AUSTIN (KXAN) — Multiple outages were reported in the Central Texas area beginning Tuesday as high winds moved through the area.
Wind gusts were reported at 30-50 miles per hour, and the National Weather Service (NWS) called the fire conditions “potentially historic,” according to the KXAN First Warning Weather Team.
The live blog is actively being updated.
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
1:50 p.m.
Oncor reported 68 customers were affected in Williamson County, with 8 active outages.
Austin Energy reported 11 active outages, with 84 affected customers.
1:25 p.m.
Oncor reported that 67 customers were affected in Williamson County, with 7 active outages.
Austin Energy reported 10 active outages, with 59 affected customers.
12:45 p.m.
Oncor reported 68 customers were affected in Williamson County, with 8 active outages.
“Oncor employees have continued to assess damage, repair equipment and restore power to customers impacted by Tuesday’s severe storm system and following high winds. These efforts are ongoing in 16-hour, around-the-clock shifts,” Oncor said.
Austin Energy reported 13 active outages, with 66 affected customers.
12:20 p.m.
Austin Energy reported 14 active outages, with 199 affected customers.
12:05 p.m.
Oncor reported 80 customers were affected in Williamson County, with 9 active outages. The latest estimated restoration time for customers was pushed back to 11 p.m.
Austin Energy reported 17 active outages, with 81 affected customers.
10:00 a.m.
Austin Energy said it still estimated power would be restored by Wednesday evening.
“Our crews are now tackling more complex and time-consuming outages affecting smaller groups of customers,” AE said. “As our crews continue to assess the system, there may be damage to customer-owned equipment. Crews will leave behind a door hanger indicating the type of damage and information about next steps.”
8:00 a.m.
Oncor reported that 101 customers were affected in Williamson County, with 22 active outages. The utility said the latest estimated restoration time for customers was 3 p.m.
Austin Energy reported 34 active outages, with 314 affected customers.
7:15 a.m.
Oncor reported that 346 customers were affected in Williamson County.
Austin Energy reported 36 active outages, with 386 affected customers.
6:30 a.m.
Oncor reported that 323 customers were affected in Williamson County.
Austin Energy reported 30 active outages, with 372 affected customers.
5:45 a.m.
Oncor reported that 323 customers were affected in Williamson County.
Austin Energy reported 33 active outages, with 396 affected customers.
“All available crews are in service and working as quickly and safely as possible,” AE said.
AE crews worked throughout the night, and the utility said it expects most outages to be restored by Thursday evening.
5:33 a.m.
TCSO said 20909 Engelmann Ln. was closed due to downed power lines on the roadway.
“Please seek an alternate route and do not drive around barricades,” TCSO said.
5:15 a.m.
Oncor estimated restoration would be substantially complete by Thursday night, weather permitting.
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
10:20 p.m.
Oncor reported 551 customers affected in Williamson County, with 79 active outages.
10:15 p.m.
Austin Energy crews continue working to restore power to customers affected by the high winds throughout the day in Austin, the agency said on social media. Around 3,800 customers remained without power around 9:40 p.m., AE said.
“At the peak of this event, about 31,000 customers were affected,” the agency said.
According to AE, most of the outages will not be restored until Wednesday evening. Those remaining outages “will likely affect a small number of customers,” the agency said.
“These are often complex or time-consuming issues, and getting to each one will take more time,” AE said.
The agency said it reached out to customers “who are expected to be without power overnight.”
8:47 p.m.
Oncor reported 668 customers affected in Williamson County, with 88 active outages.
8:45 p.m.
Austin Energy reported 3,728 affected customers, with 116 active outages.
8:40 p.m.
The Williamson County Office of Emergency Management gave a recap on social media, saying around 10,000 home were without power, and a storage unit was damaged by straight-line winds.
6:50 p.m.
Oncor reported 1,699 customers affected, with 84 active outages.
6:47 p.m.
Austin Energy reported 10,805 affected customers, with 117 active outages.
6:45 p.m.
KXAN’s Sam Stark gave an update from an east Austin neighborhood on a downed power line.
6:40 p.m.
KXAN’s Kevin Baskar gives a live update on the wind damages in Burnet County due to high winds in Central Texas.
5:30 p.m.
The Austin Community College Elgin campus said it is closing early due to a power outage.
“Only agriculture classes on the campus will continue on their regular schedules. All other classes, work, and activities at Elgin are canceled for the remainder of the day. No other campuses are affected,” a spokesperson for ACC said in a statement.
ACC said updates will be posted to the ACC website and the district’s social media pages.
5:25 p.m.
Power is progressively returning for Austin Energy customers. Currently, around 17,200 customers are without power — that’s 3% of customers.
5:15 p.m.
KXAN’s Sam Stark gave a live report in our newscast at 5 about a power outage affecting an east Austin neighborhood.
4:25 p.m.
Austin Energy is reporting 31,060 customers affected, with 148 active outages.
4 p.m.
Oncor is reporting 4,620 customers affected in Williamson County, with 107 active outages.
3:50 p.m.
KXAN photojournalist Ed Zavala captured video of Austin police, the Austin Fire Department and utility crews in Cherrywood in east Austin responding to a downed power line.
3:30 p.m.
Austin Energy is reporting 26,270 customers affected with 124 active outages.
3:29 p.m.
The high winds are causing traffic signals across the city to go dark or go into an all-red flash, the city of Austin Transportation and Public Works Department said on social media. Drivers should consider all-red flashing signals as an all-way stop, the city said. Additionally, drivers should watch for crews, as well as proceed with caution.
2:45 p.m.
Austin Energy is reporting 20,982 customers affected with 109 active outages.
2:30 p.m.
Austin Energy is reporting 18,238 customers affected with 95 active outages
