This story has been updated to add video and photo gallery.

This winter’s harshest Arctic blast so far is coursing through Texas, stymying everyday functions like school, work, and travel. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is already among the airports with the highest number of cancellations in the world today, and other airports across the state are not faring much better.

For Austinites, Tuesday morning started with sleet and snow accumulations ranging from half an inch to 2 inches, according to the National Weather Service. Moreover, this winter storm cell has necessitated a winter storm warning that is in effect until 6 p.m. Tuesday. There is also a cold weather advisory in place until noon Wednesday as temperatures are expected to get as low as 23 degrees. 

As for what this means for Austin’s airport, the organization has spent years preparing for storms like this. Despite the surge in cancellations, Austin is actually performing better than other Texas metropolises in terms of airfare on Tuesday.

From cancellations in Austin to full closures in Houston, here’s what to know about what travel will look like in the next few days across Texas. 

Austin’s airport weathering the storm amid mass cancellations

At the time of writing Austin-Bergstrom International Airport has seen 69 total flights cancelled, or 16 percent of all flights, and 71 flights delayed — about 12 percent of all flights. These numbers rank Austin’s airport eighth in the world for origin airport cancellations on January 21, according to FlightAware. 

More: Live updates: See Austin road conditions, school closures and more as winter weather hits

While Austin-Bergstrom has remained open it the airport was forced to curb services because of the cold weather. 

“Due to weather conditions, all parking trams are temporarily suspended. Please walk carefully to the terminal, as icy surfaces may exist,” the ABIA said in a social media post. 

The top airlines that are seeing cancellations and delays at Austin’s airport are Southwest Airlines, with 25 cancellations and 42 delays; United Airlines with 16 cancellations and one delay; and SkyWest Airlines with 12 cancellations and five delays.

Other Texas airports are struggling with the weather as both Bush and Hobby close

Five of the airports with the most cancellations by origin airport in the world today are located in Texas. Most notably, both of Houston’s commercial airports have completely closed in what is a stunning move. 

This means the top two airports affected by cancellations in the world are Bush Intercontinental Airport and Hobby International Airport in Houston. These two airports alone have generated a staggering 1,247 total cancellations, according to data from FlightAware. 

In preparation for the weather, Houston had preemptively closed multiple overpasses around its airports. However, the weather was too extreme, and operations were forced to stop.

“Flight operations are temporarily suspended and our dedicated teams remain on site preparing for a safe return to operations as soon as weather conditions allow. We will provide updates as they become available,” Bush Airport said in a social media statement.

At the time of writing both Bush and Hobby remain closed. These mass cancellations are expected to have a cascading effect on air travel in the coming days, but neither airport has commented on how this will be handled. 

Elsewhere in the Lone Star State Dallas, Fort Worth and San Antonio are all scrambling to maintain operations. 

Dallas-Fort Worth International has seen 189 total cancellations while San Antonio International has seen 69 total cancellations at the time of writing. 

Nationwide, Southwest and United are left holding the bag as they are the airlines with the most canceled flights, accounting for more than 900 canceled flights combined.

Beck Andrew Salgado covers trending topics in the Austin business ecosystem for the American-Statesman. To share additional tips or insights with Salgado, email Bsalgado@gannett.com.

AUSTIN, Texas – A winter storm has brought snow to Central Texas.

Snow and sleet in Austin area

The backstory:

Snow fell in Austin and across the southeastern portions of the FOX 7 Austin viewing area. 

The majority of the snow began falling at around 2 a.m. to 3 a.m.

The whole system is expected to be out of the area before 9 a.m. 

You may still see isolated light snow showers in the late morning, but the main event will be done. 

Why you should care:

Roads will continue to be slick and slippery. 

A Winter Weather Advisory remains for Blanco, Burnet, Gillespie and Llano Counties until 6 p.m.

Bastrop, Fayette and Lee Counties are under a Winter Weather Warning until 6 p.m. as well.

Timeline:

9 a.m. – Most of the snow will be out of the area

10 a.m. – Temperatures expected to get above freezing 

Afternoon to Early Evening – With the higher temperatures (the high today will be 40 degrees) any snow on the ground will begin to melt and help improve road conditions

7 p.m. – Temperatures will drop below freezing again, so there is potential for refreezing on roads

What’s next:

Expect another cold night, with the low dropping into the low 20s and wind chills dipping into the teens. 

A Cold Weather Advisory still be in place until noon tomorrow (January 22) due to an expected cold morning.

How much snow fell in Austin?

By the numbers:

Most of the areas that saw snow didn’t see that much. 

Here are expected future snow fall totals, in inches, in the area:

• Austin – .1
• Bastrop – .6
• Giddings – .7
• La Grange – .9
• Lockhart – .5
• San Marcos – .3
• Blanco – .1

What you can do:

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.

AUSTIN, Texas – The cold weather is here, and the precipitation is on the way. The Austin-Travis County Emergency Operations Center has been activated.

The artic air is plunging towards Texas.

“We’re expecting a hard freeze at least through Wednesday, Jan. 22, and there’s precipitation that is expected later tonight,” Mayor Watson said.

RELATED STORIES:

Is Austin prepared for winter weather?

What they’re saying:

“We are prepared,” Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said.

City and state officials have been busy.

“What our teams have been doing over the course of the last week is restocking, resupplying our resource staging areas, making sure all of our equipment was ready to go,” Texas Division of Emergency Management Seth Christensen said.

“If you absolutely have to travel, please check official city communications regarding road conditions and any current incidents or road closures. Then, what we do is we suggest that you map out the route that you’re going to take, so that you can avoid areas where there might be black ice that could form like bridges and overpasses,” Mayor Watson said.

Remember the four P’s:

1. People
2. Pipes
3. Plants
4. Pets

“Please check on seniors and other people that cannot leave their houses, make sure that their heaters are working, make sure that they’re staying warm and that their medical needs, if any, are met,” Travis County Judge Andy Brown said.

Why you should care:

The expected precipitation is what could make the roads very dangerous.

“The best thing you can do is stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary,” Mayor Wayson said.

Austin’s Director of Transportation and Public Works said they’ll be treating about 25 percent of the roads in the city.

“The brine solution that will be pre-treating our high priority roadways and elevate structures is very effective at lowering the freezing point of the precipitation,” City of Austin Director of Transportation and Public Works Richard Mendoza said.

“Don’t assume that because we’re doing what I think is and will be a good job of covering the area, that your specific route is one that got covered,” Mayor Watson said.

What is open and closed in Austin?

What we know:

Schools, city and county officials are making it easier for people to stay home. Austin ISD has announced they are closed Tuesday, Jan. 21. The city and county offices are closed for those not providing essential services.

Three warming centers at public libraries are open; the Terrazas Branch, Little Walnut Creek Branch, and Ruiz Branch.

Cold weather shelters are open until at least Wednesday, Jan. 22. The overnight shelter registration happens from 6 to 8 p.m. at One Texas Center on Barton Springs Road.

Capital Metro will not be running after 9 p.m. Monday.

“We want to be sure that we all have a plan and that we’re ready to hunker down as nightfall falls today on Monday night through probably early Wednesday morning,” Christensen said.

If you haven’t already, sign up for emergency notifications at warncentraltexas.org.