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Like recent years, December began with a warm trend in the Austin area. While the Old Famer's Almanac predicts a warmer and drier winter on average, it also warns of occasional cold snaps. As we saw last winter, a warmer start to the season doesn't mean ...

It overwhelmed power plants, fuel supplies and equipment, forcing grid managers to cut electricity to prevent a grid collapse. Millions of Texans lost power, many for days. More than 200 deaths were later linked to the prolonged cold and loss of heat. Billions of dollars in economic damage were reported statewide.