'09 among coldest Decembers on record

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Bridges and flyovers are the first to ice over during a winter storm. Fortunately, Tuesday's storm did not bring the slippery roads with it - just the rain.

Some snow flurries fell in parts of the Hill Country, however, and sleet did bounce off a few metro-area windows.

This rainy day marked the third storm that brought wintry weather in December. This month was been the fifth coldest on record out at Austin Bergstrom International Airport. And it's the coldest December at Camp Mabry in nine years.

Temperatures are running nearly 5 degrees colder than normal.

And don't expect this mild winter storm to be the last of the season.

LCRA Meteorologist Bob Rose said Central Texas is in store for a blast of more wintry weather.

"You do tend to see that better than normal chance of frozen precipitation or snow," said Rose. "I think before winter is over we will see more of these flirts if not an all out period of ice or snow."

Central Texans are likely to see more wintry weather, thanks to a strengthening El Nino .

"The wintry weather somewhat unusual," said Rose. "We don't often tend to see this. The most often times tend to be in El Nino winters like the one we're having where we see this active subtropical jet and cooler temperatures. When you put the two together, you get snow or ice."

No ice is expected Tuesday night in the metro area. Light rain will continue to fall however, with temperatures hovering just above freezing. Hill Country residents who saw sleet and snow Tuesday morning need to use extra caution on the roadways.