strangers. >> you were right, the creepiest story. cbs weekend ♪ tonight, west coast wallop. a powerful storm hits southern california. leaving heaps of snow, sleet, and flash flood warnings in its wake. some today even enjoying it. we're tracking the multistate storm and where it's going next. also russia's invasion of ukraine enters year two. the first leopard battle tanks arrive to help. >> i never thought a year ago i would drive this cat. >> as china flexes its superpower muscle, the head of the cia speaking. >> why would beijing risk a tailspin in its relationship with the united states and europe? >> that's a good question.

that's why i hope very much that they don't. spending spree, why americans are buying like crazy despite high inflation. plus the origins of black history month in chicago. surf's up, even if the temperature isn't. the winter wave riders chilling out on lake superior. >> everything else goes away, all you're doing is just focused on riding that wave. >> announcer: this is the "cbs weekend news" from chicago with adriana diaz. good evening. tonight, a powerful winter storm that piled up snow, prompted blizzard warnings, water rescues, and freeway closures. it's on its way out of southern california. 30 million americans woke up to weather alerts. los angeles chilled after a dusting of snow. this was the storm seen from space today. as it flowed over the california

toast. cbs' tom wait is in los angeles tonight with the latest. good evening, tom. how are you feeling out there? >> reporter: cold. good evening to you, adriana. california took a direct hit from the storm, l.a. beaches are closed and yosemite national park, california only beginning to assess the damage. mud slide fears in southern california after record-breaking rain and snow pummelled the state. >> it's a mess, i thought i was moving from st. louis to california to get to good weather. >> reporter: several motor homes parked above a river fell in when the ground gave way. swiftwater rescue crews saved people trapped in flooded cars. while some drivers had to wait for help, others near burbank airport just had to abandon their vehicles. others near burbank airport had to abandon their vehicles. rain and snow closed parts of the 5 freeway, major artery connecting southern and northern california. hundreds of thousands without power.

>> oh my gosh, wow, we just lost power. >> reporter: the unprecedented storm which is weakening as it moves east triggered rare blizzard warnings, left snow on california beaches and caught many -- >> this is crazy. >> reporter: -- off guard. >> oh my gosh, it's snowing in clairmont. >> reporter: the storms have led to a booming snowpack, which is a major source of water for drought-stricken california. it's already at 120% of the average season. for many a rare snow day is good, including the sledders in the san francisco bay area. the storm is easing california's drought, but one of the state's largest reservoirs is still only half full. the next month will be critical in determining how much water we have. adriana? >> incredible pictures, tom wait, thank you. so where's the storm heading this weekend? let's check in with meteorologist molly mccollum from our partners at the weather

channel. >> low snow levels, high winds, flooding rains, blizzard warnings. this historic winter storm has it all. speaking of blizzard, the last time southern california had to deal with a blizzard warning was february of 1989. from the central sierra to the grapevine, travel will be near impossible. the pattern stays active until sunday. an additional 1 to 2 inches of rain causing more flash flooding, landslides, and mudslides. by the time all is said and done, upwards of 6 feet of snow above 6,000 feet. what starts in the west doesn't stay in the west. this dynamic system will move into the plains, bringing the threat for tornados, hail, and damaging winds sunday evening. we'll continue to follow the system into the northeast where it could finally bring snow to the snow-starved i-95 corridor. >> molly mccullum of the weather channel. today, russia's invasion of ukraine entered year two of the conflict, and nato allies are ramping up support for the war-ravaged country. the first leopard battle tanks pledged to the fight have

arrived. these were provided by poland, with more on the way. cbs' charlie d'agata reports from outside kyiv where ukrainians remain as defiant as they were on day one. >> reporter: the sheer courage of ukraine's soldiers and civilians alike has become legendary. when ukrainian president volodymyr zelenskyy made that defiant televised address after the invasion began, saying, "when you attack us, you will see our faces, not our backs." the fact is they were facing one of the most powerful armies in the world. day one of the invasion began with a brutal firefight that would prove pivotal early in the defense of kyiv. the battle of the airport. russian forces were deployed to secure the cargo air field not more than ten miles from the capital itself. call sign starsky was among the

soldiers stationed at the airport. >> these are russian paratroopers? >> exactly, they're elite troops. we had up to 200 men. >> essentially a handful of people who had never pulled a trigger in their lives. >> reporter: he explained as sophisticated russian attack helicopters came in to land, his soldiers opened fire with their automatic weapons. >> one of the surprises that morning was that you can actually shoot down russian ka-52, that famous flying tank. >> reporter: some managed to land. when ferocious gun battles broke out that lasted for two hours, ukrainian artillery pounded the runway, denying an air bridge for russian forces and firepower. a small group of conscripts, financial officers, and national guard reservis held off the best of russian troops. >> there was no way for us to lose. because first of all, if we lose

this war, ukrainian nation is no more. >> you're fighting for your existence? >> we are fighting for our existence, and for our future. >> reporter: a future that still remains uncertain as the war enters year two. charlie d'agata, cbs news, the air field near kyiv. president biden spending the weekend in delaware days after his surprise visit to ukraine. new interest by china into the conflict is also drawing u.s. attention. krshs' christina ruffini is at the white house with more. >> reporter: last year at this time, we were standing at the ukrainian border watching the first wave of refugees fleeing russian bombs. today the focus has shifted from survival to resolution, and if there's a way to bring this conflict to a close. as crowds around the world rallied in support of ukraine, president biden defended more than $32 billion in american

military support. >> the cost of doing -- walking away could be considerably higher than the cost of helping ukraine maintain its independence. >> reporter: telling abc news it will help president zelenskyy negotiate peace from a position of strength. >> he needs tanks, he needs artillery, he needs air defense. >> reporter: the latest $2 billion package includes ammunition and small high-tech drones, but not fighter jets. ukrainian officials say they need better air support to counter russia's relentless assaults. >> there is no basis upon which there is a rationale, according to our military now, to provide f-16s. >> but you're not ruling it out? >> i am ruling it out for now. >> reporter: ukrainians will have to make do with tanks, delivered by poland this week, and another round of sanctions. those sanctions so far do not target china, which german media reports could be negotiating to send small battlefield drones to russia. >> well, we're confident that

the chinese leadership is considering the provision of lethal equipment. >> reporter: cia director bill burns spoke with cbs' margaret brennan for "face the nation." >> we also don't see that a final decision has been made yet, and we don't see evidence of actual shipments of lethal equipment. >> reporter: bay generally speaking has also put forward its own 12-point peace plan, and president zelenskyy is calling for a summit with the chinese. but president biden dismissed it saying, if putin is cheering it, can it be any good? adriana? >> christina ruffini, thank you. watch all margaret brennan's exclusive interview with cia director william burns tomorrow on "face the nation." former secretary of state condoleezza rice is also a guest. inflation remains high but many americans are shopping and eating out. cbs' michael george with more on the spending spree and how it can impact you. >> reporter: we know just about everything costs more these

days. but despite that, the latest numbers show americans are still willing to spend big on things like vacations and cars. and that could have a big impact on how long inflation lasts. prices for everyday essentials are still high across the country. in southern california, drivers are frustrated with gas prices. >> going up and going up. it's way too expensive. >> reporter: inflation is hitting a lot of families hard. but in a sign of a strong economy, americans' personal spending rose 1.8% in january. even with inflation, many people are willing to spend on restaurants, entertainment, and travel. >> consumers are spending. they're tolerating the higher prices because they're confident about their jobs and their wages. >> reporter: teresa giller ducci is professor of economics at the new school. >> when we hear spending is up, it seems good news for the economy. but what does that mean for inflation going forward? >> prices may still go up if

consumers' tolerance of those prices does continue. puhe fed to continue to raise interest rates, raising the likelihood of a recession. >> while it may seem like very good news, growth is good, consumers are spending, and so on -- the market is very often all about the fed and what is this going to drive the fed to do? >> reporter: today, warren buffett, one of the world's most successful investors, wrote in his annual letter to berkshire hathaway that despite inflation, he remains confident about the state of the u.s. economy. adriana? >> michael george, thanks so much. today in east palestine, ohio, health experts with the centers for disease control began a door-to-door canvass of their homes. their arrival comes three weeks after that toxic train derailment. last night people got to voice frustration in front of erin brockovich, a consumer advocate made famous by hollywood.

>> reporter: environmental activist erin brockovich told people at a town hall in east palestine to keep calling for the truth. >> every community i've been going to for 30 years, it's the same run-around. >> reporter: since the train derailed on february 3rd and spewed toxic materials, residents have reported an array of new health problems. though authorities say air and municipal water tests have not detected dangerous levels of chemicals. >> they are worried because they've got coughs and respiratory problems. >> reporter: brockovich says this disaster reminds her of her own experience in the 1990s when she discovered that a utility company was contaminating the groundwater in hinckley, california, sickening residents. on thursday, a preliminary ntsb report found that sensors alerted the crew of the norfolk southern train to an overheated wheel bearing and that they tried to slow down. but 38 rail cars derailed. the rail operator says it's

committed to cleaning up and that it's distributed $6.5 million in assistance tohow oft? >> lately, not often. just because of the chemicals. >> reporter: bridget pyles lives in a nearby town. >> i'm afraid of the chemicals coming here and the aftereffects. >> reporter: anxiety and uncertainty, she says, are rippling far beyond the derailment. across the region and into the future. roxana saberi, cbs news, east palestine, ohio. newspapers across the country have pulled the long-running "dilbert" comic strip after a racist rant from creator scott adams calling black americans members of a "hate group" saying white people should stay away from him. adams has written "dilbert" for three decades. straight ahead, he was the son of former slaves and the reason we celebrate black history month. talk about teamwork.

>> later, superior surfing. the coolest sport on the great lakes. he great lakes. ♪ ♪ we're the ones getting it done. we're managing type 2 diabetes and heart risk. we're on it with jardiance. join the growing number of people who are on it with the once-daily pill, jardiance. jardiance not only lowers a1c, it goes beyond to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death for adults with type 2 diabetes and known heart disease. and jardiance may help you lose some weight. jardiance may cause serious side effects including ketoacidosis that may be fatal, dehydration, (that can lead to sudden worsening of kidney function), and genital yeast or urinary tract infections. a rare, life-threatening bacterial infection in the skin of the perineum could occur. stop taking jardiance and call your doctor right away if you have symptoms of this infection, ketoacidosis or an allergic reaction, and don't take it if you're on dialysis. ith a sulfonylurea or insulin may cause low blood sugar. a once-daily pill that goes beyond lowering a1c?

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1900s. a frequent guest was historian carter g. woodson, borne to former slaves, went on to graduate from the university of chicago and harvard. inspired by this celebration of 50 years of emancipation in 1915, woodson organized a meeting at the "y" to create the association for the study of negro life and history. >> and that association decided to come up with negro achievement week, which is the precursor to black history month. it happened right here in this building. >> reporter: thomas, who goes by dilla, says they chose the second week in february -- >> because it contained the birthday of abraham lincoln and the made-up birthday of frederick douglass. >> reporter: woodson's association created "the journal of negro history" and provided materials for schools to teach black history, lessons that sometimes took place in secret. >> i think there are a lot of parallels to what's happening now with the banning of black history books and what dr.

carter g. woodson was trying to do is not use the lessons of the past to shame anyone, but to make sure we don't repeat those mistakes. >> he was a very creative, imaginative, resourceful man. >> reporter: her father worked closely with woodson and says woodson was known as a stickler for perfection and for his doggedness. >> black history had been written before carter g. woodson. what carter woodson did which no one else did was to start a movement. a movement that would comprise the entire nation. >> reporter: in 1976, the association expanded the week to a month. congress designated february as black history month a decade later. seeds woodson planted in this building in 1915 chicago. >> for him, the idea of a week was never a week. the idea of a month was never a month, as we have it now. it was always 365 days with all of the different activities. he was a builder.

he brought people together. >> he's very proud of the history we've made. >> woodson's legacy lives on. still ahead on the "cbs weekend news," it's still february. why is this buzzer-beater having us thinking of madness of march? madness of march. >> desmond cambridge! oh! okay everyone, our mission is complete balanced nutrition. together we support immune function. supply fuel for immune cells and sustain tissue health. ensure with twenty-five vitamins and minerals,

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virginia's elon university was heading back to campus after their victory over george mason when things ground to a halt. their bus was stuck in the mud, but it was no problem. with a big push, they were soon back on the road. now to the world of sports and a thriller in college basketball. >> inbound, desmond cambridge -- oh! >> today in tucson, arizona state defeated rival arizona with that remarkable half court buzzer-beater. final score 89-88 and a shot to remember. turning to a young couple caught on camera building a love nest. a surveillance camera high above shepherdstown, west virginia, recorded these bought eagles working together on their home. eagles have been inhabiting the spot for the last 20 years. next on the "cbs weekend news," catching a wave in a winter surfing hot spot.

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>> you know, we talk about minnesota here. the surfers in minnesota, the coldest conditions, the warmest friends. love it here, like no place else in the world. >> reporter: when conditions are just right, 63-year-old eric wilkie and son garrett drive from danbury, wisconsin, to surf here. eric is so well known the locals have given him a nickname. >> we call him the oracle. he'll get the emails or the phone calls, "when is it happening?" >> reporter: the problem is you may not know in the day of. eric grew up in southern california where the waves are more predictable. he went to college in wisconsin, met his wife, and settled down. people have been surfing lake superior since at least the 1970s. it wasn't until the early 2000s when a film called "unsalted" was released and surfers really began to show up. even in january. when they surf in the winter, the water temperature is between

33 and 36 j ave freezi. the a tempeture can be below zero. >> the ice clings to your face in a matter of moments, and it's just so crispy. >> reporter: wet suits, gloves, and booties are a must. >> without that equipment, you've got about two minutes in the water and you're freezing to death. >> reporter: on a good day they can last about 45 minutes before the cold takes over. eric surfed everywhere, but his favorite wave to catch is the one in his own backyard. >> the childlike feeling that everything else in the world goes away, all you're doing is focused on riding that wave, feeling the smoothness and the connection with nature for that moment. doesn't last but a few seconds, but oh, it's the memory of a lifetime. >> reporter: john loretson, cbs news, duluth, minnesota. >> good for them. for is saturday. nht.ng news"

from cbs news bay area, this is the evening edition. >> from the calm before the storm, we are tracking when the storms will move back into your neighborhood. not one, not two, but three side shows last night in oakland. despite police saying they have increased enforcement. >> my car has been shot several times. our home has been shot several times. that is beyond what else is going on. >> putting up literal barriers to crime and prostitution in oakland. the strategy from city leaders to try to help fed up homeowners. live from the cbs studios in san francisco this saturday evening, i'm brian hackney. >> and i'm andrea nakano. our top story now at 6:00 is

the snow and upcoming rainstorm. snow is blanketing much of northern california. these time lapse videos showing the conditions today. the small break in the weather gave people an opportunity to head out and enjoy this rare snowfall. this video was sent in by a biker on mount tam this afternoon. the snow man overlooking the north bay with a clear view of the san francisco skyline in the distance. >> kids in los gatos got to take advantage of the snow and go sledding and build snow men. the video taken during the height of the snowstorm yesterday morning. if you tried to head over los gatos, you couldn't get there through 17 closed over the lexington reservoir. some snow still on the shoulder but caltrans had one southbound lane closed for maintenance. cars were able to squeeze through to get to santa cruz. the snow may be over, but we have a lot more activity coming up weather