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Top Morning Stories August 29, 2011

Sunday's high temperature of 112 tied Austin's hottest temperature ever since record keeping began.
Photo by KUT News.
Sunday's high temperature of 112 tied Austin's hottest temperature ever since record keeping began.

Austin Ties for Hottest Temperature

How did you stay cool yesterday? Austin tied the highest temperature it has ever seen Sunday. The high of 112 at Camp Mabry tied the record set in September 2000. Central Texas is under a heat advisory until nine tonight.  Highs today are expected to be near 107. YNN Meteorologist Adam Krueger has more on the historic heat in his weather blog.

Electricity Use Expected to Hit Another Record

Chances are you've been cranking down your AC. ERCOT, the electric grid operator for most of the state, is expecting to hit a new all-time peak demand record for electricity use today or tomorrow.  From an ERCOT statement:

We can’t stress this enough; we need everyone to conserve electricity from 3-7 p.m. If every person in ERCOT does a little, it makes a huge difference."

Shelter Animals Living in Heat

The Austin Humane Society says a city electrical transformer blew early Sunday causing their air conditioning unit to break. The cats and dogs are living without air conditioning right now (can you imagine?!). All pet adoptions are free today. You can see pictures of the animals and get more info here.

Level Orange Ozone Watch

Central Texas is under an Ozone Watch. Ozone levels are forecast to be high today. Children, the elderly and people with chronic lung conditions are advised to limit outdoor activity. The CLEAN AIR Force of Central Texas recommends reducing air pollution emissions by:

  • Limiting your driving
  • Riding the bus
  • Avoid idling
  • Put gas after 6 p.m.