Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for Central and Southern Los Angeles County

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Los Angeles/Oxnard CA has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Central and Southern Los Angeles County. This alert was issued at 12:18 AM PST on February 18, 2026, following radar-indicated severe weather moving east at 40 mph.

Affected Areas

The warning covers a broad portion of southwestern California, specifically Central and Southern Los Angeles County. Impacted locations include:

• Long Beach
• Thousand Oaks
• Hollywood
• Burbank
• Beverly Hills
• Northridge
• Torrance
• Inglewood
• Van Nuys
• Culver City
• Alhambra
• Whittier
• Encino
• Manhattan Beach
• Agoura Hills
• Venice
• Rancho Palos Verdes
• Mount Wilson
• Universal City
• Griffith Park

What You Should Do

Residents in the warning area should move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building for protection. Remain alert for the possibility of a tornado, as they can develop quickly during severe thunderstorms. If a tornado is spotted, go immediately to a basement or a small central room.

Expected Conditions

• Wind: Gusts between 60 and 70 mph are expected. These winds are likely to cause considerable tree damage and damage to mobile homes, roofs, and outbuildings.
• Tornado Threat: A brief, weak tornado is possible.
• Hail: Radar indicates the potential for hail up to .75 inches in size.
• Storm Movement: At 12:17 AM PST, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from Pacoima to 26 miles southeast of Anacapa Island, moving east at 40 mph.

Timeline

The Severe Thunderstorm Warning is effective immediately and is scheduled to expire at 1:45 AM PST on February 18, 2026.