A powerful winter storm is bearing down on California just as millions prepare to hit the roads and skies for Presidents Day weekend 2026, prompting urgent travel warnings for the Sierra Nevada and raising the risk of widespread flight delays across the western United States. Forecasters say this could be the coldest and most disruptive storm of the season for mountain corridors that connect the Bay Area, Southern California and the interior West, and they are urging travelers to adjust plans now before conditions deteriorate late Sunday into Monday.
Cold Pacific Storm Targets Holiday Travelers
Meteorologists with the National Weather Service describe the incoming system as a cold Pacific storm dropping directly out of the Gulf of Alaska, bringing a mix of heavy Sierra snow, strong winds and much lower snow levels than earlier in the season. After a mild and relatively dry start to winter, the pattern shift will be abrupt, with a series of low pressure waves expected to keep precipitation going through much of next week.
Forecast guidance as of Saturday, February 14, indicates that the first wave of the storm will arrive during the second half of Presidents Day weekend, with conditions deteriorating from Sunday evening through Monday across Northern California. Friday and much of Saturday are expected to offer the best weather window for cross-state driving, with mostly dry conditions and good visibility away from the highest peaks. By late Sunday, however, rain will spread across the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys while snow intensifies over the crest of the Sierra Nevada.
By Monday, the system is expected to fully mature over California, pulling down colder air and rapidly dropping snow levels. What will begin as rain at many foothill elevations is expected to turn to snow by Monday afternoon or evening, catching late travelers and returning weekend traffic in a fast-changing and increasingly hazardous environment. Forecasters say the storm will not clear quickly; instead, several reinforcing waves are likely to keep showers and mountain snow going into midweek.
Sierra Nevada Braces for Feet of Snow and Whiteout Conditions
The most severe impacts are expected along the spine of the Sierra Nevada, including the heavily traveled corridors to Lake Tahoe, Truckee, Mammoth Lakes and the Reno–Carson City region. Winter storm watches and warnings now cover much of the range from Lassen and Plumas counties in the north through the Lake Tahoe basin and Mono County farther south, with the National Weather Service warning of “major travel impacts” and urging “extreme caution” for anyone considering mountain travel.
Snow totals could be measured in feet rather than inches. Forecasts call for 1 to 2 feet of snow at elevations between about 3,000 and 4,000 feet, which includes many foothill communities and lower passes. At higher elevations, from 6,000 to 8,000 feet and above, forecasters are calling for 4 to 8 feet of accumulation over several days, particularly on favored west-facing slopes and high passes. Some modeling suggests that the highest peaks of the central Sierra could see even greater totals as additional waves of moisture arrive next week.
Strong winds will compound the danger. Gusts of 35 to 45 miles per hour are expected along exposed ridges and higher passes, with some Sierra crests potentially seeing peaks above 70 miles per hour. Those winds, acting on intense snowfall rates, are likely to produce whiteout conditions at times on Interstates and state highways, making driving extremely hazardous and periodically impossible. Blowing and drifting snow will quickly cover plowed surfaces, and near-zero visibility could develop with little warning.
Key Routes: I‑80, Highway 50 and US‑395 in the Crosshairs
Transportation officials are focusing their warnings on some of California’s most important trans-Sierra routes. Interstate 80 over Donner Summit, which connects the Bay Area and Sacramento region to Truckee, Reno and points east, is expected to see some of the heaviest snow and most prolonged impacts. Caltrans has cautioned that chain controls, long delays and full closures are all possible from late Sunday through at least Tuesday, depending on snowfall intensity and avalanche danger.
Highway 50 over Echo Summit, another primary route to South Lake Tahoe, faces a similar outlook. The narrow, winding nature of the corridor makes it especially vulnerable when heavy snow combines with high winds and spinouts. The Highway 89 corridor around the west side of Lake Tahoe, including Tahoe City and popular lakeshore communities, is also likely to be heavily affected, with plows struggling to keep up if snowfall rates reach several inches per hour.
Farther north, routes through Lassen and eastern Plumas counties, including areas west of Highway 395, are forecast to receive 6 to 12 inches of snow at mid-elevations and up to 2 feet in the higher country. Valley locations along and east of US‑395 in northeastern California and western Nevada may still pick up several inches, enough to snarl traffic and trigger spinouts even away from the major passes. To the south, US‑395 along the eastern Sierra, which serves Mammoth Lakes and Bishop, could also see periods of heavy snow and strong crosswinds, especially north of Mono Lake.
Bay Area Rain, Foothill Snow and Potential Road Closures
While the Sierra will bear the brunt of the snow, lower elevations across Northern and Central California will not escape the impacts. The National Weather Service expects multiple rounds of rain to sweep through the Bay Area and the Central Coast beginning Sunday, bringing a risk of slick roads, ponding on highways and gusty winds that could topple branches and cause isolated power outages.
By Thursday, meteorologists say the Bay Area could see two to four inches of rain, with locally higher totals in coastal hills. Though widespread flooding is not the primary concern with this particular system, urban and small-stream flooding is possible where drains are clogged or where heavier showers persist. The persistent wet weather, combined with holiday traffic, is likely to slow travel on major interstates such as I‑80, I‑580, I‑880 and Highway 101 even at lower elevations.
Perhaps more striking is the predicted drop in snow levels, which could reach as low as 2,500 feet in parts of the Sierra foothills and interior Coast Ranges by Tuesday. That would bring accumulating snow to communities that have seen little or none so far this season and could affect lesser-known but important secondary routes. Caltrans has warned that this will be the first time in two winters that significant snowfall is expected across parts of the foothills, increasing the risk of downed trees and power lines and catching some drivers off guard.
Air Travel Disruptions Loom for California Airports
Even travelers planning to avoid the roads may feel the effects of the Presidents Day storm. While the worst weather will be over the mountains and interior West, the same system is part of a broader pattern that has already disrupted thousands of flights nationwide this month. Recent winter storms in early February led to more than 15,000 domestic flight interruptions, with cancellations and delays rippling through hubs across the country as airlines struggled to manage deicing operations and shifting crew schedules.
For this holiday weekend, major California airports including San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and Sacramento are likely to see at least periodic delays as low clouds, heavy rain and gusty winds move through. Mountain wave turbulence and strong winds over the Sierra can force adjustments to arrival and departure paths, while thunderstorms or heavier cells could temporarily slow traffic into the Bay Area. If the storm’s impacts spread eastward into the Great Basin and Rockies, knock‑on delays could reach Southern California airports as well, even where local weather is less severe.
Airlines typically issue waivers ahead of major weather events that allow passengers to rebook without change fees, and travel advisers expect similar policies to be in place for Presidents Day weekend as forecasts sharpen. Industry analysts say the tight schedules around holiday weekends leave little margin for cascading disruptions, so passengers are being urged to monitor airline apps closely, allow extra time at the airport and consider rebooking to early Saturday or early Sunday departures when possible.
Holiday Ski Rush Meets Dangerous Conditions
Presidents Day weekend is traditionally one of the busiest periods of the winter for California’s ski resorts, and this year is no exception. After a slow start to the season, news of substantial new snowfall has driven fresh demand for accommodations and lift tickets around Lake Tahoe, the central Sierra and the Eastern Sierra. Resorts are touting what could be the best snow conditions of the season once the storm cycle moves through, with several feet of fresh powder likely on many slopes.
Yet officials are grappling with a familiar tension: ideal snow conditions on the mountain versus very dangerous travel conditions to get there. Local sheriffs’ offices around South Lake Tahoe, Truckee and other mountain communities are urging visitors to plan their arrivals before the heart of the storm arrives and to be prepared to stay longer than planned if roads close or conditions become unsafe for return travel. Lodging operators report a spike in inquiries from guests worried about whether they will be able to reach or leave the region on schedule.
Avalanche professionals are also watching the forecast closely. Heavy new snow on top of an older base, combined with strong winds, often leads to unstable slabs on leeward slopes and increased avalanche danger, especially just after major storm events. While ski patrol teams work to control slopes within resort boundaries, backcountry travelers are being urged to carry avalanche beacons, probes and shovels, check the latest avalanche advisories and be prepared to turn back if conditions worsen.
Authorities Urge Flexible Plans and Preparedness
From weather forecasters to highway agencies, the message heading into the long weekend is clear: flexibility and preparation will be key to safer travel. The National Weather Service offices in Sacramento, Reno and the Bay Area are advising those who must cross the Sierra to complete eastbound trips no later than early Sunday and, if possible, to return either before the heaviest snow on Monday or to delay drives until late week when conditions begin to improve.
Caltrans is urging motorists to carry tire chains, blankets, water, food, flashlights and fully charged phones if they plan to drive into the mountains. Drivers are being reminded to top off fuel tanks, expect long checkpoints at chain control areas and never attempt to bypass closures or drive around roadblocks. In previous storms, some of the most dangerous situations have developed when drivers became stranded on closed stretches of highway or attempted detours onto unfamiliar back roads.
Local emergency managers are also recommending that residents and visitors in mountain communities prepare for the possibility of short‑duration power outages and limited access to services. That includes charging devices ahead of the storm, stocking nonperishable food and basic medical supplies, and ensuring that vehicles are parked where they will not be blocked by berms from snowplows. Pet owners are being reminded to have adequate food and warm shelter for animals, particularly in exposed or rural areas.
What Travelers Should Watch Hour by Hour
Because this is a dynamic, multi‑day storm system, conditions are expected to change significantly over short distances and time frames. Forecasters highlight several key windows: relatively favorable travel on Friday and much of Saturday; a transition period Sunday with increasing rain and high‑elevation snow; and the most dangerous driving conditions from late Sunday night through Tuesday across the high Sierra, with additional disturbances possible later in the week.
Travel experts say motorists should check real‑time road condition maps and live camera feeds before departure and again throughout their journeys, particularly when traveling over Donner Summit, Echo Summit or other high passes. They advise building in extra daylight hours for any crossing of the Sierra, as conditions typically deteriorate more quickly after dark and road crews must rotate shifts.
For those flying, the advice is similar: favor earlier flights, monitor for schedule changes and be prepared for extended waits as airlines and air traffic controllers manage the storm’s impacts. Travelers who can delay nonessential trips until after the holiday may find more reliable conditions and reduced congestion once the storm has passed and crews have had time to clear roads and runways.