Extreme Mountain Snow and Heavy Rain Forecast for West Coast

Multiple storms expected to bring much-needed relief to drought-stricken regions

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The West Coast is bracing for a series of powerful storms that are expected to bring extreme mountain snow totals reaching double-digit feet as well as heavy rainfall, especially in Southern California. This weather pattern is forecast to provide critical relief to areas suffering from a severe snow drought, including the Sierra Nevada, Rockies, Colorado Basins, and Wasatch ranges.

Why it matters

The West has been grappling with drought conditions for years, with some regions experiencing the worst snow drought in decades. These incoming storms have the potential to significantly improve water supply and snowpack levels, which are crucial for agriculture, hydropower, and wildfire prevention in the region.

The details

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

  • The weather pattern is expected to begin on Sunday, February 13, 2026.
  • The heavy mountain snow and rainfall are forecast to continue through the end of next week, February 22, 2026.

The players

NOAA Climate Prediction Center

The federal agency responsible for monitoring and predicting long-term climate trends in the United States.

FOX Weather

A weather forecasting and reporting service operated by the FOX News media company.

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What’s next

The NOAA Climate Prediction Center predicts that much of the West will continue to see an above-average amount of precipitation through the end of February, indicating that the relief from these storms may be ongoing.

The takeaway

These powerful storms have the potential to significantly alleviate the drought conditions that have plagued the West for years, providing much-needed water resources and reducing the risk of wildfires. However, the region will need to continue monitoring the long-term impacts of this weather pattern to ensure the drought is truly broken.