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U.S. Weather Update 2.18.26

| February 18, 2026 | By

Gusty winds and low relative humidity will bring critical fire weather to the central and southern High Plains Wednesday. Two Pacific storms will continue impacting the mountains of the western U.S. into Thursday with gusty winds and heavy snow. Heavy snow and gusty winds will continue to impact the northern Plains into the central Great Lakes Wednesday.

Washington

Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 3 pm Wednesday.

  • Snow accumulations of 2 to 6 inches are expected.
 

Oregon

Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 10 am Thursday.

  • Snow accumulations of 3 to 8  inches are expected with 1 to 2 feet above 5000 feet. 
  • Winds gusting as high as 40 mph. 

California

Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 10 pm Thursday. 

  • Snow accumulations of 1 to 3 feet. 

  • Winds gusting as high as 45 to 55 mph. 

Nevada

Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 10 pm Wednesday.

  • Snow accumulations of 4 to 8 inches with 8 to 16 inches above 6000 feet.  
  • Winds gusting as high as 50 mph. 

Idaho

Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 5 am Thursday. 

  • Snow accumulations of 7 to 17 inches.

  • Winds gusting as high as 40 mph. 

Utah

Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 5  am Thursday.

  • Snow accumulations of 5 to 12 inches.
  • Winds gusting as high as 55 mph. 

Arizona

Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 8 pm Wednesday.

  • Snow accumulations of 4 to 10 inches.
  • Winds gusting as high as 45 mph.

Colorado

Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 5 am Thursday.

  • Snow accumulations of 5 to 12 inches.
  • Winds gusting as high as 55mph.

Wyoming

Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 5 am Thursday.

  • Snow accumulations of 1 to 3 feet.
  • Winds gusting as high as 65 mph.

Montana

Blizzard Warning remains in effect from 2 pm Tuesday to 5 pm Wednesday

  • Snow accumulations up to 2 inches. 

  • Winds gusting as high as 45 mph causing poor visibility and blowing snow. 

North Dakota

Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until midnight tonight.

  • Snow accumulations of 3 to 8 inches.
  • Winds gusting as high as 45 mph.

South Dakota

Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 3 pm this afternoon.

  • Snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches.
  • Winds gusting as high as 60 mph.

Minnesota

Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until noon Thursday.

  • Snow accumulations of 11 to 15 inches.
  • Winds gusting as high as 50 mph.

Blizzard Warning remains in effect until noon Thursday.

  • Winds gusting as high as 60 mph. 
  • Snow accumulations of 4 to 12 inches.
  • A light glaze of ice is expected. 

Michigan

Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 10 pm Wednesday.

  • Snow accumulations of 4 to 7 inches.
  • Ice accumulations up to one tenth of an inch
  • Winds gusting as high as 40 mph.

Arkansas

Flood warning remains in effect from Wednesday evening Sunday Morning. 

  • Minor flooding is expected along the Ouachita and Cache Rivers. 

Additional Dense Fog Advisory included but not limited to: Georgia, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.

 Additional High Wind Advisory included but not limited to: California, Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado,  Utah, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas,  South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois,  

Additional Winter Weather Watch included but not limited to : Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, Colorado,  New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota,  Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. 

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