Winter freeze: Icy roads, power outages and school closures

Austin is feeling the hit of the rare winter weather just one day into the storm with multiple collisions reported, power outages and school closures.

Central Texas is under a Winter Weather Advisory until midnight on Friday due to the rainy, icy and cold conditions all across the region. Austinites can expect to see 1/4 inch of ice accumulation; the National Weather Service is advising people to stay home and off the roads.

Starting on Thursday morning, ice began to form on the roads, leading to multiple collisions, including a 26-car pileup on North State Highway 45 near Parmer Lane which sent 5 people to the hospital. Later that evening in the same area, there was a six-car collision.

If you must drive, this map shows where icy roads are.

Power outages across the city followed suit Thursday, and by 4:30 p.m., more than 25,000 Austinites were without power due to the wintery weather, Austin Energy tweeted.

Much of the outage occured around 183 and Braker Lane, with more than 6,000 power outages, and the Wells Branch area of town, with more than 5,000 people without power.

Austin Energy said crews are currently working to restore power.

Schools have announced delays and cancellations. Austin ISD will conduct class remotely on Friday, while Leander ISD and Del Valle ISD will be remote on Friday as well.

Additionally, cold weather shelters will open Thursday at 6 p.m., providing shelter for both single adults and families.

Make sure to wrap your pipes and get your house ready for a freezing week!

More on the cold weather:

Arctic Austin: How to protect yourself and your home in freezing weather