Significant Storms Brewing for West Coast

Extreme double-digit feet of mountain snow and heavy rain expected to provide drought relief

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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After a historically dry January that saw California's snowpack plummet, a major pattern shift is finally delivering the snow totals needed to rescue the state's drought conditions. Multiple rounds of mountain snow and heavy rain are brewing for the West, with some areas in the mountains expected to see extreme totals of feet of snow in the double-digits.

Why it matters

The West has been facing the worst snow drought in decades, with some areas going over a year without significant snowfall. This storm system is critical to replenishing the region's depleted water supplies and snowpack, which are vital for agriculture, hydropower, and ecosystems.

The details

A large dip in the jet stream will stall over the West starting Sunday, allowing for an active weather pattern to kick in. This will bring a strong area of low pressure that will slam California, fueling multiple subsequent storms that will funnel in heavy rain. In the mountains, some areas are expected to see extreme snow totals of double-digit feet. In the lower elevations, Southern California cities like Los Angeles and San Diego could see up to 5 inches of rain, potentially causing flash flooding near recent wildfire burn scars.

  • The storm system is expected to begin on Sunday, February 13, 2026.
  • The heavy rain and mountain snow are forecast to continue through the end of next week.

The players

FOX Weather

The weather forecasting service that provided the details and predictions for this storm system.

NOAA Climate Prediction Center

The government agency that predicts the West will continue to see above-average precipitation through the end of February.

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What’s next

The FOX Forecast Center will continue to provide updates on the progress and impacts of this major storm system as it moves through the West.

The takeaway

This storm system is a critical lifeline for the drought-stricken West, with the potential to deliver much-needed snow to the mountains and rain to the lowlands. The extreme snow totals and heavy rainfall could help replenish the region's depleted water supplies and snowpack, which are vital for agriculture, hydropower, and ecosystems.