Winter Storm Warning Issued for Trinity County: Heavy Snow and Dangerous Travel Expected Through Wednesday

Weather Alerts high NOAA · · Trinity County, California

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Trinity County, forecasting up to 17 inches of snow and wind gusts of 35 mph through Wednesday afternoon.

Alert Details

A Winter Storm Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service in Eureka, CA. The alert is currently in effect and will remain active until 4:00 PM PST on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically covers the following geographic regions in California:

  • Northern Trinity County
  • Southern Trinity County

What You Should Do

Residents and travelers in the affected areas are advised to take the following precautions:

  • Delay Travel: Officials strongly encourage persons to consider delaying all travel. If travel is absolutely necessary, use extreme caution.
  • Emergency Supplies: If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.
  • Check Road Conditions: The latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.
  • Safety Hazards: Do not touch downed power lines and report any outages to your electric company. Be aware of the possibility of downed trees and slick roadways.
  • Equipment: Tire chains may be necessary if traveling through mountain passes.

Expected Conditions

  • Snow Accumulation: Total additional snow accumulations are expected to be between 5 and 17 inches.
  • Snow Levels: Snow levels will remain above 4000 feet through early Monday afternoon, dropping to 2000 feet Monday evening into Tuesday. There is a potential for snow levels to reach as low as 1500 feet during the heaviest snowfall.
  • Wind: Wind gusts are expected to reach as high as 35 mph.
  • Impacts: Travel could be very difficult to impossible due to heavy snow and slick conditions.

Timeline

  • Effective Period: The warning is active as of 10:26 AM PST, Monday, February 16.
  • Peak Intensity: The heaviest snowfall rates are expected late Monday through Tuesday morning.
  • Expiration: The alert is scheduled to expire at 4:00 PM PST on Wednesday, February 18.

Source: NOAA Official Notice