Smoke From Surrounding Areas Creeping Downtown
@austintexasgov is confirming that the smoke you're inhaling downtown today is just blowover from surrounding counties, not indicative of any fires in our immediate, central Austin area. The National Weather Service has explained that "the current smoke problems are from an inversion in the atmosphere that is keeping smoke low to the ground." KVUE's Albert Ramon explains here.
We Made It! 70 Days Above 100
Today we break the city record for the most triple-digit-days in a year, beating the 69 days over 100 in 1925. Can you imagine what such hot weather would have been like in the '20s without so much air-conditioning available? In related news, KUT played a neat piece by Ruth Pennebaker this morning on the heat and how we Texans react to it.
Even This Terrifying Texan Armadillo Can't Stand the Heat
YouTube user Backdraft06 says, "We haven't had rain here in Texas in months ... It is so hot & so dry down here that this baby armadillo bravely came straight over to us for a drink of water out of the hose!!" Cute, but seriously, armadillos are terrifying.
Summer Temperatures Could Outdo 2009
With temperatures already hitting the triple digits, it's proving to be a scorcher of a...spring?
Tumblr Showcases Thundercloud Images from Last Night
Check out Cloudy Cloud Calculator, a new Tumblr that showcases all the images you probably saw in your Facebook and Twitter feeds last night. The Thundercloud that rolled across town inspired hundreds of you to step outside and take photos, and you can see some of the most compelling captures right here.
Snow Brings City to a Standstill, Pretty Much
You can find a list of cancellations and closings here, but as the City of Austin is recommending that you not get out on the roads unless you absolutely have to, most likely you don't have to go to work today. A large portion of IH-35 between San Marcos and San Antonio is shut down (as are many other highways around San Antonio) due to the sleet/snow mixture that hit our state overnight. There have already been a couple of fatal accidents in our area due to the messy roads.
Rolling Blackouts Ease, but Watch Your Energy Usage
You or someone you know was likely affected by the statewide rolling blackouts earlier today. As of this afternoon, ERCOT has lifted the mandate on energy providers to limit power consumption, so the outages should be fewer and farther between. Austin's Emergency Operations Center requests that residents watch their power consumption, as this frigid weather will be with us for the rest of the week. Also -- keep an eye out for traffic light outages, and treat them as four way stops. [Austin Energy's Posterous]
![Alex Update [Storm Watch]](http://austinist.com/assets_c/2010/07/alexjul1am-thumb-105x105-524011.jpg)
Alex Update [Storm Watch]
Hurricane Alex made landfall last night along the northeastern coast of Mexico, about 110 miles south of Brownsville. It has since been downgraded to a tropical storm.
Storm Watch: Hurricane Alex
The main body of Alex is on a path towards the Gulf coast, just south of the Texas-Mexico border -- a path that would at the least bring efforts to contain and clean-up the BP oil disaster to a stop.
Making matters worse, the system could make it to Category 2 status.
![Can You Have A Current Events Hangover? We've Recently Had A Lot of News Here in Austin [Extra Extra]](http://austinist.com/assets_c/2010/02/4367207011_fe8607f403_m-thumb-105x105-483135.jpg)
Can You Have A Current Events Hangover? We've Recently Had A Lot of News Here in Austin [Extra Extra]
- Man, this Austin “winter” weather is freaky! From sunburn on Sunday to possible snow on Tuesday. What up, sunshine?
- If you are supporting Kay Bailey Hutchison in the Governor’s race, you might want to get to an early voting location. Polls show she’s trailing Perry in the primary.
- Waco Dentist Kent Starr is very aware that former Whitewater prosecutor Ken Starr will be moving to Central Texas.
Record-breaking Snowfall in DFW
Snow in the Dallas area began to taper off Friday, though a winter storm warning remains in effect. The moderately chaotic winter weather comes at a time when the east coast is returning to normal after its own stormy conditions.
This Snow Hype Might Be Getting Out of Hand [Snapshot]
We're pretty sure it's not that cold, robots. [Weather.com hour-by-hour forecast of downtown Austin, taken 3 p.m.]
All Lanes of IH35 Closed Near Jarrell [Flooded Roads]
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]
Perry Issues Imminent Disaster Proclamation [Wildfires]
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]
Tropical Wave Over Caribbean May Upgrade To First Storm of Summer 2009
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.
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