Heavy snow is falling in higher elevations of California, as a storm dumps feet on the mountains, wreaking havoc on travel. Up to 4 feet of snow is possible for the southern California mountains through the week’s end.
LOS ANGELES – A flood threat remains for millions across much of the California coast as another round of moisture pushes inland off the Pacific Ocean, after Monday’s storms shattered daily rain records. Meanwhile, heavy snow is spreading from the Northern California mountain ranges into the southern part of the Sierra, adding to California’s snowpack and eventually reaching the Rockies farther east, which are in a dire snow deficit.
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PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 16: Motorists drive through rainfall as a storm delivers heavy rain to the region on February 16, 2026 in Pasadena, California.
((Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images))
CALIFORNIA, USA – FEBRUARY 16: Cars pass on flooding water at Sawtelle neighborhood during heavy rain in Los Angeles, California, United States on February 16, 2026.
((Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images))
CALIFORNIA, USA – FEBRUARY 16: Women cross the street in Beverly Hills during heavy rain in Los Angeles, California, United States on February 16, 2026.
((Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images))
CALIFORNIA, USA – FEBRUARY 16: A view of flash flood on I-405 Highway near Sawtelle neighborhood during heavy rain in Los Angeles, California, United States on February 16, 2026.
((Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images))
Snow blasts Lake Heavenly Resort, South Lake Tahoe California on Feb. 16, 2026.
(Robert Ray/FOX Weather)
Flooding was reported Monday across parts of California, after 1–2 inches of rain fell across the Los Angeles Basin and 3–5 inches of rain dropped across the Coastal Range north of the Bay Area.
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Urban flooding swamped parts of LA, with water rising to the mid-door panels of some sedans in the Westwood neighborhood.
Drivers had to contend with heavy street flooding Los Angeles’ Westwood neighborhood on Monday, February 16, 2026, as the first of a series of storms moved over California.
Parts of Topanga Canyon Boulevard in LA’s Westside were closed due to debris slides.
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Los Angeles was also placed under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for the fifth time in the past two years. According to the FOX Forecast Center, the county had gone eight years without such a warning (2016–2024).
Stockton and Modesto each set new daily rain records with 1.81 and 1.65 inches of rain respectively.
Mudslide closes part of Highway 27 in Topanga Canyon.
(CaltransDist7/X / FOX Weather)
More rain is expected across the state Tuesday, with the heaviest rain expected through Tuesday morning for San Francisco, while the strongest storms will reach Los Angeles Tuesday night.
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A low-level flash flood threat covers the California coast from just north of the Bay Area south through San Diego, before waning heading into Wednesday morning.
A third round of less intense rain will target the state on Thursday.
(FOX Weather)
Snow blankets Sierras with feet of snow before heading to parched Rockies
Meanwhile, heavy snow will spread from the Northern California mountain ranges into the southern part of the Sierra on Tuesday. Wind gusts between 45-55 mph will create periods of whiteout driving conditions across the northern mountain passes.
Snow blasts Lake Heavenly Resort, South Lake Tahoe California on Feb. 16, 2026.
(FOX Weather / FOX Weather)
Part of Interstate 80 was shut down Tuesday in the Northern Sierras from Colfax, California to the Nevada state line, due to intense winds and blowing snow, Caltrans said.
Officials discouraged travel through the northern mountain passes Tuesday.
Eastbound Interstate 80 near Castle Peak in Nevada County, California, was almost completely covered with snow this morning, and the California Highway Patrol is enforcing chain control in parts of the state as massive snowfall is expected to continue in the Sierra Nevada.
However, these storms will be beneficial for California’s snowpack and the Rockies farther east, which are in a major snow deficit.
A dip in the jet stream has opened the door for rounds of storms to bring abundant rain and snow into the West Coast, after weeks of dry weather.
Feet of snow buries the Sierra Nevada area after weeks of dry conditions. FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray is in South Lake Tahoe covering the intense snowstorm and how residents are enjoying the prime ski day.
Intermittent snow is expected Wednesday, staying mostly confined to higher elevations above 3,000 feet in Southern California. But those driving through the Grapevine on Interstate 5 should be aware of possible closures Wednesday night.
In Northern California, however, snow may drop below 1,000 feet, creating the chance of flurries for places like Redding, which hasn’t recorded measurable snow in three years.
All told, the higher peaks of the Northern Sierra could tally up to 8 feet of snow through Friday, while Lake Tahoe and the San Gabriel Mountains could see up to 4 feet of snow.
(FOX Weather)
As these storms track east, they will provide much-needed snow for the Rockies, where some snowpacks are at record lows.
Utah is seeing record-low snow levels across the state.
Aerial images of ongoing snow drought around Salt Lake City, Utah.
(Robert Ray/FOX Weather / FOX Weather)
According to the FOX Forecast Center, current measurements show a snow-water equivalent of near 6 percent across the state, a low not seen since 1981.
Winter snow provides an essential water supply for drinking and agriculture across the West in the summer months.
Stay with FOX Weather for the latest on storms impacting California.
