Update 8:00p 2/16/26: The first storm, in the series of 3, hit LA hard Monday. If you’ve been playing along at home you know the NWS issued a flash flood warning for much of LA County including West Hollywood, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Agoura Hills, Malibu and the Palisades burn scars.
The real headline was the rainfall rates — some spots were getting hit with an inch an hour — along with a tornado warning earlier in the day that had people doing a double take. A severe thunderstorm warning also stretched from the San Fernando Valley through Beverly Hills all the way down to Rancho Palos Verdes before it expired around midday. The FAA also issued a ground stop at LAX due to the heavy rain and strong winds. Evacuation warnings are still active for the Palisades, Hurst and Sunset fire burn scar zones through 9 a.m. Tuesday.
The heaviest rain from this first system will pass by Monday evening. In fact, skies had cleared enough by 5:30p for me to squeeze in a hike up to Runyon. Don’t get too comfortable, a quiet overnight will give way to more rain Tuesday before a second, colder storm moves in Tuesday night into Wednesday. A third system is still being watched for Thursday.
Rainfall totals have been impressive to say the least. Downtown L.A.’s normal seasonal rainfall usually clocks in with 14.25 inches. This season DTLA has already blown past that point, with more than four months remaining in the season. This season now ranks as the fourth wettest in 21 years. And that’s before today’s storm totals are added.
Some rainfall totals from today:
DTLA: 1.85 inches
West Hollywood: 1.71 inches
Beverly Hills: 1.90 inches
Bel Air: 2.30 inches
Santa Monica: 1.71 inches
Malibu: 1.91 inches
Topanga Canyon: 2.95 inches
Burbank: 1.52 inches
Update 2:10p 2/16/2026: ⚠️The National Weather Service in Los Angeles/Oxnard has extended the
- Flash Flood Warning for… Southeastern Los Angeles County in southwestern California…
- Until 400 PM PST.
- At 1:48 PM PST, local law enforcement reported flash flooding already developing from heavy showers and thunderstorms across the warned area. Flash flooding is already occurring.
- Rock slides and mud slides are expected. Debris flows on the burn scars.
- * Some locations that will experience flash flooding include: Downtown Los Angeles, Pasadena, Griffith Park, Hollywood, Burbank, Universal City, Mount Wilson, Inglewood, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Culver City, Hancock Park, Hollywood Hills and Toluca Lake. Burn scars, such as Eaton and eastern Palisades.
Update 11:30a 2/16/2026: ⚠️Imminent Threat Alert: National Weather Service: A FLASH FLOOD WARNING is in effect for this area until 2:00 PM PST. This is a dangerous and life-threatening situation. Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order.
Update11:00a 2/16/2026: ⚠️ The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning on Feb 16 for Los Angeles County. …A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1215 PM PST FOR CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN LOS ANGELES COUNTY… At 1100 AM PST, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Pacoima to 9 miles southwest of Rancho Palos Verdes, moving northeast at 40 mph. HAZARD…70 mph wind gusts. A brief, weak tornado is possible. SOURCE…Radar indicated. IMPACT…Expect considerable tree damage. Damage is likely to mobile homes, roofs, and outbuildings. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… Remain alert for a possible tornado! Tornadoes can develop quickly from severe thunderstorms. If you spot a tornado go at once into the basement or small central room in a sturdy structure. For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. Torrential rainfall is occurring with these storms, and may lead to flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. TORNADO…POSSIBLE; THUNDERSTORM DAMAGE THREAT…CONSIDERABLE; HAIL THREAT…RADAR INDICATED; MAX HAIL SIZE…<.75 IN; WIND THREAT…RADAR INDICATED; MAX WIND GUST…70 MPH
Below is our original report on the incoming storm system, published Sunday, Feb 15.
A series of big storms is headed for West Hollywood and the rest of Southern California starting late Sunday, and the first one’s expected to be a heavy hitter.
The National Weather Service is calling for 1 to 3 inches of rain in coastal and valley areas by late Monday, with 2 to 5 inches possible in the mountains. That’s potentially a lot of rain for one day. There’s also a chance of thunderstorms and even a possible weak tornado or water spout Monday morning.
A flood watch is already in effect for much of LA County from Monday morning through Monday evening. Rock and mud slides are possible in steep terrain, and the debris flows you always hear about remain a concern in the areas impacted by the Palisades, Eaton, Hurst, Sunset and other recent fires. LA County issued evacuation warnings Saturday for select areas near those burn areas, effective from 9 p.m. Sunday through 9 a.m. Tuesday.
Caltrans is also gonna close a section of Topanga Canyon Boulevard beginning at 10 p.m. Sunday because of the threat of slides, from PCH near Topanga Beach to Grand View Drive.
2025-2026 Rain Season Totals vs. Normal
Downtown LA has already blown past its full-season normal of 14.25 inches, sitting at 14.95 inches as of Feb. 14 with four months still left in the rain season. Burbank is even further ahead at 16.55 inches, which is 119% of its full-season normal of 13.91 inches. Beverly Hills has logged 16.91 inches, running more than 7 inches above normal-to-date. Season runs Jul 1 2025 – June 30th.
Downtown LA: 14.95 inches (14.25 inches normal for full season)
Burbank (Bob Hope Airport): 16.55 inches (13.91 inches normal for full season)
Beverly Hills: 16.91 inches (normal-to-date: 8.97 inches)
Hollywood Reservoir: 16.14 inches (16.92 inches normal for full season)
Bel Air: 17.92 inches (18.53 inches normal for full season)
Malibu: 16.30 inches (16.40 inches normal for full season)
Sources: NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard, Golden Gate Weather Services, LA Almanac, LADWP rain gauges. Totals as of Feb. 14, 2026, prior to the incoming storm system.
Multiple Storms Headed Our Way
Monday’s storm is just the first one to watch out for. A second, colder system is expected to roll in Tuesday night into Wednesday with more rain and lower snow levels. Cue the sick day excuses for the snowboarders and skiers who have been waiting patiently all winter. Snow that starts around 6,500 feet on Monday could fall to 4,000 to 5,000 feet by Tuesday and as low as 2,500 feet Wednesday. By the way, that puts the Grapevine, Cajon Pass and other mountain routes in play for possible closures.
An additional 1.5 to 3 inches of rain is expected Tuesday and Wednesday for West Hollywood and the Westside in general. A third system is being watched for Thursday, though confidence on that one’s arrival is still low.
Hold onto your hats. There’s a wind advisory too. The NWS says it will be in effect for most of Southern California, including West Hollywood, from 6 AM to 6 PM Monday and we should expect wind gusts up to 55 mph.
This is the first significant storm to hit the area in weeks. If you were around for the Pineapple Express that pounded SoCal right before Christmas, you know the drill. That one brought flooding, wind gusts up to 55 mph and set daily rainfall records. And if you remember the New Year’s storm that pushed WeHo’s rain totals toward record territory, you know how fast things can turn when the ground is already saturated.
What You Should Do
Now’s the time to clear drains and gutters on your property. Don’t let leaves and debris pile up along your curb because it won’t take much rain for things to back up. Keep emergency supplies handy, charge your phone and know how to turn off your utilities.
I know it’s a cliche and feels silly to say and hear, but as a reminder: If you have to drive, go slower, seriously. It can make the difference between you enjoying a nice rainy day or screwing your life and the life of someone else. Slow down and be sure to leave extra room between cars. Also, we can all agree, while it looks like fun, do not drive through standing water. It only takes about a foot of water to stall your car and cause even more problems. And for Pete’s sake (who’s Pete?) stay away from flood channels, catch basins and canyon waterways, which flood fast and without much warning. Duh!
Stay warm. Stay Dry. And stay off the roads if you can.
