AUSTIN (December 10, 2012)--Freezing weather reached parts of Texas Monday as strong winds cut electricity to about 3,000 homes and businesses in central parts of the state.

Austin Energy spokesman Ed Clark says windy conditions caused the outages before dawn Monday.

Clark says about 2,300 customers in Austin lost electricity when a power pole was damaged.

The rest lost power when strong winds blew tree limbs into power lines.

Crews restored service to about two-thirds of those customers by 8 a.m. Monday.

Temperatures dipped into the teens in parts of the Panhandle.

The National Weather Service says light snow associated with the cold front was reported in parts of North Texas, including Decatur, Denton and Fort Worth.

Some schools in the Lubbock area delayed the start of classes Monday because of the weather.

In this part of the state, wind chills were as low as about 20 Monday morning and temperatures aren’t expected to get out of the 40s this afternoon.

The temperature will drop into the lower 20s overnight and forecasters say residents should take steps to protect pets, plants and pipes.

Temple’s Office of Emergency Management has activated two emergency warming centers to provide a temporary warming space to homeless people and distressed residents.

Victory Ministries at 305 South 18th St. will serve as a temporary shelter for men and Humble House at 613 South 7th St. for men, women and children.

The centers will be open from 5 p.m. Monday until 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Highs Tuesday will be only in the 40s and lows Tuesday night will again be in the 20s.

Wind chill readings of about 20 are possible Wednesday morning, but by afternoon the temperature should rise to around 60, forecasters said.