The Best Photos From California's 70-Inch Blizzard
California's ski season seemed fairly lackluster until a mega-blizzard dumped more than 70 inches of snow across the region this week.
It's still snowing this morning, with an additional foot of accumulation possible before the storm is expected to clear tomorrow, February 20, 2026.
In the spirit of celebrating the deepest powder skiing of the season (we are POWDER Magazine, after all), let's take a look at some of the best pictures captured at ski resorts throughout the week.
Check back on this post later today for more photos. We'll continue to update as more shots come through. All reported storm totals are accurate as of 10:00 a.m. PST on February 19, 2026.
If you'd like to submit photos to be added to this story, email me: matt.lorelli@powder.com.
The 2026 POWDER Photo Annual is here! Look for a print copy on a newsstand near you, or click here to have a copy shipped directly to your front door.
Palisades Tahoe
Storm Total: 79 inches.
Chris Segal, Courtesy Palisades Tahoe
Chris Segal, Courtesy Palisades Tahoe
Chris Segal, Courtesy Palisades Tahoe
Chris Segal, Courtesy Palisades Tahoe
Chris Segal, Courtesy Palisades Tahoe
Mammoth Mountain/Mammoth Lakes, California
Storm Total: 75 inches (summit), 51 inches (Main Lodge).
Samantha Lindberg
Samantha Lindberg, Mammoth Lakes Tourism
Samantha Lindberg, Mammoth Lakes Tourism
Samantha Lindberg, Mammoth Lakes Tourism
Samantha Lindberg, Mammoth Lakes Tourism
Big Bear Mountain Resort
Storm Total: "Over 3 feet"
Courtesy Big Bear Mountain Resort
Courtesy Big Bear Mountain Resort