Central Texas Braces for Freezing Temperatures with Expanded Shelter Services

Austin has turned on cold weather shelters since an Arctic cold front delivers the lowest seasonal temperatures for Central Texas. Opened Saturday night, the shelters will remain accessible through at least Wednesday; Monday's extended daytime operations reflect the probability of winter precipitation.

Registered people are driven to overnight lodging from One Texas Center on Barton Springs Road daily between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. The city also offers after-hours transit options for individuals requiring access outside registration times.

Those needing daytime warmth can visit three Austin Public Library locations between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

• Terrazas Branch: 1105 E. Cesar Chavez St.
• Ruiz Branch: 1600 Grove Blvd.
• Little Walnut Branch: 835 W. Rundberg Lane.

The Central Library at 710 W. Cesar Chavez St. will open early on Tuesday and Wednesday at 8 a.m.; all other library branches will be open as warming centers during regular hours.

Capital Metro lines 1, 7, 10, 20, 30, 105, 142, and 801 run buses to the registration site. Free trips are offered for people who cannot pay fees.

Alerts regarding shelter activations are still sent by city officials to over 5,000 people enrolled to text notifications.

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