparatively puny at 5 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service. But the low temp is expected to dip down to 28 degrees, forecasters predict.

Given the forecast, the City of Austin activated its cold weather shelters for the second day in a row. Adult men or woman seeking shelter were directed to the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless (ARCH) by 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday to secure temporary lodging. Families in need of similar accommodations were directed to call the Salvation Army by 7 p.m. For more information, residents in need of such services were provided with the shelter hotline at (512) 305-4233.

Those with one or all three of the Ps should focus on those and suspend attention on the Qs at least temporarily: Seal those pipes, and bring in the pets and plants. Let's add "people" to the mix of Ps to remember, and those with elderly neighbors living alone should be checked up on to make sure they're doing okay.

After Tuesday night, temperatures will stay above freezing throughout the remainder of the week. Here's the rest of the forecast from the National Weather Service:

• Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 50. Calm wind becoming south around 5 miles per hour.
• Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 38. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
• Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 53. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
• Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. North northeast wind between 5 and 10 mph.
• Friday: Sunny, with a high near 61. North northeast wind around 5 mph.
• Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 36. East northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
• Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 63. Calm wind becoming south southeast around 5 mph.
• Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 43.
• Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65.
• Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46.