I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
Multiple storms are forecast to bring heavy snowfall to California through February 18, 2026, with snowfall rates exceeding 76 mm (3 inches) per hour in parts of the Sierra Nevada. Extreme impacts are possible across higher elevations, with travel conditions dangerous to impossible, and 1.2–2.4 m (4–8 feet) of snow forecast above pass level.
Multiple tornadoes touched down across parts of the Southern Plains and the Southeast overnight on February 14, 2026. These include at least five EF-1 tornadoes that have been confirmed in Mississippi and Texas, along with others reported in Louisiana. The twisters were the result of a storm system that brought significant rainfall, localized flash floods, and widespread wind damage to the region over the Valentine’s weekend.
La Niña persisted across the equatorial Pacific in January 2026, with below-average sea surface temperatures and atmospheric patterns remaining consistent with the phase, according to the Climate Prediction Center Diagnostic Discussion issued on February 12, 2026. A transition to ENSO-neutral is expected during February–April 2026 with a 60% probability, while ENSO-neutral conditions are likely to continue through the Northern Hemisphere summer.
Evacuation Warnings were issued for residents living near the Palisades and Eaton burn scar areas in Los Angeles County, California, effective from 21:00 LT (05:00 UTC) on Sunday, February 15, through 09:00 LT (17:00 UTC) on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, ahead of a winter storm forecast to bring heavy rainfall. Officials warned that debris flows and mudflows could damage property and pose life-threatening risks in recently burned areas. Winter storm warnings were also issued across parts of California and Nevada for heavy mountain snowfall and strong winds.
A storm moving from the Southern Plains into the Southeast will generate widespread showers, locally heavy rainfall, and severe thunderstorms across the southern and eastern United States through February 16, 2026. Slight Risk areas for Severe Thunderstorms and Excessive Rainfall extend from east Texas into the lower Mississippi Valley, with additional Marginal Risk areas across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic.
At least 40 fatalities have been confirmed, and over 18 800 homes have been destroyed as of February 13, 2026, since Tropical Cyclone Gezani made landfall over Madagascar. The storm remains active and is forecast to continue intensifying through February 13 while remaining in open waters.
Two mid-level troughs with associated surface lows are forecast to bring widespread precipitation to California between February 14 and 19, 2025. The first system is forecast to begin affecting the state on February 14–15, followed by a second trough deepening offshore from February 16–17. Snowfall totals over the Sierra Nevada could exceed 60 cm (24 inches), while rainfall totals of 25–50 mm (1–2 inches) are forecast across much of the state during the initial 72-hour period.
At least one person was reported dead as Storm Nils brought damaging winds to France late on February 11, 2026, with gusts exceeding 180 km/h (112 mph) recorded in parts of the country. More than 900 000 customers were left without power as authorities issued red and orange alerts across multiple departments, while Savoie was placed under a rare red avalanche alert on February 12 after multiple avalanches were reported.
At least 15 cold-related deaths were reported in Maryland in the two weeks after a historic winter storm affected the United States in late January 2026.
Tropical Cyclone Gezani has killed at least 31 people since it made landfall near Toamasina, on the eastern coast of Madagascar, on February 10, 2026, damaging and destroying around 80% of the city. Around three dozen were injured, with multiple still missing as recovery operations continue across the island.
