Live updates: Severe storms flood Los Angeles while blizzard threatens Upper Midwest

Lead: A powerful storm system drenched Southern California on Monday, producing flash flooding and debris-flow warnings across Los Angeles and nearby coastal valleys while a separate winter system is developing into a dangerous blizzard for the Upper Midwest. Northern Minnesota faces up to 24 inches of snow in places and wind gusts near 60 mph that could produce whiteout conditions and power outages. Emergency responders in Colorado and California are managing multi-vehicle crashes, urban rescues and road closures as utilities preemptively shut power in parts of the Plains to reduce wildfire risk. Forecasts show additional Pacific storms for California this week and continued high winds and low humidity over the Central and Southern Plains.

Key takeaways

• Flash flood warnings were issued Monday for central Los Angeles, Glendale and Pasadena after coastal and valley areas recorded up to 3 inches of rain and mountain sites saw as much as 5 inches.
• Blizzard conditions are expected for Minnesota’s North Shore, including Grand Marais and Silver Bay, with localized totals up to 24 inches and wind gusts near 60 mph through Wednesday.
• Forecasters warned of an “extremely critical” fire-weather threat for parts of Colorado and Nebraska, with gusts up to 70 mph and humidity dropping to about 10% in some areas.
• A multi-vehicle pileup on I-25 near Stem Beach, Colorado (mileposts 92–94) killed at least four people; poor visibility from wind-blown dust was reported at the scene.
• Xcel Energy implemented a Public Safety Power Shutoff affecting roughly 15,000 customers across 14 Texas Panhandle counties to reduce wildfire ignition risk amid 70 mph gusts and record dry conditions.
• Interstate 80 between Colfax and the California/Nevada state line is closed due to heavy Sierra Nevada snowfall, with chain controls and major travel restrictions across multiple mountain corridors.
• Snow rates in parts of the Sierra and northern Sierra/Lake Tahoe region could reach 2–3 inches per hour, with isolated ridgetop gusts forecasted above 100 mph.

Background

The West-to-East progression of a strong Pacific storm complex has produced a broad swath of impacts across the western United States and is now transferring energy into the central and northern Plains. Southern California saw heavy, slow-moving convective bands that overran saturated soils from earlier storms, elevating urban flood and debris-flow risks—especially in recent burn-scar areas where runoff runs faster and mudslide hazards are amplified. At the same time, a developing upper-level trough and incoming arctic air are setting up a classic late-winter blizzard pattern for the Upper Midwest, where a narrow, moisture-rich corridor will interact with falling temperatures to produce heavy, wet snow.

Across the Central and Southern Plains, an unusual confluence of record warmth followed by strong downslope winds has driven humidity to critically low levels and created an environment favorable for rapid wildfire spread. Exceptional fuel loading from last year’s abundant growth, now cured and dry, increases the risk that any ignition could expand quickly under sustained 30–40 mph winds and gusts reaching 60–70 mph. Emergency agencies and utilities have moved to proactive mitigation—pre-positioning crews, staging strike teams, and instituting targeted power shutoffs—to reduce the chance of human-caused ignitions during the peak risk period.

Main event

Los Angeles and adjacent coastal valleys experienced intense rainfall on Monday, prompting Flash Flood Warnings for central Los Angeles, Glendale and Pasadena. City streets and several intersections were overwhelmed; the Los Angeles Fire Department aided at least one person who became trapped in a submerged vehicle at West Olympic and Sawtelle Boulevards. Local officials issued evacuation readiness notices for neighborhoods below recent burn scars, including areas of the Palisades and Sunset, where debris-flow potential is highest after heavy runoff.

In the Sierra Nevada, heavy mountain snow and powerful winds forced Interstate 80 to close between Colfax and the California/Nevada border. Chain controls and closures are in effect on numerous mountain routes (Highways 28, 89, 267, State Route 49 and Highway 50 segments), and travel is strongly discouraged. Forecasters emphasize that some high-elevation sites could receive feet of snow—boosting the seasonal snowpack but creating extended avalanche and travel hazards.

In the Upper Midwest, meteorologists issued Blizzard Warnings for Minnesota’s North Shore and adjacent northern counties. The forecast includes a rapid transition from rain or freezing mix to heavy, wet snow, with localized bands producing high accumulation rates. With gusts of 40–60 mph expected, whiteout conditions and tree or power-line loading from dense snow could cause widespread outages and make roads impassable through Wednesday.

Meanwhile, in the Central and Southern Plains emergency offices reported widespread activation and pre-deployment of fire suppression resources. Oklahoma’s forestry teams and state emergency centers were mobilized as Fire Weather Warnings and Watches stretched across Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, South Dakota, Colorado, and Wyoming. In the Texas Panhandle, Xcel Energy’s planned PSPS cut power to approximately 15,000 customers across 14 counties to reduce wildfire ignition risk while crews stand by for restoration once conditions abate.

Analysis & implications

The storms present a mixed short-term and long-term set of consequences. In California, heavy mountain snow will improve a snowpack that as of mid-February sat at roughly 53–59% of normal, offering a critical boost to spring and summer water supplies. However, the immediate human and infrastructural costs—flash flooding in urban basins, debris flows below burn scars, closed highways and disrupted airports—reflect the high hazard of atmospheric rivers and rapid precipitation on saturated soils.

For the Upper Midwest, the combination of heavy, wet snow and high winds is especially hazardous: dense snow adheres to branches and lines, increasing the likelihood of outages and structural damage. Emergency managers must balance road-clearing priorities with public safety since heavy equipment operating in whiteout conditions increases risk for crews and motorists. The timing—during a period of transition from mild to arctic air—raises the chance of flash freezes where remaining slushy surfaces refreeze, compounding travel hazards.

Across the Plains, the “extremely critical” fire-weather setup underscores how quickly seasonal conditions can flip. Exceptional fuel loads from a wet growing season turned into abundant, now-dry fine fuels; paired with sustained high winds and single-digit humidity, any spark—downed power line, vehicle malfunction, or human activity—could ignite rapidly spreading fires. Electrical utilities’ PSPS actions reduce ignition risk but also produce secondary hazards: hospitals and residents dependent on electricity face reduced services, and restoration will be slow because crews must inspect lines mile-by-mile before re-energizing.

Economically, the widespread disruptions—transportation shutdowns, flight delays, road closures, and localized business interruptions—will ripple through regional supply chains and raise immediate costs for emergency response. The contrast of water benefits in the mountains and acute hazards in lower elevations illustrates the complex trade-offs policymakers and resource managers face in extreme, multi-hazard weather events.

Comparison & data

The table above summarizes the contrasting impacts: heavy liquid precipitation in coastal and valley areas, deep snow in mountains and the Upper Midwest, and severe wind-driven dryness across the Plains. These differences reflect the storm complex’s scale and the interaction between moisture, terrain and temperature.

Reactions & quotes

Emergency and weather officials emphasized immediate safety and awareness while describing ongoing operations.

“Crews are working through complex crash and rescue operations; visibility was extremely poor at the time of the collision.”

Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office (official update)

The sheriff’s office reported multiple transports to hospitals and said all lanes on I-25 remain closed between Exit 91 and West Pueblo Boulevard while responders continue recovery and investigation.

“Blizzard conditions are expected along the North Shore with heavy, wet snow and strong winds that will create near-zero visibility.”

National Weather Service (forecast statement)

The NWS advisory accompanies Blizard Warnings and travel cautions; forecasters asked residents to postpone travel and prepare for possible power outages in affected areas.

“A targeted public-safety power shutoff was initiated to reduce wildfire risk while winds remain extreme and fuels are critically dry.”

Xcel Energy (customer advisory)

Xcel confirmed about 15,000 customers in 14 Texas Panhandle counties were temporarily de-energized and warned that restoration will require line inspections and favorable weather conditions.

Unconfirmed

• Exact cause of the multi-vehicle pileup on I-25 remains under investigation; preliminary reports cite very poor visibility from wind-blown dust but a formal determination is pending.
• Precise estimates of total power outage duration for all Xcel Energy customers are not yet available; restoration timelines depend on weather and damage assessments.
• Total statewide water-supply benefit to California from this multi-day Sierra storm remains to be calculated; final snowpack and melt-runoff impacts will be assessed by hydrologic agencies.

Bottom line

This evolving multi-hazard event combines heavy precipitation and mountain snow in the West, a dangerous blizzard threat across the Upper Midwest and an extreme fire-weather outbreak over the Plains. The same storm complex that will help refill mountain snowpack is producing immediate life-safety hazards—flooding, debris flows, avalanche risk, whiteout travel and the potential for rapid wildfire spread—so situational awareness and adherence to official advisories are essential.

Short-term priorities: avoid travel in warned areas, follow evacuation orders and utility guidance, and prepare for power outages. Over the coming days, monitor official updates from local emergency managers, the National Weather Service, and utilities for changes to warnings and restoration plans as crews respond and conditions evolve.

Sources

• FOX Weather live coverage — (news outlet, live updates)
• National Weather Service — (official federal weather agency)
• Colorado State Patrol — (official state law enforcement)
• Xcel Energy outage & safety information — (utility advisory)
• NOAA Storm Prediction Center — (official federal severe-weather outlooks)
• Los Angeles Fire Department — (local emergency response agency)
• Oklahoma Forestry Services / State Conservation — (state forestry and fire resources)