Storms Pummel U.S.

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) – A brutal winter storm that trapped drivers on icy roads, blacked out hundreds of thousands of homes, grounded airplanes and closed schools across much of the country is now poised to slam California. The National Weather Service says damaging winds, heavy mountain snow and dangerous waves are possible Thursday. A rare blizzard warning has been issued for Southern California mountains. Meanwhile, a coast-to-coast weather pattern that’s pummeled states from Arizona to Michigan is expected to continue and spread to the East Coast later in the week. In Wyoming, motorists were stranded in cars on windy, snowy highways.  The weather also contributed to electrical problems, with more than 579,000 customers without power Wednesday night in Michigan alone.