Good morning, Texas. Here’s what you need to know today.
Your Weather Planner
Our holiday week kicks off very warm as temperatures will surge into the 70s and 80s statewide. Each morning will feature clouds for most areas before giving way to more sunshine in the afternoon. Christmas is looking dry and warm with highs approaching record territory for some.
Get your 7-day forecast: Austin | San Antonio | Dallas
Introducing Spectrum News+
Watch the latest news and more local stories from across the country.
Around Texas
1. Most Texans will travel by car this holiday season, AAA projects
Friday kicked off the first day of winter holiday travel, and it’s expected to break records.
AAA is predicting 122 million Americans will travel this season. That’s higher than pre-pandemic levels and an increase from last year’s record by more than 2%. Texas could make up 9 million of this year’s holiday travelers, with 90% traveling by car. It’s an increase from last year as well.
2. Grapevine ranks as the best Christmas town in U.S.
The Dallas suburb of Grapevine, Texas, has been ranked as the best Christmas town in the United States.
Designated as the “Christmas Capital of Texas” by the Texas Senate in 2009, the town sees 2 million visitors throughout the year with over 40 days of Christmas celebrations, according to its website.
3. Austin program aims to keep drunk drivers off the road at the holidays
The holiday season is a time to celebrate, but with fun comes responsibility, which includes coming up with a plan not to end up behind the wheel after having alcohol. A program in Austin is aimed at deterring people from drinking and driving, and one woman hopes other cities will follow its lead.
Erin Crawford-Bowers poses with a photograph from when she was six months old along with her parents and older brother. It was taken before a head-on crash caused by a drunk driver that killed both of her parents and injured Crawford-Bowers, leaving her with a lifetime of chronic pain. This is the only family photo that was taken of the four of them together. (Spectrum News 1/Geraldine Torrellas-Piñero)
Around The Nation
1. TSA offers holiday travel tips as millions prepare to fly
2. What you need to know about keeping your pets safe over the holidays
3. Navigating grief during the holiday season
Deep in the Heart of Texas
Guests arrive at the annual Trail of Lights at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas on Dec. 16, 2023. (Spectrum News 1/Christine Sanchez)
Austin’s Trail of Lights named one of the best Christmas displays in the U.S.
The long-running Zilker Park tradition is in its 60th year and boasts a whopping 2 million light bulbs that stretch across 2.5 miles of park and make up over 70 unique displays.