An exceptionally cold winter storm buffeting California brought snow to coastal hills that rarely see it, shut major highways near Los Angeles and Santa Cruz and knocked out power to more than 110,000 homes and businesses.

Tornadoes have killed at least two people in Louisiana as a violent weather system moves across the U.S., spawning blizzards in the Great Plains that will be followed by a blast of the season’s coldest weather to the Midwest, Northeast and Texas.

Semitrailer drivers filled parking lots in Jamestown, N.D., because I-94 to Montana was closed overnight April 13 due to a blizzard.