Austin, TX
Winter weather preparations at AUS
In the aviation industry, winter poses unique challenges for airlines and airports. The season can be intense, with a wintry mix of wind, snow, and ice, affecting all forms of travel. This demands meticulous preparation and coordination between the airport, FAA, airlines, and other partners, with one goal in mind: ensure a safe and efficient operation on the ground and in the sky.
At Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), the Department of Aviation is responsible for making sure the airport property, like roadways, runways, and the terminal itself, are prepped and ready to welcome people and planes.
While airlines are responsible for de-icing their aircraft, our teams prepare for and respond to ice accumulation that leads to slippery walkways, roadways, runways, and any other impacts to the airport infrastructure.
Here’s a look at what goes on behind the scenes to maintain the integrity of our airport infrastructure during a winter weather event at AUS:
Ready, set, snow
Once the weather forecast is delivered, usually by the National Weather Service, the AUS Emergency Management team begins prepping and sending out the news for situational awareness among the Department of Aviation. As the weather develops, this team continues to deliver timely and important updates that typically include the expected dates and timeframes of the weather, temperatures, potential risks for personnel/airport operations, freezing patterns, safety tips, and more. This helps key teams like our maintenance teams (Building, Airline, and Airside!), Airside Operations, Terminal Operations, and Guest Services divisions understand what to prepare for.
Runway brr-owsing
While the Department receives these updates, our around-the-clock Airside Operations team is inside and outside of the airport getting down to business.
Here’s what they do:
- Monitor the weather conditions that lead to notices and spreading critical information to teams across the airport.
- Generate reports of the condition of airport runways, taxiways, and aprons, which pilots use to make informed decisions about their landing and takeoff procedures.
- Assess the temperature of our runways.
- Inspect the runways and taxiways for snow and ice accumulation.
- Respond to reports by the arriving pilots about braking on the airfield – if braking is ranked lowed by pilots, within a certain threshold, the runway is closed and the Airside Operations team goes out to inspect it for ice and friction.
- Coordinate the deployment of resources when multiple areas of the airside area are affected.
- Lastly, this team ultimately holds the authority to issue a Notice to Air Mission (NOTAM) that would close the airfield due to safety concerns about managing the severe weather.
One thing super important to know is that it is *very rare* to issue a runway closure. The most recent time this happened, and the only time in recent memory, was due to over 6 inches of actual snow – not just ice – accumulation on the runways during Winter Storm Uri in 2021.
Since then, we’ve invested in dedicated snow removal equipment to keep at least one of our two runways open for flights.
Sn-overnight stay at AUS
During these events, there is a “home base” for employees on the landside and airside teams (and other teams as needed) to stay the night if the weather is bad; there are “bunk rooms” with beds, chargers, and closets. There are also cots and pillows for when those bunk rooms are full. These are the folks tending to the runways, taxiways, roadways, and elevated surfaces used by staff and the public, and of course, need a place to rest without having to get on dangerous roadways. The airport also has sleeping arrangements for passengers in the terminal, should they be stranded.
De-ice, ice, baby
Members from our various Maintenance teams deploy when ice accumulates on the airfield and landside. They tend to the affected, icy area by applying a de-icing chemical known as E 36. Our teams can’t prevent ice from accumulating on the runways or other surfaces; their job is to quickly respond to the ice once it starts to accumulate.
Ice that accumulates on the runways and taxiways as well as ice that accumulates on the airplanes need to be addressed as soon as it occurs, otherwise, it could be dangerous. It’s worth mentioning that the airport is only responsible for de-icing the airfield (runways and taxiways) and roadways, while the airlines are responsible for de-icing the aircraft with their own de-icing chemicals and equipment that they store on-site. AUS is also responsible for applying “Dolomite,” which is a carbon-based mineral anti-icing agent, and sand to roadways and elevated surfaces to create traction and reduce slipping.
Our airport deploys two, very large liquid dispensing trucks to areas (designated by priority, with the runway at the top) to apply a de-icing chemical E 36. The amount of de-icing chemical depends on the severity of the ice accumulation, but typically, hundreds of gallons are applied to the area and that application process is repeated. We hope it gives you great relief to know that our teams have enough de-icing chemicals for the next few years – and since the chemical itself doesn’t have a shelf life and won’t freeze, it’s easy to get a lot of it, store it and then apply it whenever and wherever it’s needed.
As our Maintenance teams are applying the de-icing chemical, our Environmental Affairs team is keeping a close eye on the application of the E 36 to make sure excess fluid is handled properly and to flag for the Maintenance teams if too much E 36 is being used.
In the unlikely, but not impossible, event that our airport receives snow, we have snow removal equipment to plow and remove snow from runways, taxiways, roadways, and more.
Icy conditions? We’re still flyin’ high
The most common question we get during winter weather events is understandably, “is the airport still open??” and the answer is more than likely going to be an emphatic “Yes!” paired with “…but check with your airline for the latest flight information”. Your airline is always going to have the most updated information regarding your flight’s status and how winter weather here in Austin, or in other parts of their route network, may change your flight schedule.
Now that you know what goes on behind the scenes and how our teams prep and respond to ice (and even the rare, uncharacteristic Central Texas snow), we hope you can rest easily knowing that there is a team of hardworking airport professionals working around the clock to keep our airport infrastructure open and ready for you, your airline and your flight.
AUSTIN, Texas – The winter storm has made its way to Central Texas, causing impacts across the region, including to schools.
Some Central Texas school districts have adjusted their operations for Wednesday, Jan. 28, due to road conditions.
You can view the full list below:
School district delays
What we know:
Florence ISD
Florence ISD will be closed on Wednesday, Jan. 28.
Jarrell ISD
All Jarrell ISD campuses will be closed on Wednesday, Jan. 28.
Leander ISD
Leander ISD will operate on a 2-hour delay on Wednesday, Jan. 28, due to lingering freezing temperatures and the potential for icy conditions early in the morning.
St. Mary’s Catholic School
St. Mary’s Catholic School in Taylor will operate on a two-hour delay for Wednesday, Jan. 28.
- 9:30AM: Carline Start
- 10:00AM: Classes Start
The Source: Information from school districts
AUSTIN, Texas — Following a controversial deportation involving a 5-year-old, Austin City Council members and the city’s police chief will hold a community conversation to discuss the police department’s immigration policies.
On Thursday, Feb. 5, Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis, Mayor Pro Tem José “Chito” Vela and Councilmembers Vanessa Fuentes and José Velásquez will host a community conversation on “APD’s policies that impact our immigrant community.” It was originally scheduled for Jan. 26, but it was moved due to icy roads.
The discussion is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. at Govalle Elementary Cafeteria, 3601 Govalle Ave. Spanish interpretation services will be provided. Those interested in attending virtually can RSVP here to receive a Zoom link.
This comes after an Austin mother and her 5-year-old child were deported after the mother called 911 from her home. APD officers called Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on the mother after seeing an “administrative warrant” in a federal database. Following the incident, Austin City Council members released a statement condemning the actions of APD, and APD said they would update their ICE policy.
Nationwide, protests have erupted due to the actions of ICE officials, mainly in Minneapolis, Minn., where incidents like the detention of a father and his 5-year-old son to an immigration facility in Dilley, Texas, and the killings of Renee Nicole Good and VA nurse Alex Pretti by ICE officers have enraged residents.
In response to Pretti’s killing on Saturday, the Austin Immigrant Rights AC will hold a protest on Tuesday, Jan. 27, at 5:30 p.m. at the Texas Capital south entrance. The group had previously held a protest in early January after Good was killed.
AUSTIN, Texas – The winter storm has made its way to Central Texas, causing impacts across the region, including to schools.
Some Central Texas school districts, colleges and universities have adjusted their operations for Tuesday, Jan. 27, due to the arctic blast.
You can view the full list below:
School district closures/delays
What we know:
Austin ISD
All Austin ISD schools and offices will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Austin Community College
ACC will remain closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Bartlett ISD
Bartlett ISD schools and offices will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27, due to unsafe road conditions.
All extracurricular activities are canceled.
Blanco ISD
All Blanco ISD schools will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Brentwood Christian School
Brentwood Christian School will be closed for Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Burnet CISD
All classes, activities, and events scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 27 are canceled.
Champions School of Real Estate
Champions School of Real Estate Austin campus will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Chapparral Star Academy
Chapparral Star Academy will be closed for Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Child Inc Head Start
Child Inc Head Start will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Cedars International Academy Schools
Cedars International Academy Schools will be closed for Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Del Valle ISD
All Del Valle ISD schools and offices will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Dripping Springs ISD
All Dripping Springs ISD campuses are canceled for Tuesday, Jan. 27.
District offices will be closed, as well.
Eanes ISD
All campuses and district offices will be closed for Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Elgin ISD
All campuses will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Florence ISD
Florence ISD will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Fredericksburg ISD
Fredericksburg ISD will be closed Tuesday, January 27.
Georgetown ISD
All Georgetown ISD campuses will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Granger ISD
Granger ISD has canceled school for Tuesday, Jan. 27, due to expected icy road conditions.
All schools will return to normal operations on Wednesday, Jan. 28.
Harper ISD
Harper ISD will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Hays CISD
All schools will remain closed for Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Huston-Tillotson University
Due to ongoing winter weather conditions, Huston-Tillotson University will operate remotely on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Hutto ISD
Hutto ISD has canceled school for Tuesday, Jan. 27, due to continued freezing temperatures and the potential for icy roadways.
Hyde Park Schools
All schools will be closed for Tuesday, Jan. 27.
IDEA Public Schools
IDEA Public Schools Greater Austin Region will be canceling all classes and activities for Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Jarrell ISD
All Jarrell ISD campuses are closed for Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Johnson City ISD
Johnson City ISD will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Lago Vista ISD
All campuses will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27 due to hazardous road conditions from icy and refreezing streets.
Lake Travis ISD
All schools will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27, due to possible road conditions.
Lampasas ISD
Lampasas ISD will remain closed for Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Leander ISD
Leander ISD schools and facilities will remain closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Lexington ISD
Lexington ISD will have a two-hour delayed start on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Buses will run two hours later than normal.
Liberty Hill ISD
Liberty Hill ISD will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27, due to ongoing weather conditions.
Llano ISD
Llano ISD will remain closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Llano Christian Academy
Llano Christian Academy will remain closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27, due to icy roads.
Lockhart ISD
All Lockhart ISD schools will operate on a two-hour delay on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Manor ISD
All schools and offices will remain closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27, due to winter conditions.
Marble Falls ISD
All campuses will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Rockdale ISD
All Rockdale ISD schools and district facilities will remain closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Round Rock ISD
All Round Rock ISD classes and before- and after-school activities are canceled for Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Regents School of Austin
Regents School of Austin will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
San Antonio ISD
San Antonio ISD will reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 27, with a two-hour delayed start for students only.
San Marcos CISD
All San Marcos CISD campuses and offices will operate on a 2-hour delay for Tuesday, Jan. 27.
San Saba ISD
San Saba ISD will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27, due to road conditions.
St. Mary’s Catholic School
St. Mary’s Catholic School in Taylor has decided to remain closed for Tuesday, Jan. 27.
St. Michael’s Prep
St. Michael’s Prep will be closed for Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Southwestern University
Southwestern University has canceled all classes on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Taylor ISD
Taylor ISD schools will remain closed Tuesday, Jan. 27 due to lingering icy conditions and roadways that may refreeze overnight.
Extracurricular activities are canceled or will be rescheduled.
Texas Empowerment Academy
Texas Empowerment Academy will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Texas State Technical College
Texas State Technical College’s Williamson County campus will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Texas State University
The San Marcos campus will operate as normal on Tuesday.
The Round Rock campus will have a delayed start at noon.
The University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin will remain closed through Tuesday, Jan. 27.
The Source: Information from school districts
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