Polar Vortex Moving Out Of Austin; Sunny Skies Ahead

AUSTIN, TX — Austinites will be subjected to another night of below freezing temperatures before the frigid polar vortex finally leaves the area, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasts for the Austin area predict temperatures will drop to around 21 degrees on Friday night before warming up in the week ahead.

Saturday will bring with it sunny skies and a high of 52 degrees, according to the NWS. In the week ahead, temperatures are expected to climb as high as 73 degrees.

After reaching consecutive high temperatures of 61 degrees on Sunday and Monday, the Austin area will see temperatures climb to 66 degrees on Tuesday, according to the NWS. The week's high will come on Wednesday, as sunny skies bring the temperature up to a balmy 73 degrees.

By Thursday, showers and storms will reenter the forecast, and temperatures will climb to around 64 degrees.

Throughout the week, overnight lows are expected to hover between 36 and 50 degrees.

Even with the threat of freezing weather in the past, utility providers in Austin will continue to grapple with outages across the city throughout the week.

Austin Water on Friday said it expects repairs to be "a multi-day long process" that will begin with refilling the city's reservoir and providing clean, drinkable water to hospitals and other essential services.

From there, it will reopen various water mains to examine water infrastructure for leaks and test water samples before restoring service to the city at large.

Austin's residents on Friday remained under a boil water advisory after a power outage at a water treatment plant led to a loss of water pressure and potentially contaminated drinking water.

It is unclear when the boil water advisory will be lifted.

Related: Austin Water Update: Restoration Could Take Several Days

Austin Energy said its crews also worked overnight on Thursday to bring the total number of customers without power to approximately 18,000.

Moving forward, the electricity provider said it must work to repair issues like felled trees that have taken down power lines and fused lines that must be replaced. Austin Energy said repairs will take "several more days to get everyone back online."

Austin Energy’s outage map indicates over 1,000 customers were without power in the residential area near Bright Leaf Preserve as of late Friday morning.

Other pockets of between 101 and 1,000 customers without power were also visible throughout the Austin metro area, including near Crestview, Georgian Acres, the North Loop, University Hills, and the area near Walter E. Long metropolitan Park.

Austin Energy said some residents who are experiencing an outage that is not represented on the map might be affected by an issue like a downed power line. Customers whose outages are not shown on the map are asked to call 512-322-9100.

"We know some of you have been without power for days, and it has created hardships and extreme frustration," Austin Energy said on social media. "Please know we are working 24/7 and as quickly [and] safely as we can to restore power to everyone."