Kevin Schneider

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Fire outlooks have been issued across the Front Range and the plains through Wednesday. Widespread Red Flag Warnings have been issued for the region.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/we1-1771425785575.png">Earlier in the day, wildfires broke out in the Oklahoma panhandle that caused evacuations in the region.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/we3b1-1771425812001.png">Fire outlooks remain in place on Wednesday as yet another front drops in, kicking wind gusts up to 50-60 mph.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/we2-1771425801018.png">Some winds were clocked close to triple digits. The winds prompted a blowing dust advisory to be issued Tuesday afternoon and a 30+ vehicle pileup was a result of brown out conditions along I-25 in southern Colorado. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Web 9-1771425927888.png">

Tracey Anthony

Wildfire Danger: Extreme Conditions

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Brittany Lockley

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CALIFORNIA - The state of California has been impacted by the first of several frontal boundaries that prompted severe warnings, flash flood warnings, heavy mountain snow, and gusty winds Tuesday into Wednesday morning. The next in a series of fronts moves onshore over the next day or so, adding more to all the previous totals.An active weather pattern will stick around for much of the week, bringing periods of rain, mountain snow, and cool temperatures across the region. While today will not be a total washout, expect scattered showers at times, especially along the Central Coast, as the bulk of the overnight storm system moves out by sunrise. <div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2023502650579284209" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2023502650579284209"></div><h1></h1><h1>Timing</h1>Another system arrives overnight Wednesday into Thursday, delivering another round of rain and mountain snow before tapering off late Thursday afternoon and evening. Several inches of additional snow are expected in the mountains, particularly above 5,000 feet. Snow levels could drop to around 4,000 feet Thursday morning and again Thursday night into early Friday, which means portions of Interstate 5, especially near the Grapevine, could see accumulating snow and lingering slick conditions into Friday morning. Check for road closures and delays as heavy snow will be very impactful across the higher elevations and passes.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/jfjfjf1111-1771385148558.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Rainfall totals with this next system are expected to range from about a quarter to a half inch across the coast and valleys, with up to an inch possible in the mountains. Areas north of Point Conception may see slightly higher totals due to persistent northwest flow keeping showers around longer. Behind the storm, Friday looks dry but chilly. Depending on how quickly skies clear and winds calm overnight, some valleys could experience patchy frost or even freeze conditions early Friday morning.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 042722-1771414055691.png">Winter weather alerts have been issued for much of California through Wednesday.<ul><li>2000-2500 feet: up to one foot</li><li>2500-3500 feet: one to two feet</li><li>3500 feet and above: four to eight feet</li><li>wind gusts up to 45-55 mph</li></ul><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 042753-1771414088117.png">Travel could be impossible in some spots with the high snowfall rates and winds. Snowfall totals could surpass 4-5 feet in some areas, like Mammoth Mountain. Resorts around Lake Tahoe could also see 4-5 feet, including I-80 and the Donner Pass. The heavy snowfall rates will make mountain travel impossible at times.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 043643-1771414620330.png">Even the mountains in Southern California will see heavy snowfall developing this afternoon and evening. Travel will be very difficult at times through early Thursday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 043710-1771414642809.png">The weekend brings some improvement. Saturday is shaping up to be the nicest day of the next seven as a weak ridge builds overhead. Expect mostly sunny skies, dry conditions, and a modest warm-up with highs climbing into the 60s.&nbsp;However, the quiet weather will not last long. Another Gulf of Alaska system is forecast to move into the Pacific Northwest on Sunday, bringing renewed moisture and unsettled conditions back into Southern California. While most models still vary on timing and coverage, current projections show a 30–40% chance of rain Sunday through Tuesday. At this point, the system does not appear particularly moisture-rich, and rainfall amounts look relatively light.&nbsp;

Stormy Pattern Continues This Week with More Rain, Mountain Snow Ahead for California

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More record high temperatures were broken across the northern U.S. on Tuesday. Some highs hit nearly 80° in Nebraska. Meanwhile areas in Texas were in the upper 80s.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 051939-1771417181267.png">The ridge of high pressure will continue to push east, bringing the heat east through the week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-17 161437-1771370084805.png">More record high temperatures will be possible through Friday as the heat builds east.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 051534-1771416986243.png">Temperatures to the south will push towards the 80s on Wednesday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 051639-1771417012668.png">The warmest temperatures this week will be Thursday across the Southeast.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 051706-1771417037090.png">The southern Plains will also be feeling the anomalous warmth, helping to increase the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/active-weather-weekend-ahead">severe weather threat</a> there over the next couple of days. Confidence is very high in spring-like warmth sticking around as we head deeper into February. The chance for thunderstorms in a more spring-like pattern will continue along with it!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 051729-1771417063572.png">Through late February and early March, there is a high confidence that above average temperatures will stick around.

Weirdly Warm February on the Plains

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Rob grew up in South Florida, where daily afternoon storms and hurricanes piqued his interest in meteorology early on. That interest was fostered by his teachers and his father, who one time brought him onto the roof of their home to watch a funnel cloud move through the Everglades several miles away. Years of filmmaking and tv production in high school gradually pushed him toward broadcast meteorology at Florida State University, where he joined and eventually led the student run daily weather show. After graduating with a Bachelors of Science in Meteorology, he began his career at KESQ in Palm Springs, California before heading to KFSN in Fresno and WLOS in Asheville, North Carolina. He has covered a diverse array of extreme weather events, including haboobs and flash flooding in the desert, extreme snow in the Sierra, hurricanes, and Appalachian ice storms. He also enjoys telling stories and reporting about weather issues.

Connect with Rob on <a href="https://twitter.com/WxRobBradley">Twitter</a>

Rob Bradley

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While the Midwest has finally seen a break from a cold and snowy pattern, the warmer air and increasing moisture could lead to strong or severe storms by Thursday. A low moving onshore from the Pacific will deepen east of the Rockies Wednesday into Thursday, bringing lift and wind shear to the region. While at the surface, moisture from the Gulf is pulled north into mild winter temperatures. These parameters should allow for scattered severe storms Thursday afternoon, including the chance for tornadoes. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 053842-1771419240325.png">The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has issued a slight risk (level 2 our of 5) for portions of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky for Thursday. Scattered wind and hail damage are expected to be the most widespread hazards, but several tornadoes are possible as well.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 053847-1771419252898.png">The tornado potential is expected to be elevated, with a few tornadoes possible for the region in brown (above). An isolated tornado is possible for locations in green, such as St. Louis and Columbus.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/2026-02-18 05-39-19-1771420206419.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Models are not in great agreement about how many storms will initiate and evolve throughout the day, but the early to middle afternoon hours appear to be the best time for any potential storms to ramp up to produce impacts.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 053911-1771420325767.png">Rainfall could be briefly intense, but flash flooding is not expected. Areas that see multiple thunderstorms could pick up 1-3" of rain.

Severe Storms Target the Midwest, Ohio Valley on Thursday

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Taban Sharifi grew up in Southern California between Los Angeles and San Diego. She is a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) with the American Meteorological Society (AMS). She has a B.S. in Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Environmental Sciences with a minor in Environmental Systems and Society from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Go Bruins! While in school, Taban was a meteorology intern with NBC LA. There she helped forecast daily weather for the greater Los Angeles region and created a playbook to deploy weather sensors for NBC owned-and-operated stations across the country. Her first on-air job took her to San Angelo, Texas, where she was a morning meteorologist and co-anchor. Working in West Texas gave her knowledge and experience covering severe storms. From there, she moved to Palm Springs, California. People think forecasting in California is sunshine all the time, but with temperatures in the 120’s, wildfires, damaging winds, floodings, and earthquakes, the forecasting kept her very busy! She also worked there as a general assignment reporter and told community stories. Taban is excited for the challenge and opportunity to forecast nationally with WeatherNation. She also looks forward to exploring all that Colorado has to offer!

Taban Sharifi

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ROCKIES - Widespread winter alerts remain in place across the four corners for additional snowfall for the region. Some parts of Utah and Colorado have already seen over half a foot of snowfall. More is on the way.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-17 202558-1771385178757.png">On and off rain and snow showers are expected to continue through much of the week, dropping feet of snow for some areas in the Rockies.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/0217-1771369170131.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Snowfall totals could reach 1 to 3 feet in the higher elevations through Thursday morning. The system's track from the Southwest will favor upslope snow in SW Utah and Colorado, increasing totals there, such as Telluride.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-17 202609-1771385185965.png">Most ski resorts can expect at least 6-12" through Thursday morning, with some seeing up to two feet!Stay tuned to WeatherNation for the latest updates.

Weirdly Warm February on the Plains

Severe Storms Target the Midwest, Ohio Valley on Thursday

Rounds of Snow Return to the Rockies

Wildfire Danger: Extreme Conditions

Stormy Pattern Continues This Week with More Rain, Mountain Snow Ahead for California

Weirdly Warm February on the Plains

Severe Storms Target the Midwest, Ohio Valley on Thursday

Rounds of Snow Return to the Rockies

Wildfire Danger: Extreme Conditions

Stormy Pattern Continues This Week with More Rain, Mountain Snow Ahead for California

Weirdly Warm February on the Plains

Severe Storms Target the Midwest, Ohio Valley on Thursday

Rounds of Snow Return to the Rockies