You’re probably checking your weather app right now because someone on TikTok posted a video of white powder falling over a palm tree in Hollywood. Or maybe you just saw a "Snow in Los Angeles" headline and thought the world was ending. Let's be real: usually, when people ask is it snowing in LA, they’re actually seeing "graupel"—which is basically soft, tiny hail that looks like Dippin' Dots—or they're looking at the mountains from twenty miles away.
It’s rare. Like, once-in-a-generation rare.
But here’s the thing. In early 2026, the weather patterns have been weirdly aggressive. We’ve seen moisture-rich atmospheric rivers slamming into cold fronts coming down from Canada, and that’s exactly the recipe you need to get flakes in the basin. If you're standing on Santa Monica Boulevard and seeing white stuff, you're either witnessing a freak meteorological event or a very expensive movie set.
What’s Actually Falling From the Sky?
Most of the time, what Angelenos call "snow" is a big fat lie. Scientists at the National Weather Service (NWS) in Oxnard spend a lot of time explaining the difference between snow, hail, and graupel. Graupel happens when supercooled water droplets freeze onto a falling snowflake. It’s bouncy. It’s crunchy. It’s not a snowflake.
Real snow requires the entire column of air from the clouds to the pavement to be at or below freezing. In Los Angeles, the Pacific Ocean acts like a giant space heater. It keeps the coastal air too warm for snow to survive the trip down. Even when it’s 40°F (4°C) outside—which feels like the arctic to a local—it’s still way too warm for snow to stick.
However, if you head up toward the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, things change fast. Places like La Crescenta, Altadena, and the higher parts of Pasadena actually see a dusting every few years. In February 2023, we saw a historic storm where snow levels dropped to 1,000 feet. People were making snowmen in the Santa Monica Mountains with a view of the Pacific Ocean. That was a "once in 30 years" event, but as climate patterns shift, these wild swings are becoming our new normal.
The Great LA Snow of 1949 and 1962
To understand why everyone freaks out, you have to look at the history. On January 11, 1949, Los Angeles looked like a postcard from Vermont. We’re talking about three days of actual, measurable snow. It wasn't just a dusting; it was enough to cancel schools and trap cars. People were skiing down the hills in Griffith Park.
👉 See also: Road Conditions I40 Tennessee: What You Need to Know Before Hitting the Asphalt
Then came 1962. A massive cold snap brought several inches to the city, even hitting the beaches in some areas. Since then? It’s been mostly "traces." We had a weird moment in 2019 where flakes were spotted at the Hollywood sign, but it didn't really stick.
When you ask is it snowing in LA today, the answer is almost always "No, but go look at Mt. Baldy." The mountains surrounding the Los Angeles basin, like the San Gabriels and the San Bernardinos, get hammered with snow. You can be surfing in Malibu at 10:00 AM and snowboarding at Big Bear by 2:00 PM. That’s the real California dream.
Why the "Graupel" Confusion Happens
Local news loves a "Snow in LA" headline. It gets clicks.
Last year, a heavy thunderstorm dropped a layer of small hail over Silver Lake and Echo Park. Within ten minutes, Instagram was flooded with "Snowing in LA!" posts. It looked white. It covered the grass. But if you touched it, it was hard ice pellets.
Real snow is soft. It’s quiet. If you don't hear the "patter-patter" of ice hitting your window, it might be the real deal. But don't hold your breath if you're in the Los Angeles Basin.
The Mountain Exception: Where the Snow Lives
If you’re desperate for the cold stuff, you don't stay in the city. You drive.
✨ Don't miss: Finding Alta West Virginia: Why This Greenbrier County Spot Keeps People Coming Back
- The Grapevine (I-5): This is the high-elevation pass between LA and the Central Valley. It closes all the time because of snow. If it’s raining in the city and the temperature is under 50°F, there’s a 90% chance the Grapevine is a winter wonderland (and a traffic nightmare).
- Wrightwood: A hidden gem. It’s tucked in the San Gabriels and feels like a mountain village. When a storm hits, this is the first place to get buried.
- Mt. Wilson: You can see the radio towers from almost anywhere in LA. If those towers are white, it’s snowing up there. It sits at about 5,700 feet.
Meteorologist Dr. Lucy Jones and other experts often point out that Southern California's geography is basically a vertical staircase. Every 1,000 feet you go up, the temperature drops significantly. So, while it’s 55°F at the Grove, it’s 32°F at the top of the Angeles Crest Highway.
Staying Safe When the "Unthinkable" Happens
Southern California drivers are notoriously bad in the rain. Add a little bit of slush or ice to the mix, and it’s absolute chaos. Most cars in LA are equipped with summer or all-season tires that harden up like plastic when the temperature hits freezing.
If it actually starts snowing or icing in the city:
- Stay off the hills. Places like Laurel Canyon or the Hollywood Hills become ice skating rinks.
- Check your tire pressure. Cold air makes it drop instantly.
- Watch out for "black ice" on overpasses.
Honestly, the biggest danger isn't the snow itself; it's the fact that we don't have salt trucks or snow plows. The city basically relies on the sun coming out the next morning to melt everything away.
Vertical Climate Zones
Los Angeles is one of the few places on Earth where you can experience three different climates in a sixty-minute drive. You have the Mediterranean coast, the semi-arid basin, and the alpine mountains. This is why the question is it snowing in LA is so tricky.
Technically, the City of Los Angeles includes parts of the San Fernando Valley and the foothills. So, it can be snowing in the city limits while people are wearing shorts in Santa Monica.
🔗 Read more: The Gwen Luxury Hotel Chicago: What Most People Get Wrong About This Art Deco Icon
How to Check if Snow is Coming
Don't trust the weather app on your phone's home screen. It usually pulls data from LAX, which is right by the ocean and will never, ever show snow. Instead, look at the "Hourly Forecast" for specific zip codes like 91011 (La Cañada Flintridge) or 90068 (near the Hollywood Sign).
If the "Snow Level" in the forecast drops below 2,000 feet, get your camera ready. That’s when the magic happens.
What to Do Right Now
If you are looking at the sky and seeing white:
- Check the ground. If it bounces, it's hail. If it disappears immediately, it's likely just very cold rain or melting flakes.
- Head to a higher elevation. Drive toward Griffith Observatory. Even if it isn't snowing there, the view of the snow-capped peaks behind the skyline is the best photo op in the city.
- Monitor the NWS Oxnard Twitter/X feed. They are the undisputed authority on whether what you’re seeing is scientifically considered snow.
- Prepare for traffic. Any hint of weird weather sends the 405 into a standstill.
Don't expect it to last. Even the biggest LA snow events are usually gone by noon. The California sun is aggressive, and it doesn't tolerate winter for very long. Enjoy the five minutes of shivering, take your pictures, and then go back to complaining about the "freezing" 50-degree weather like a true local.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the Snow Level: Visit the National Weather Service website and look for the "Forecast Discussion." Search for the term "Snow Level." If it's under 2,500 feet, you're in for a rare treat.
- Prep Your Car: If you plan on driving toward the mountains to see the snow, California law often requires you to carry tire chains during winter storms. Don't get turned around by the Highway Patrol because you forgot them.
- Update Your Emergency Kit: Rare cold snaps in LA can lead to power outages because our grid isn't used to the heating demand. Make sure you have blankets and a flashlight ready.