Austin offering shelters, warming centers amid frigid weather. What we know.
As an arctic blast is poised to dominate Central Texas, those who need a place to stay out of the cold can find refuge in city of Austin facilities.
The cold front will bring temperatures well below average through Wednesday, with a small chance of freezing rain.
Here's what you need to know to stay safe during Austin's frigid weather spell:
When will overnight cold weather shelters be open?
The city of Austin was set to open cold weather shelters beginning Saturday evening. Shelters will remain open at least through Wednesday morning, officials said Monday.
Registration for shelter will occur between 5 and 8 p.m. each day at One Texas Center, 505 Barton Springs Road. The center will act as the "central embarkation point" for people seeking an overnight shelter, the city said in a news release.
More information about the shelters can be found online at austintexas.gov/alerts or by calling 512-972-5055.
More: Austin, Travis County leaders advise residents to prepare for arctic cold front
The city might also open overnight cold weather shelters for families with children if the need arises. Updates about family shelters will also be posted online.
CapMetro offers rides to cold weather shelters
People can take Capital Metro buses on route Nos. 1, 7, 10, 20, 30, 105 and 142 and Rapid Route 801 to One Texas Center to register for a spot in a shelter. Anyone seeking cold weather shelters who is not able to pay the bus fare will still be given a ride.
CapMetro will take people who have registered from One Texas Center to a cold weather shelter.
Austin weather forecast: Freezing rain could cause dangerous road conditions in Austin on Monday, NWS warns
Where are Austin's warming centers?
In addition to providing overnight shelters, the city will make some of its facilities available as warming centers during the day. In times of extreme cold, branches of the Austin Public Library and facilities of the city's Parks and Recreation Department are used to keep people warm during normal business hours.
Though most city facilities will be closed Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the library system plans to open three locations as warming centers from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday and Monday:
Little Walnut Creek Branch, 835 W. Rundberg Lane
Ruiz Branch, 1600 Grove Blvd.
Terrazas Branch, 1105 E. César Chávez St.
The Central Library Special Events Center, at 710 W. César Chávez St., will also open as a warming center from 6 to 9 a.m. Tuesday.
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This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Warming centers opening in Austin ahead of cold weather snap
