Coldest Temperatures in Years Expected

Winter Home Protection Tips

• Bursting pipes occur when frozen water causes a pressure buildup between the ice blockage and the closed faucet. Pipes in attics, crawl spaces and outside walls are particularly vulnerable to extreme cold. To keep water in your pipes from freezing:
• Fit exposed pipes with insulation sleeves or wrapping to slow heat transfer.
• Seal cracks and holes in outside walls and foundations near water pipes with caulking.
• Keep cabinet doors open to allow warm air to circulate around pipes.
• Keep a slow trickle of water flowing through faucets connected to pipes that run through an unheated or unprotected space.

Source: Institute for Business and Home Safety. IBHS is a national nonprofit initiative of the insurance industry to reduce deaths, injuries, property damage, economic losses and human suffering caused by natural disasters.

Cold Front Brings Temps in Teens by Thurs Night

Source KXAN.com  - Published : Tuesday, 05 Jan 2010, 11:18 PM CST
Jim Spencer

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The coldest air of the winter season is now flowing from Canada into the northern Rockies, and will quickly plunge into Texas Wednesday evening. The arctic cold front is expected to arrive in Central Texas during the early morning hours Thursday.

Temperatures will drop quickly below freezing, and in some local areas, may not warm above 32 degrees again until Saturday.

At Camp Mabry, temperatures colder than 23 degrees have not been recorded since February 5, 1996, however, readings in the low 20s will be possible in Austin Friday and Saturday mornings.

The last time the temperature at Austin Bergstrom International Airport dropped below 18 degrees was nearly eight years ago, on March 5, 2002. The forecast low at ABIA Saturday morning is 16 degrees.

Gusty north winds behind the front will produce wind chill readings of 10-20 degrees during the day Thursday. By evening, wind chill readings of zero to 10 degrees above zero will be possible in the Hill Country.

Early Friday and Saturday mornings, temperatures as cold as 18-22 degrees are expected in and near Austin, with readings in the teens in the Hill Country and other rural areas. Temperatures as cold as the single digits will be possible in the coldest valleys in the Hill Country early Saturday.

The National Weather Service is advising area residents to make preparations for the coming cold wave. A hard freeze can cause damage to exposed water pipes and kill sensitive vegetation. Pets and livestock will be stressed by this arctic outbreak, and should be provided protection.