Severe Storms Sweep Across Southeast as Northeast Thaws

High winds, tornado warnings reported in Louisiana, Georgia, and Florida as Northeast sees warmer temperatures.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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A weekend storm system brought tornado warnings, high winds, and power outages to parts of the Southeast, while the Northeast began to thaw after weeks of bitterly cold weather. No deaths or serious injuries were reported, but the storm caused damage to infrastructure in Louisiana. Meanwhile, a powerful winter storm was expected to bring heavy rain and snow to California in the coming days.

Why it matters

The severe weather in the Southeast highlights the ongoing challenges communities face in dealing with extreme weather events, which are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change. The thawing in the Northeast provides relief after a prolonged cold stretch, but also raises concerns about the broader impacts of shifting weather patterns.

The details

The storm system swept across the Southeast, bringing tornado warnings to Mississippi and Louisiana, where high winds overturned a horse trailer, a Mardi Gras float, and damaged an airport jet bridge. Power poles were also snapped and toppled in parts of Louisiana. The storms led to power outages across the region, but nowhere near the scale of the ice storms that hit northern Mississippi and Nashville last month. In the Northeast, Boston was running nearly 7 degrees Fahrenheit below average for February, but this week's forecast called for temperatures to climb closer to seasonal norms. On the West Coast, a powerful winter storm was expected to bring heavy rain and snow to California, prompting evacuation warnings in some areas.

  • The storm system swept across the Southeast on Sunday.
  • The Northeast began to thaw after weeks of bitterly cold weather.

The players

National Weather Service

The federal agency that monitors and forecasts weather conditions in the United States.

Karen Bass

The mayor of Los Angeles, who ordered emergency crews and city departments to prepare for potential problems from the incoming winter storm.

Jacob Spender

A weather service meteorologist in Sacramento, who urged people to take precautions as the powerful winter storm approached California.

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What they’re saying

“So if they are traveling, packing winter safety kits. Anything to be prepared. This is a bigger system, and a major system.”

— Jacob Spender, Weather Service Meteorologist (Associated Press)

“I've ordered emergency crews and city departments to prepare to respond to any problems.”

— Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles (Associated Press)

What’s next

The National Weather Service will continue to monitor the situation and issue updates as the winter storm moves through California.

The takeaway

The severe weather events in the Southeast and the impending winter storm in California underscore the need for communities to be prepared for the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather conditions driven by climate change.