- Life-threatening flooding risk: Back-to-back storms are dumping heavy rain across the state, with forecasters warning of flash flooding, rockslides, and mudslides near steep terrain.
- Historic Sierra snow: Higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada could see up to 8 feet of snow, creating impossible travel conditions and whiteout extremes through midweek.
- Evacuation Warnings issued: Los Angeles officials have issued evacuation warnings for neighborhoods in burn scars, including the Palisades, Sunset, and Hurst areas, due to the imminent risk of landslides and debris flows.
- Damaging wind gusts: A High Wind Warning is in effect with southwest winds of 30 to 50 mph and gusts potentially screaming up to 70 mph, threatening to down trees and power lines.
- Severe weather threat: Waterspouts and brief, weak tornadoes will be possible, particularly across the LA Basin.
- Major travel disruptions: Expect widespread road closures, including Topanga Canyon Boulevard, and significant delays at major hubs like LAX and SFO as the storm peaks on Presidents Day.
While 8 to 10 feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada sounds like a lot to shovel, for the rest of California and the West, it is exactly what the doctor ordered.
After a record-breaking snow drought left the mountains looking more like early spring than mid-winter, this week's massive storm is providing a critical rescue for our water future.
Before this storm hit, the West was in a dire situation. Just last week, snow cover across the western U.S. was roughly one-third of what it typically is for mid-February. Some parts of the West were seeing snowpack levels as bad as they have been in recorded history for this time of year.
The Sierra snowpack normally provides about 30% of California’s water needs. Without a significant winter deposit in this mountain bank account, the state faces much higher risks of drought and water shortages in the summer.
By the beginning of February, statewide snowpack in California had plummeted to just 56% to 59% of average for the date. Water managers keep a close eye on April 1, which is when the snowpack usually peaks.
Every day it doesn't snow, that average drops further. This week’s series of storms are a massive step toward catching back up to normal levels before the spring melt begins.
Snow isn't just about what we drink; it’s also about protecting forests. A deep, healthy snowpack acts as a slow-release watering system, keeping the ground and vegetation moist well into the summer.
When snow disappears too early, the landscape dries out faster, which can kick-start an early and more intense wildfire season. This 8-foot blanket of snow helps keep that risk at bay for longer.
This week’s storm is more than just a winter wonderland; it’s a vital lifeline for California's farms, cities, and ecosystems.
{{#rendered}}PSE&G says thousands of its customers are without power right now as a powerful storm slams California.
According to PowerOutage.com, the worst outages are occurring in Calaveras County where more than 3,000 customers are without electricity right now.
Heavy rain and gusty winds pounded northern California late Sunday and early Monday. California Highway Patrol reports some trees were downed and roads were flooded following the storm.
Flooding reports are coming into the FOX Forecast Center after hours of heavy rain have hammered California. The rain is expected to continue through the day, which could lead to additional flooding across the state.
{{#rendered}}Travelers at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) are facing significant disruptions as a powerful storm forces the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to slow operations.
The FAA has implemented a ground delay program for arriving traffic due to low ceilings, rain, and gusty winds. Average delays are near 30 minutes, but some incoming flights are now seeing delays exceeding 2 to 4 hours.
Dozens of flights have already been delayed today and that number is expected to increase through the day.
People along the Central Coast this morning should keep an eye on the horizon. The FOX Forecast Center is tracking weak showers moving north toward western Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.
While these showers aren't producing much lightning, meteorologists are seeing just enough "spin" in the atmosphere to allow for brief, weak waterspouts and sudden, damaging wind gusts along the shore.
These showers are moving within a plume of warm air ahead of a much larger storm front that is set to bring heavy rain and high winds to the region today.
The threat is mostly right at the coastline and isn't expected to move far inland over the next few hours. Because this is a very localized and short-lived setup, the Storm Prediction Center isn't planning to issue a widespread Tornado or Severe Thunderstorm Watch for this specific threat.
{{#rendered}}California is bracing for a powerhouse weather event this Monday as a "significant and dangerous" storm sweeps across the state. While heavy rain and snow are grabbing headlines, the FOX Forecast Center is tracking a surge of damaging winds that could bring life to a standstill from the coast to the high desert.
The latest exclusive FOX Weather Model data highlights a widespread threat of intense gusts through Tuesday. Peak gusts between 60–100 mph are possible for higher elevations and mountain passes, where dangerous winds will create major to impossible travel conditions.
Los Angeles, San Diego, and Palm Springs are forecast to see gusts in the 50–60 mph range, powerful enough to down tree limbs and trigger isolated power outages.
High Wind Warnings and Wind Advisories are in effect for the state, warning residents to be on guard for falling trees, power lines, flying debris, and property damage.
Los Angeles is entering a significant and dangerous weather period as a series of storms takes aim at the Southland. The National Weather Service has placed the region on high alert for heavy rain that could trigger flash flooding and debris flows through the workweek.
Because of the heavy rainfall rates—expected to exceed 0.5 inches per hour—officials have issued a Flood Watch for a wide swath of LA County. Evacuation warnings are currently in effect for those living near recent burn scars, such as the Palisades and Sunset Fire areas, where the risk of mudslides is significantly elevated.
A powerful storm is currently strengthening over Southern California, and while that sounds like just another rainy day, there is some serious science making this one particularly dangerous.
Conditions are expected to rapidly deteriorate over the coming hours. Right now, the atmosphere is shifting from providing a beneficial rain to posing a genuine flood hazard. As significant moisture surges toward the California coast, the rain amounts and intensities will increase through the day.
The biggest concern isn't just how much rain falls, but how fast it comes down. We are expecting rates of 0.5 to 0.75 inches per hour, with some spots seeing up to 1 inch locally.
Anything over 0.30 inches per hour is considered "heavy" rain. A rate of 1 inch per hour is intense enough to overwhelm storm drains and fill neighborhood streets faster than they can drain.
The storm is slamming into the Transverse Ranges—mountain chains like the San Gabriels and Santa Monicas that run east-to-west. When moist air hits these mountains, it is forced upward in a process called orographic lift. This acts like "wringing out a sponge," causing much heavier rain on the mountain slopes than at the coast. This is why mountain areas could see 3–5 inches of total rain today while coastal areas see 1–2 inches.
If you live near an area recently hit by wildfires, like the Sunset or Palisades fire zones, you are at the highest risk. Burned soil becomes water-repellant, acting more like pavement than dirt.
It only takes about 0.5 inches of rain in an hour to trigger a debris flow—a fast-moving landslide of mud, rocks, and trees. These are unpredictable and can move faster than a person can run.
The worst of the rain and the peak flash flood risk are expected to reach the Los Angeles Metro area after 10:00 a.m. PT and linger into early Tuesday.
{{#rendered}}While California is better known for its sunshine and seismic activity, a rare winter severe weather threat is taking center stage today. As a powerful storm funnels deep moisture into the state, FOX Weather meteorologists are warning that the Los Angeles Basin and surrounding coastal areas could see more than just heavy rain—they could see tornadoes.
Tornadoes in California are historically rare, especially in winter, but today’s major system is providing an unusual mix of atmospheric ingredients.
A powerful low-level jet is screaming across the region, creating the spin necessary to turn ordinary thunderstorms into rotating ones.
As a cold front moves onshore, a dangerous squall line is expected to form. This line of storms can tap into strong winds aloft, bringing the potential for downburst winds exceeding 60 mph and brief weak tornadoes.
And with intense energy over the Pacific, waterspouts are likely to form offshore. Any of these that cross the coastline can become land-bound tornadoes, particularly along the Los Angeles and Ventura County coasts.
A powerful storm is slamming Los Angeles today, triggering an urgent Flood Watch as heavy rainfall threatens to transform streets into rivers. The FOX Forecast Center warns that the most intense window for the storm is between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. PT today, with rain rates potentially reaching 0.5 to 1.0 inch per hour.
Excessive runoff is expected to flood low-lying areas, including freeways, urban streets, and neighborhoods with poor drainage. Creeks, streams, and rivers across the LA Basin are likely to rise rapidly, and low-water crossings may become impassable. Intense rain on steep terrain is expected to trigger rock and mudslides, making travel through canyons particularly dangerous.
The Sierra Nevada is currently in the crosshairs of a powerhouse multi-day storm system that meteorologists describe as the most significant snow event of the season.
While California has enjoyed a spring-like start to 2026, winter has returned with a vengeance, threatening to bury mountain communities under staggering amounts of snow through midweek.
FOX Weather meteorologists are warning of extraordinary accumulation across the range as two Pacific storms merge into a prolonged period of intense precipitation. The most intense projections suggest a total of 120 inches (10 feet) could fall in high-elevation terrain over the next week, while widespread totals of 6 to 8 feet are expected for areas above 5,000 feet.
Popular destinations like Palisades Tahoe and Sugar Bowl are bracing for over 60 inches of fresh powder by Wednesday, and even lower-elevation communities at 3,000 feet could see up to 2 feet of snow as levels plunge.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning valid through Wednesday, classifying the impact as "major." Heavy bursts of snow falling at rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour, combined with wind gusts over 100 mph along ridge tops, will create zero visibility and whiteout conditions. Travel over Interstate 80 at Donner Summit is expected to become impossible as feet of snow pile up on the roadway.
Mountain operations teams are already conducting avalanche mitigation, and visitors should expect wind holds and delayed lift openings at all major resorts. While this is the snowpack California desperately needs for its water supply, officials urge everyone to stay off mountain roads until the system clears late Wednesday night.
{{#rendered}}The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) has issued widespread evacuation warnings for residents living near several recent burn scars as a powerful storm slams Southern California.
The warnings are in effect until 9 a.m. PT Tuesday and target areas at high risk for life-threatening debris flows and mudslides.
Click here for the latest LAFD alerts.
Residents in the following zones should be prepared to leave immediately if an evacuation order is issued:
- Palisades Fire Burn Scar: Specifically zones LFD-1081, 1083, 1085, 1087, 1089, 1091, 1092, 1093, 1095, 1096, 1097, and 0891.
- Hurst Fire Burn Scar: Zone LFD-0001-B in the Sylmar area.
- Sunset Fire Burn Scar: Zone LFD-0835 in the Hollywood Hills.
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