A few thousand people in Hays, Travis, and Bastrop Counties had their power restored on Friday after a string of electric pole fires. Austin Energy is also rest
In effect from 6 AM Saturday to NOON Sunday. Accumulating ice in the form of freezing rain is likely across Central Texas.A few thousand people in Hays, Travis, and Bastrop Counties had their power restored on Friday after a string of electric pole fires.
Austin Energy is also restoring power to Austin customers who lost power when pole tops caught on fire. The scattered outages started as Central Texas started hunkering down for a weekend Arctic blast. A few thousand people in Hays, Travis, and Bastrop Counties had their power restored on Friday after a string of electric pole fires. Austin Energy is also restoring power to Austin customers who lost power when pole tops caught on fire. The scattered outages started as Central Texas started hunkering down for a weekend Arctic blast. “This is not an uncommon occurrence with electric utilities,” said Will Holford with Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative. Holford said that during droughts, dust and pollen build up in the electrical equipment at the top of power poles. Friday’s rainy weather allowed a film to develop that allows electricity from the power line to flow over the equipment, arcing to the wooden pole tops. “When that occurs long enough, those wooden pole tops will eventually catch fire. That is what we had in multiple locations this morning,” said Holford. “Do you think we're going to see more of this over the weekend?” asked CBS Austin Reporter Bettie Cross. “Unlikely, because we're going to get sufficient rain today with that front that we expect tonight and tomorrow, that it will wash off the pollen and dust that's accumulated over these weeks and months of lack of rainfall,” said Holford. Some pole tops were repaired; other fires were big enough that Bluebonnet Electric had to replace entire poles. Power was restored by mid-morning to the thousands of customers, including several schools, which lost power. Austin Energy is also dealing with scattered outages. A number of them were the result of pole fires, but the largest outage was the result of a car colliding with a utility pole. "Over the past five years, we've experienced the three worst storms in Austin Energy's history in terms of power outage impacts," said Riley. Riley said the winter storms in 2021 and 2023 have made Austin Energy better prepared to deal with winter weather."We will have everybody available in terms of our line crews. We are bringing in additional vegetation management, tree trimmer crews," said Austin Energy General Manager Stuart Riley. "We have reached out to our mutual aid providers to confirm availability if we do have to bring in additional crews from the outside."The cold front bringing freezing temperatures across the Lone Star State is currently working its way through the Texas panhandle, and could be on a faster pathThousands of Central Texas residents experienced power outages Friday morning.Austin Energy reported outages affecting 7,071 customers at 9:41 a.m., mostly in sThousands in San Marcos have power again after an outage due to multiple electric pole fires Friday morning, according to the San Marcos Police Department.PolicA Texas woman whose severely malnourished 7-year-old daughter was found locked in a closet last year was sentenced to 25 years in prison.Virginia Marie Gonzalesed Cruz faces backlash after a photo showed him on a plane in California days before Texas and the Northeast braced for a historic winter storm.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Freezing temperatures, icy conditions in central Texas to begin Saturday eveningIcy temperatures and dangerous weather conditions still loom over central Texas this weekend, though CBS Austin Meteorologist Avery Tomasco predicts that the fr
Read more »
Central Texas roads pre-treated ahead of forecasted winter stormTexas Department of Transportation crews are on winter weather duty across Central Texas as they prepare for rain and freezing precipitation forecast for the we
Read more »
Central Texas schools cancel weekend activities due to winter weatherSeveral school districts in Central Texas, including Austin, Round Rock, and Hays ISDs, have announced the cancellation or rescheduling of extracurricular activ
Read more »
Austin Declares State of Disaster as Winter Storm Looms Over Central TexasAustin Mayor Kirk Watson has declared a preemptive local state of disaster ahead of a severe winter storm bringing freezing rain and icy conditions to Central Texas. The declaration, effective from Saturday morning to Sunday noon, aims to facilitate a more efficient response and preparedness effort. Residents are urged to take safety precautions, including checking on neighbors, avoiding the use of dangerous heating devices indoors, and protecting pets and property. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles will hold a public hearing on vehicle registration changes, and the Kyle Police Department has made arrests related to car burglaries. Senator Ted Cruz is facing scrutiny after a photo showed him traveling to California before the storm.
Read more »
Central Texas Braces for Icy Weekend Amidst TikTok US Venture Deal and Other NewsCentral Texas faces a weekend of freezing rain and dangerous weather conditions. TikTok forms a new U.S. division with major investors like Oracle. Other news includes local disaster declarations, vehicle registration discussions and car burglary arrests.
Read more »
Cold front accelerates toward central Texas, freezing temps possible by Saturday morningThe cold front bringing freezing temperatures across the Lone Star State is currently workings its way through the Texas panhandle, and could be on a faster pat
Read more »