Powerful Winter Storm Slams California With Flash‑Flood Warnings, Highway Closures and Up to 8 Feet of Sierra Snow
A powerful winter storm bringing torrential rain, heavy snow and high winds has slammed California and threatens more than 30 million residents, prompting flash‑flood warnings for millions in Los Angeles County and evacuation warnings through Tuesday for burn‑scar neighborhoods at risk of mud and debris flows. Authorities have halted traffic on parts of I‑80 after spinouts and crashes, shut southbound US‑101 in Santa Barbara County after a fallen tree, pre‑positioned fire and rescue resources, closed or limited major theme parks (including Six Flags Magic Mountain and Knott’s Berry Farm), and warned of up to 8 feet of snow on the western Sierra slopes, northern Shasta County (including parts of I‑5) and portions of the Coast Range before the storm exits late Wednesday.
📌 Key Facts
- A powerful winter storm is bringing torrential rain, heavy snow and high winds across California.
- More than 30 million people in California are threatened by the system; millions of Los Angeles County residents are under flash‑flood warnings and evacuation warnings are in place through Tuesday for neighborhoods in burn‑scar areas because of mud and debris‑flow risk.
- The National Weather Service forecasts up to 8 feet of snow on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, northern Shasta County (including parts of I‑5) and sections of the Coast Range before the storm exits late Wednesday.
- Significant travel impacts were reported: I‑80 near the Nevada state line was temporarily halted in both directions due to spinouts and crashes, and a fallen tree closed southbound US‑101 in Santa Barbara County, with other highway closures and disruptions reported.
- California’s Office of Emergency Services is pre‑positioning fire and rescue resources in highest‑risk areas as communities brace for impacts.
- Major Southern California theme parks curtailed operations because of the storm—Six Flags Magic Mountain fully closed Monday and Knott’s Berry Farm closed early.
- The storm arrives against a backdrop of a Western 'snow drought'—most Western states saw about half their typical January precipitation or less, although California was a partial exception after heavy December rains.
- Local communities such as Wrightwood in the San Gabriel Mountains are still digging out from earlier winter storms and face ongoing rock, mud and debris challenges as the new system arrives.
📰 Source Timeline (5)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
February 21, 2026
February 17, 2026
1:59 PM
Massive storm slams California, bringing heavy snow, rain and powerful winds
New information:
- CBS segment reinforces that more than 30 million people in California are under threat from this storm system.
- Describes the storm as bringing 'torrential rain, heavy snow and high winds' but does not materially update prior details on closures, snow totals, or specific warnings beyond what is already known.
1:25 AM
California walloped by winter storm with high winds and heavy rain and snow
New information:
- Millions of Los Angeles County residents are under flash‑flood warnings, and evacuation warnings are in place through Tuesday for areas burned in last year’s wildfires because of mud and debris‑flow risk.
- Traffic on I‑80 near the Nevada state line was temporarily halted in both directions due to spinouts and crashes, and a fallen tree shut southbound US‑101 lanes in Santa Barbara County.
- Forecasters now say the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, northern Shasta County (including parts of I‑5) and sections of the Coast Range could see up to 8 feet of snow before the storm exits late Wednesday.
- California’s Office of Emergency Services is pre‑positioning fire and rescue resources in the highest‑risk areas, while major Southern California theme parks, including Six Flags Magic Mountain and Knott’s Berry Farm, closed or cut operations because of the storm.
- The piece explicitly situates the storm against a record Western 'snow drought,' noting most Western states saw half their typical January precipitation or less, with California a partial exception due to heavy December rains.
1:25 AM
California walloped by winter storm with high winds and heavy rain and snow
New information:
- Confirms that flash‑flood warnings covered millions of Los Angeles County residents, with specific evacuation warnings through Tuesday for neighborhoods in burn‑scar areas because of mud and debris‑flow risk.
- Details that traffic on I‑80 near the Nevada state line was halted in both directions because of spinouts and crashes, and that a large fallen tree shut southbound US‑101 lanes in Santa Barbara County.
- Specifies theme‑park disruptions: Six Flags Magic Mountain fully closed Monday and Knott’s Berry Farm closed early due to the storm.
- Adds local perspective from Wrightwood in the San Gabriel Mountains, where residents are still digging out from several tons of rock and debris from earlier winter storms even as this new system arrives.
- Reiterates National Weather Service expectations of up to 8 feet of snow on the western Sierra slope, northern Shasta County (including parts of I‑5) and parts of the Coast Range before the storm exits late Wednesday, framed against the backdrop of an ongoing Western 'snow drought.'
February 16, 2026