Austin, TX

Texas arctic blast: School closures, delays in Central Texas due to weather

Published

2 years ago

January 15, 2024

Press Room

Texas arctic blast: School closures, delays in Central Texas due to weather

Winter weather: Snow falls in Central Texas

Video from Shureem Dion Lopez shows snow falling in Jarrell.

AUSTIN, Texas – Due to the freezing and sub-freezing temperatures, some Central Texas school districts, colleges and universities have chosen to close or delay school.

Temperatures are expected to stay very cold through Wednesday afternoon (Jan. 17). A Hard Freeze Warning has also been issued for 6 p.m. Jan. 14 through 10 a.m. Jan. 17.

READ MORE: ERCOT urging power conservation Tuesday morning

Below is a list of school districts, colleges and universities that have announced closures or delays due to weather. This list will be updated periodically.

Caldwell ISD

All Caldwell ISD campuses will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 16.

Del Valle ISD

All Del Valle ISD schools and offices will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 16, due to the freezing temperatures and “lake effect” snow covering sidewalks, access areas and roadways at multiple DVISD campuses.

With forecast temperatures remaining below freezing for much of Tuesday, and wind chills below zero, the conditions in the parking lots, driveways, access areas, and sidewalks are not expected to improve. The decision to close was made in the best interest of the safety of all students and staff.

The Board of Trustees Meeting scheduled for Jan. 16 will be postponed to Jan. 23.

Dime Box ISD

Dime Box ISD will be closed Tuesday, Jan. 16 due to weather conditions and will have a delayed start on Wednesday, Jan. 17.

Buses will run two hours later than usual and classes will start two hours late.

Giddings ISD

Giddings ISD has canceled all classes for Tuesday, January 16 due to the weather and road conditions.

A decision regarding school Wednesday and other related school events will be made on Tuesday afternoon.

Hays CISD

Hays CISD will be closing schools and offices on Tuesday Jan. 16.

Afterschool and extracurricular activities, practices and games may resume, so students and parents should check with their coach or sponsor regarding their specific activity.

The regularly scheduled school board meeting will take place Tuesday night.

Hays CISD says school should still operate on a normal schedule on Wednesday, Jan. 17, but advises students and faculty to bundle up as it will still be cold.

Lexington ISD

Lexington ISD will be closed Tuesday, Jan. 16 due to weather conditions and will have a delayed start on Wednesday, Jan. 17.

Buses will run two hours later than usual and classes will start two hours late.

Rockdale ISD

Due to weather conditions, all Rockdale ISD facilities will be closed Tuesday, January 16. Updates regarding athletics will be shared on Tuesday.

Snook ISD

Due to inclement weather with freezing temperatures remaining through Tuesday, Snook ISD will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 16. All classes and after-school activities have been canceled. Basketball games will be rescheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 17.

Somerville ISD

Due to the hazardous road conditions that are expected to continue, Somerville ISD will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 16. All extracurricular activities for Tuesday will be canceled as well.

Texas A&M University

Classes are canceled for Tuesday, Jan. 16 due to the anticipated risk of inclement weather. All non-essential campus operations are also suspended.

Employees who perform essential duties should confirm reporting protocol with supervisors.

All other employees are authorized to work remotely on Tuesday.

Track your local forecast for the Austin area quickly with the free FOX 7 WAPP. The design gives you radar, hourly, and 7-day weather information just by scrolling. Our weather alerts will warn you early and help you stay safe during storms.

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Austin, TX

Texas Plans Second Execution of the Year

Published

2 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

Texas Plans Second Execution of the Year

Cedric Ricks spoke in his own defense at his 2013 murder trial, something most defendants accused of a terrible crime do not do. Ricks confessed that he had killed his girlfriend, Roxann Sanchez, and her 8-year-old son. He admitted he was aggressive and had trouble controlling his anger, stating that he was “sorry about everything.” […]

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Austin, TX

Will the rest of Austin allergies seasons be as bad as cedar this year?

Published

14 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Will the rest of Austin allergies seasons be as bad as cedar this year?

Austin had a particularly itchy and drippy cedar fever season to start the year. Many winter days, from late December into February, had high or very high ashe juniper (aka cedar) pollen counts.

Central Texas has a year-round allergy season with mold popping up at any time. For the more traditional spring and fall allergy seasons, forecasters at AccuWeather are predicting some of the allergens across the country will be worse this year than average.

Texas, though, is a different story.

For grass allergies, which happen now through September, AccuWeather estimates Austin will have an average season. However, just west of the Interstate 35 corridor in the Hill Country to almost El Paso, that season is expected to be worse than normal.

“Texas may experience above-average grass pollen for a few weeks,” AccuWeather’s allergy report said, “though the season could be shorter-lived compared to northern areas.”

It all depends on the weather

How much rain we get in the next six months and the perennial Texas heat will all affect the growing season for grasses and weeds, as well as the amount of pollen trees produce. The Farmers’ Almanac and the Old Farmers Almanac are both predicting a wetter and warmer spring.

Rain helps plants grow, which can increase pollen production over time. However, rainfall during allergy season can also bring temporary relief by washing pollen out of the air. That’s what we’re expecting this weekend, with our first meaningful rain chance in nearly three weeks. Tree and weed pollen levels might briefly drop, but mold could spike because it thrives in damp, humid weather.

If spring continues with excessive heat like we saw in February, it could limit the growth of some plants and trees. Extreme heat can reduce how much they grow, and how much pollen they produce. On the other hand, if we get a healthy balance of rain and only slightly above-normal temperatures — not extreme heat — pollen counts could climb. That’s especially true as we head into April, typically our windiest month of the year, which helps spread pollen more easily.

How can you treat allergies in Austin?

If you are feeling the effects of allergies, here are some things you can do to lessen them:

Start taking allergy medication at least two weeks before your allergen’s season is supposed to start. Keep taking your allergy medication throughout your allergen’s season, even on low-pollen days.
Vary your allergy medication. You can take a nasal spray, an eye drop and an oral antihistamine at the same time to treat the different symptoms. If one kind of allergy medication isn’t working, consult your doctor about whether you should add a second one or switch out the medication.
Take a shower before going to bed.
Take off outside clothes or shoes when you get into the house.
Do a daily nasal wash such as a neti pot or saline spray.
Consider seeing an allergist to get drops or shots to lessen your reaction to the allergen.

Consider these household tips to improve your chances of keeping allergens away:

Change the filters in your house regularly during cedar fever season.
Vacuum and sweep regularly.
Change your sheets, especially your pillow regularly.
Keep doors and windows closed.
Clean out the vents in your home.
Have your home tested for indoor allergens such as mold.
Wash and brush the animals in your house to lessen the amount of allergens in the air.
Wear a mask outside or inside while you are trying to lessen the pollen or mold indoors.

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Austin, TX

Texas Primary: Breakdown of Texas races

Published

1 day ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Democrats tried to stop a mid-decade redistricting effort, but were unsuccessful. Now, we are starting to see some of the candidates emerging in those newly drawn districts. FOX 7 Austin’s Rudy Koski gives a full breakdown.

Posted March 3, 2026 10:32pm CST

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