Results tagged “weather”

• The uninsured are more likely to have Republican or Blue Dog representatives in Congress.
• The Southeast floods; 8 people lose their lives.
• Obama at the UN to talk about climate today.

Currently all lanes of IH35 at mile marker 280 between Jarrell and Salado (at the Bell/Williamson county line) are closed because of flooding. KXAN reports that the access roads have also been closed. This area north of Austin has reportedly received 10 inches of rain since last night. [Statesman on Twitter]

• President Obama spoke at the Pentagon in today's remembrance ceremony.
• New allegations that US Embassy guards took part in sex trafficking.
• Flash flood warnings issued for Central Texas.

Governor Rick Perry issued a disaster proclamation yesterday afternoon due to the looming threat of wildfires across much of the state. The proclamation grants the state the power to activate all "essential resources" in fighting potential fires. “As continued drought conditions have made the threat of wildfires a reality, the state is assisting in battling these fires, and we will continue to provide the necessary resources to protect our communities,” said Perry. “I urge all Texans to use extreme care in outdoor activities, be aware of burn bans in their counties, and take precautions to protect their homes and property while these conditions persist.” Affected counties include Travis, Williamson, and Bexar. [Governor.State.TX.US]

The tropical wave captured in the above satellite image is currently hovering over the western Caribbean Sea near Cuba, and if things escalate, it may turn into our first tropical storm for the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season.

• Tornado watch for Travis County until 9pm
• 81st legislature passed its first bill (finally): Rep. Dawnna Dukes' film incentives bill.
• State Senate approves scaling back the top 10% rule.

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Travis, Burnet, and Western Williamson County until 5:45 p.m. tonight. Concurrently, a tornado watch is in effect until 9 p.m. that spans most of Central Texas. Egg-sized hail has been reported in Horseshoe Bay, and the storm is moving quickly eastward.

• Eight people killed as tornadoes sweep through Oklahoma
• CEOs of nation's banks expect grilling before Congress
• Negotiations intensify on final stimulus plan

Storm system that brought tornadoes to OK this afternoon is headed our way. Two women robbed a man in his North Austin apartment and attacked him with a frying pan and knife; one of them has been arrested. Speaker Straus making House committee assignments this week. Texas Medical Association joins class-action lawsuit against CIGNA and Aetna Insurance companies. AMD not able to reach shareholder quorum on spinoff vote. Peanut Corporation of America suspends operations at its Plainview plant after the salmonella outbreak. Obama Interior Sec. Salazar scraps W's offshore drilling plan.

The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory for Central Texas lasting from 6 p.m. until midnight tonight, with expected winds of 25-35 mph and gusts of up to 45 mph. "Winds this strong can make driving difficult ... especially for high-profile vehicles," says the NWS. As the blustery conditions may bring some "very dry air," there's also a red flag fire warning in effect through 5 p.m. tomorrow afternoon. Meanwhile, scattered thunderstorms are expected throughout the rest of the day. [Weather.com]

• House to vote on Obama's economic stimulus plan
• After suspension for nodding at Obama, drum major quits
• Rabbit Remembered: Pulitzer-winning author John Updike dies at 76

• Winter storm warning update
• Weather closings and postponements (will keep updating)
• On Perry's State of the State speech today. . .

Freescale will cut 90 jobs in March. Texas Instruments to cut 1,800 jobs. Austin's Capital Area Food Bank makes an appearance in WaPo article on how best to serve the hungry. Bikers visit Capitol today to protest helmet laws. wo Pflugerville students accused of hacking into the district's system Today's fog factored in to almost two dozen crashes. The misty weather is also blamed for power outages in various areas of town. Federal court grants stay of execution to Texas inmate Larry Swearingen, who had been scheduled for execution tomorrow.

The National Weather Service has issued a Special Weather Statement for Travis County indicating that a cold front carrying "frigid arctic air" is headed our way. Freezing rain and winds of 10 to 20 mph are likely, but temperatures probably won't dip below 32° at night. [Weather on Austinist]

Gov. Perry wants you to "choose life" (license plates). Speaking of Perry, as of tomorrow afternoon he will be Texas' longest serving governor ever. And he can run again in 2010! This morning's fog blamed for at least 75 area accidents. Former Dallas mayor Ron Kirk to be named as US Trade Representative under Obama. More controversy in the Pedernales CoOp inquiry. Texas names its first Hispanic chief of the Texas Rangers; he's also the youngest ever. Caterpillar bringing a plant down to Seguin.

Temperatures across Central Texas are expected to dip into the high 20s tonight, with the National Weather Service already having issued a winter weather advisory of freezing rains. Be careful when driving across bridges and overpasses, as they tend to accumulate ice. [Weather.com] [National Weather Service]

maczter/flickr
• A suspicious substance found in a letter mailed to Gov. Rick Perry was found to be non-hazardous
• Expect a hard freeze tonight, but no replay of last night's snowfall
• "Day Without a Gay" rally this afternoon at City Hall

Tonight's snowy conditions won't last long, but the cold front is expected to stick around at least through Thursday. Jim Spencer at KXAN reports that today saw record daytime highs of over 80 degrees, which contrasts nicely with tonight's near-freezing lows. Enjoy the flurries while they're around, and share your flickr photos with us by tagging them 'austinist'.

It's hard to tell from today's perfect autumn weather, but forecasters are predicting that another cold front is headed our way this week. Weather.com and News 8 Austin both show temperatures in the high 30s tonight and dipping below freezing point tomorrow evening. News 8 Austin also hints that "some" computer models are calling for possible snow next week, but we're unconvinced. [Weather.com for 78704] [News 8 Austin]

took one of the most wretched shits of my life inside a Chinese toilet in the Forbidden City in the center of Beijing, where the only toilet paper to be found within four square miles was in my treacherous memory and the air was thick with the scent of dodged death and heavy with a Marlboro Reds haze.

Hurricane Ike was still over 150 miles away from Galveston this afternoon and already generating surges 8-feet-tall and rising. The Category 2 hurricane, which has an unusually large footprint, is still expected to escalate to a level 3 status before it makes landfall sometime Saturday morning.

Steve, the father of my young, hot boyfriend Warren, lives in Houston. Warren asked Steve if he was going to come up here to avoid Hurricane Ike , which looks to be heading straight for the Texas coast, prompting major evacuation. Steve told Warren he’s not going anywhere, that we should come to Houston. Warren explained he’s got his hands full with Hurricane Spike, so we’re staying put, too. So, okay, I guess the comparison is fair—at times. Let’s see, Hurricane Spike has been known to blow into a room at gusts of up to 120 mph. And sometimes massive downpours fall from her eyes, since she’s a sensitive artist and all that. Plus, having been raised in hurricanes her first eighteen years probably had more than a little influence.

• Surfside Beach's last offer of escape before Ike hits land.
• Some Galveston residents linger as storm nears.
• 13 shelters open as evacuees continue to flow into Austin area.

It seems that the projected path for Hurricane Ike moved eastward overnight. Now instead of being smack in the middle of the path (as was projected yesterday), Austin appears to be on the farthest west edge of the path as Ike aims for Galveston. The hurricane is still expected to hit the Texas coast late Friday night and leave Austin residents with, at the least, a rainy weekend.

• Texas prepares for Ike.
• The lipstick controversy continues....
• So, Bin Laden wasn't the mastermind of 9/11? White House can't decide.

With the eye of the storm now out of Cuba and into the Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Ike has the potential to strengthen severely before hitting somewhere along the Texas coast.

Currently pummeling Cuba with sub-80-mph winds, Hurricane Ike is expected to enter the Gulf of Mexico later today, most likely picking up momentum and intensity as it heads towards Texas. It's anticipated to hit the Texas coast on Friday or Saturday.

Uncle Sam takes guardianship of Fannie and Freddie Cuba: We Don't Like Ike We can put a man on the moon, but what's the deal with these damn elections? Kim Jong Il: For real? Palin, Gibson. Gibson, Palin. OMG it's BRITNEY Y'ALL! Judge: Don't come in here like BRITNEY, Y'ALL!

Bush visited Austin yesterday, commended Texas for our state's emergency preparations. Mandatory evacuation orders lifted for Jefferson, Orange and Hardin counties in Southeast Texas. Evacuees taking shelter from Gustav in Austin eager to return home. Two Central Texas employers announced job cuts today.