Winter Storm Warnings Spread to 5 States with Up to 24 Inches of Snow and 70 MPH Gusts

While the number of winter storm warnings issued across the U.S. has dropped in recent days, they remain active in 5 states. These warnings call for harsh conditions, including wind gusts of up to 70 mph and snow totals reaching 24 inches.

New Winter Storm Warnings Hit 5 States: What the Forecasts Mean for Snow Accumulation and Wind Gusts

On February 11, 2026, Newsweek reported on the harsh winter weather that is still affecting the U.S. as winter storm warnings are active in 5 states: Alaska, Maine, Colorado, California, and Wyoming. Those areas of the country face heavy snowfall combined with strong wind gusts that threaten dangerous driving conditions. Those travel hazards are worse in remote or elevated regions of the affected cities, causing roads to quickly become impassable.

California has had a high wind warning issued on top of its winter storm warnings, according to a KESQ News Channel 2 report citing the National Weather Service. The forecasted conditions call for the San Bernardino County Mountains to be struck with wind gusts of up to 70 mph at higher elevations. Additionally, the warning predicts that the Apple and Lucerne Valleys will face similar conditions of 45 to 55 mph winds. It is expected that the gusts could blow down trees and power lines, possibly causing outages, while making travel difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles.

The National Weather Service also issued a separate winter storm warning today for California's Sierra Nevada, including Wawona, Tuolumne Meadows, Shaver Lake, and Huntington Lake. Forecasters expect snow accumulation of up to 24 inches, including what has already fallen, and wind gusts of 50 mph. The warning cautions that traveling in that region can be perilous enough in these conditions that they advise that anyone who must travel be prepared. "If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency."

Smarter De-Icing Tips to Protect Your Driveway and Save Money During Heavy Snow

Heavy snowfall in several states inevitably leads to ice building up in driveways. A Men's Journal article offered practical advice on how to de-ice smarter, by swapping commercial rock salt products for sugar beet juice in many cases. The advantages of that substitution are that the natural option costs significantly less, is gentler on pets, and is less likely to crack your driveway. However, sugar beet juice works best on lighter ice and snow buildup. As a result, thicker slippery patches may require manual removal or commercial de-icers. The article also reveals that a quick post-winter driveway inspection for anyone who uses rock salt can save homeowners hundreds or thousands of dollars.