Winter Storm Warning Issued for Santa Barbara and Ventura County Mountains, I-5 Corridor

Source: NOAA · Southern California Mountains

This alert is no longer in effect.

NOAA issued it on April 6, 2026, 4 months ago. Warnings of this kind stay in effect for hours to a few days, so this page is a historical record of what was issued, not a current warning. For conditions where you are right now, check weather.gov (US), weather.gc.ca (Canada), the Met Office (UK), or the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia).

Areazine synthesizes this NWS weather alert directly from NOAA's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Southern California mountains, forecasting heavy snow and wind gusts up to 70 mph through Friday morning.

Read this weather record in 30 seconds

Record type
Winter Storm Warning
Affected area
Southern California Mountains
Issued
April 6, 2026
Issuing authority
NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA

Storm notices can cover different combinations of wind, hail, lightning, and rainfall. Use the original notice for the hazards and boundaries attached to this specific record.

Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in Southern California Mountains.

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Los Angeles/Oxnard CA has issued a Winter Storm Warning for portions of Southern California. The alert is effective starting at 9:00 PM PST this evening and remains in place until 7:00 AM PST Friday.

Affected Areas

The following geographic regions are included in the warning area:

  • Santa Barbara County Interior Mountains
  • Southern Ventura County Mountains
  • Interstate 5 Corridor (including the Grapevine)

Expected Conditions

Significant winter weather hazards are anticipated, including heavy snow and dangerous winds:

  • Snow Accumulations: 1 to 4 inches are possible for elevations between 3,500 and 4,500 feet, including the Grapevine of the Interstate-5 Corridor. Higher elevations above 4,500 feet could see total snow accumulations of 6 to 12 inches.
  • Wind Speeds: Wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph are possible this afternoon through late tonight, and again from late Wednesday night into Thursday morning.
  • Visibility: Falling and blowing snow may cause visibilities to drop below one-quarter mile.
  • Road Conditions: Roads, bridges, and overpasses are likely to become slick and hazardous, making travel treacherous.

What You Should Do

If travel is absolutely necessary, the National Weather Service advises driving with extreme caution. Residents and travelers should:

  • Be prepared for sudden changes in visibility.
  • Leave plenty of room between vehicles and allow extra time to reach your destination.
  • Avoid sudden braking or acceleration, particularly on hills or when making turns.
  • Ensure your vehicle is winterized and in good working order.
  • Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on the situation.

Timeline

The Winter Storm Warning begins at 9:00 PM PST on Tuesday, February 17, and is currently scheduled to expire at 7:00 AM PST on Friday, February 20.

Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this NWS weather alert.

What is this NWS weather alert about?
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Southern California mountains, forecasting heavy snow and wind gusts up to 70 mph through Friday morning.
Which agency issued this alert?
This alert was issued by NOAA. The original notice is available at the source link at the bottom of this article.
How severe is this alert?
This alert is classified as "high" severity. Take precautions and monitor for updates.
What area is affected?
This alert affects Southern California Mountains. Check with NOAA for the most current geographic scope.
Where can I find more Weather Alerts updates?
Browse the full Weather Alerts feed on Areazine at areazine.com/weather/ for the latest updates from NOAA and other agencies.