On Monday, California was hit by a powerful winter storm bringing treacherous thunderstorms, high winds and heavy snow in mountainous areas.
Millions of Los Angeles County residents faced flash flood warnings as rain pounded the region, scarring people in some areas. Devastating wildfires last year The area was under an evacuation warning until Tuesday due to possible mud and debris flows.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass ordered emergency crews and city departments to prepare to respond to any problems.
The storm wreaked havoc on roads stretching from Sonoma County to the Sierra Nevada. The California Department of Transportation reported that traffic was temporarily halted in both directions on I-80 near the Nevada state line due to detours and crashes. In Santa Barbara County, a large tree fell on US-101, closing southbound lanes.
The western slope of the Sierra Nevada, northern Shasta County — including parts of Interstate 5 — and parts of the state’s Coast Range could see up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) of snow before the storm moves through late Wednesday, forecasters said. Meteorologists added that heavy snow, winds and low visibility could make travel conditions dangerous to almost impossible.
“It has looked like spring for much of 2026, but winter is expected to show it’s not over yet,” the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post urging residents to stay informed about the storm.
The California Office of Emergency Services said it has deployed fire and rescue personnel and resources to areas most at risk from flooding, mud and debris flows.
In Southern California, Six Flags Magic Mountain was closed Monday due to the storm, and Knott’s Berry Farm amusement park closed early. But local ski resorts celebrated the winter weather by waiting weeks for snow.
On Monday, other states prepared for various dangerous weather phenomena. Residents in parts of eastern Colorado received warnings of potential fire danger due to a combination of abnormally high temperatures, gusty winds and dry conditions. The risks are expected to persist further through the week as winds of up to 60 mph (96 km/h) are likely to hit Colorado’s eastern plains on Tuesday. Parts of Texas, New Mexico and Kansas were also under red flag warnings.
The latest storm comes amidst Snow drought Across much of the American West, snow cover and depth measurements are at the lowest levels scientists have seen in decades. Most states saw half their average precipitation or less in January, although California fared better than other states due to heavy rains in December.
This was the first of several days of stormy weather forecast for California. A coastal flood warning was in effect for San Francisco through Tuesday afternoon, with cold rain and a chance of hail Tuesday, while nearby mountains expect snow, the National Weather Service in Monterey reported.
Kashawna McInerney, a real estate broker in the mountain community of Wrightwood, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) northeast of Los Angeles, said Monday that she was still dealing with several tons of rocks and debris on her property from the Christmas and New Year’s storms that hit the community. After the latest operation, she said she got help digging part of her side yard to channel rainwater into the street, and placed a metal and wood barrier next to the door in hopes of keeping mud and debris out.
“We’re not panicking yet,” she said, laughing. “At least I’m not.”
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Associated Press writers Amy Thaksin in Santa Ana, California, and Durrani Pineda in Los Angeles contributed to this report.