Good morning.

I'm Cedric and This is your EM Morning Brief for Monday, February 16, 2026 A Pacific Storm Train drives the top risks today.

The Weather Prediction center flags a slight risk for flash flooding from heavy rain along parts of Central and Southern California, with the most impactful rain expected late morning through early evening and added concern for burn scars and urban drainage.

The same system also brings heavy mountain snow and difficult travel in the Sierra Nevada and other western ranges into midweek.

Away from the West, Fire weather becomes the next big watch NOAA's critical weather day Outlook signals critical support needs Tuesday for fire weather operations in the Central High Plains, with the potential to extend into Wednesday farther south as winds and low humidity alignment in the Southeast.

The weekend stormline continues to produce damaging wind and tornado watch conditions in pockets from Louisiana and Mississippi toward Georgia and the Florida Panhandle tropics.

Stay quiet.

No active tropical cyclones are posted by the National Hurricane center and USGS shows no significant earthquakes in the past day feed let's run through the states.

California is the lead today.

Federal forecasters highlight a slight risk for excessive rainfall and flash flooding across portions of central and Southern California with peak impact late morning through early evening.

Expect bursts of efficient rain rates, especially along the Central coast into the Transverse Ranges and into the northern Los Angeles metro where burn scars, steep terrain and urban areas are most prone to rapid runoff.

Cal OES reports the state is pre positioning fire and rescue resources including engines, Swiftwater teams and urban search and rescue support in multiple counties ahead of the statewide storm window.

Fire weather is the key concern building into Tuesday.

NOAA's critical weather day Outlook calls for critical support Tuesday tied to fire weather operations in the Central High Plains with the possibility of extension into Wednesday to support broader operations across the central and southern High Plains.

For Colorado, that means be ready for rapid fire spread potential where fuels are receptive and winds increase, especially on the Plains.

Florida remains in the trailing edge of the Southeast storm pattern overnight into today.

Tornado watch conditions and damaging wind potential have been reported in the Florida Panhandle as the storm line pushes east.

The Storm Prediction Center's Day two outlook shows no organized severe areas for tomorrow, but today's lingering line can still produce brief, fast hitting impacts.

Georgia stays in the active corridor as the Southeast storm line shifts east.

Reports tied to the same system place parts of South Georgia under tornado watch conditions as the line moves through.

While The SPC Day 2 outlook indicates no organized severe areas for tomorrow, today's residual threat is still capable of quick tornado spin ups and damaging gusts Kansas is in the fire weather readiness lane for Tuesday.

NOAA's critical weather day Outlook flags critical support for fire weather operations in the central High Plains with possible extension into Wednesday.

Louisiana continues to see impacts from the Southeast storm system and including damaging winds and localized tornado watch conditions.

Reports from the Lake Charles area note storm damage, downed lines and infrastructure impacts while the broader line progresses.

East Mississippi remains in the corridor for damaging winds and tornado watch conditions tied to the passing storm line.

Nevada's main concern is western high elevation travel tied to the Pacific storm pattern and the Weather Prediction Center's Short Range discussion calls out heavy mountain snow in the Sierra and impacts extending into midweek.

New Mexico is in the broader High Plains fire weather support picture as we head into Tuesday.

NOAA's critical weather day Outlook signals critical support needs Tuesday for fire weather operations in the Central High Plains with possible extension into Wednesday into the southern High Plains.

Oklahoma is in an elevated fire weather posture today into Tuesday.

NOAA's Critical Weather Day Outlook flags Tuesday as critical for fire weather support in the Central High Plains and the National Weather Service office serving Oklahoma shows red flag warning coverage on its hazards map early this morning.

Oregon is in the western storm track.

The Weather Prediction Center's Short Range discussion calls for Pacific storms impacting the west through midweek, bringing gusty winds, low elevation rain and heavy mountain snow.

Texas is in the fire weather risk corridor building into Tuesday, especially across the High Plains and near the Red River.

NOAA's Critical Weather Day Outlook highlights critical support needs Tuesday tied to fire weather operations in the Central High Plains, with the potential to extend into Wednesday into the southern High Plains.

Washington remains under the western storm pattern into midweek.

The Weather Prediction Center's Short Range discussion calls out Pacific storms bringing gusty winds, rain at lower elevations and heavy mountain snow.

Mountain travel conditions deteriorate quickly.

All other states have no significant updates in the last 24 hours.

That's the operational picture for February 16th.

Stay safe.