Austin Braces for Severe Thunderstorms With Hail, Damaging Winds and Flood Risk

Central Texas, including Austin, faces severe weather on Friday as a robust cold front approaches, bringing the risk of intense storms. The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Travis, Williamson, Hays, and Burnet counties until 8 p. m. Heavy rainfall, winds up to 60 mph, and hail potentially reaching baseball size are expected. The Austin Independent School District has canceled all after-school activities, prioritizing student safety amid the storm threat.

Meteorologist Chris Morris warned residents to avoid flooded roads, advising, "Turn around, don’t drown. " Flash flooding is a growing concern, particularly in low-lying areas. Residents are encouraged to stay updated via local emergency management channels and to prepare for potential power outages. Access to real-time flood information is available through ATXFloods. com and the LCRA’s HydroMet system.