the winds are a factor. not as gusty as yesterday. tonight is clear. it's a little breeze so the wind chill in the upper single numbers overnight. a lot of sunshine starting the day tomorrow. traveling ahead in time snowshowers tomorrow. sunshine on thursday. friday is cloudy, cold, breezy with the potential of a major impact storm in the mid-atlantic. heavy snow. you mentioned that the storm hasn't formed but this is a good time to prepare. a look at the storm over the pacific northwest. the radar modeling is reliable in the next few days. one model outlook that shows the center over eastern tennessee at 2:00 p.m. friday. >> a arriving. there is a number of models to

check but it's on track for substantial storm. alison: we'll be watching. the numbering cold weather this morning wreaked havoc on the computers. many et row had two cracked rail and they had to navigate around a water main in fair fax county. the biggest problem is the water flowing across route 123. the rough commutes are only part of the problem. stephen tschida continues a team coverage live from northwest washington. stephen: it's very cold out here. i will tell you just how cold. i'll check in on the weather meter. the wind is dipping down to 12, 14 degrees. a lot of people dealing with the wicked wind chill tonight. beautiful day but blistering

cold. >> it's bitter. stephen: not everyone found humor in the painful conditions. >> you have to do something. stephen: people bundled up and braced for a winter blast. >> try to keep myself warm. stephen: the temperature plummeted and the wind picked up. uncomfortable combination. >> the wind is the worst. stephen: some people had hoped for cool weather after the warm christmas we had. >> dress thoroughly but they acknowledge this biting cold is more than they wanted. >> i'm not dressed warm enough. too cold. stephen: most people were racing from one destination to another. >> it's chilly, freezing,

cold. >> hovering to 11 degrees with the wind chill. it's now up to 21, 17. this gets down to 10 degrees or the wind chill. with the jacket on, the sweater, it's still cold. at 6:00, what you need to know to keep your pets warm. stephen tschida, abc7 news. alison: try to stay warm. it's hard. today's weather prompted half a dozen schools to delay opening. get a heads up when it happens. sign up for the text alert. there is a link on the front page. leon: another big story we're following is the loss of a family in chillum. 2-year-old twins and the grand parents died when they were trapped inside a burning home. they had no working smoke

detectors. >> that is correct. they use this as a teaching moment. if you head to the hardware to purchase a shovel or salt for driveway and the sidewalks ahead of the likely snowstorm, buy smoke detectors and batteries, too. imagine the panic this caused. it left four dead. the 2-year-old twins and the grant parents. the neighbor woke and dialed 911. >> horrific. screaming and yelling. the most horrible thing. >> investigators are searching for a cause. there were no smoke detectors in the home. the firefighters went door to door to install the life saving devices across the

neighborhood. >> how are you? we are working the neighborhood because of events last night to check your smoke detectors and make sure they are working. >> fire chief says the prince george's county law mandates every resident has the working smoke detectors. one on every floor. in every bedroom. >> it's the fastest way to be alerted to a fire. that is the extra seconds that people need. >> fire victims were renting the home. the fire chief says the onus is on the landlord, not the tenants to ensure working smoke detectors are inside. no word if the land lord of this home will face a citation or ramification. kevin lewis, abc7 news.

leon: so sad. that mirrors a fire that killed four children and their grand parents one year ago today in annapolis. in that case, the electrical problem set a dried out christmas tree on fire. home was engulfed in flames in a matter of minutes. tonight the sister of the owner plans to speak to the legislature of the importance of home sprinklers. he with hear from her tonight. alison: the search is on for a hit-and-run garage truck driver blamed for a crash here in beltway. brianne carter is joining us from the scene. what are we learning about the victim and the vehicle that fled the scene? >> we know that the police are looking for a track trash involved. the driver may not have known he was involved.

the police are identifying the victim. we understand that according to police, the woman was coming here. this is way down the way on the beltway to the pennsylvania avenue. that is when according to police they believe that her truck came in contact with the track truck. the truck lost control and planned in the pole of the overpass and the end of pennsylvania after. they don't believe the truck knew he was involved in it this morning. they described the trash truck they were looking for. take a listen. >> it should have damage to the passenger side of the truck.

brianne: the 37-year-old victim had injures at the scene and police say she was pronounced dead in the scene as well. they understand road crews were here this afternoon on the struck of the pole. the investigators are asking any witnesses who may have along the hour at 7:00 or 8:00, who may have seen anything to give them a call. reporting live, brianne carter, abc7 news. leon: police are investigating a crash they fear could turn deadly. alison: take a look. elderly man went through a barrier and fell 15 feet in parking lot of another drugstore. leon: supreme court will take up action on immigration. diane cho reports tonight the question centers on whether the action is constitutional.

>> the program allows 4 million undocumented immigrants to apply for work permits and avoid being deported temp requirely. >> also in terms of the practical impact, the positive impact the executive actions will have. >> the president laid out the vision in 2014. >> that is what the deal is. 26 states filed a lawsuit to block it from taking effect and accused the president of abusing power by going around congress.

>> the window of time is narrow and the big if, this is a temporary program. a new program could cancel this. there is confusion on what to do. alison: immigrant rights group is suing agencies to dispel the information about controversial and the secretive deportation program. the department of immigration, customs enforcement and the department of justice are among those listed in the lawsuit. leon: city's mayor comes to washington to ask for help. alison: and the district has

its own problem with lead in the water. where the effort stands today. leon: up next, one of the four americans free from iran breaks his silence. americans free from iran breaks his silence. we will tell you what he says

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the other prisoners wither moved by the -- prisoners were moved by the effort. leon: he says now that he is free he feels alive for the first time in years. another freed prisoner the "washington post" jason rezaian, he has chosen to be not speak so far. he says he is still trying to collect his thoughts. alison: well, leon, a couple from colorado drove thousands of miles to virginia today and they did it to confronted executives at a big automaker over what they called deceptive practices. suzanne kennedy was there when they arrived in the

commonwealth. suzanne: this is the car they want to return. they drove it a thousand miles to send an effort to volkswagen. marcus and elizabeth were at the end of their rope with the faulty vehicle. they tried to get recourse through the local dealership and had no luck. >> here i am, i bought a car for two-year lease. the clean diesel was central to that. i have been played a fool. suzanne: volkswagen installed devices to defeat emission test in 6,000 so-called clean diesel cars. this afternoon they drove it to the headquarters to hope for satisfaction. >> it is a betrayal.

>> they think they should compensate the v.w. owners. >> when a company makes itself defeck tiff they should buy it back. suzanne: volkswagen released a statement saying we take the issues seriously and working as quickly as possible to developed an approved remedy. >> they face fine for violating the impact policies and the recall and lost sales. suzanne kennedy, abc7 news. leon: in the next couple of days you may not want to drive around. >> later friday and saturday, some parts will be unadvisable. >> lay out new numbers except

to say the track -- >> it remains to be seen. doug: in the meantime, we have cold air. uncomfortably cold again. steve: really cold. look at the weather bug network. it's 17. across the board, winchester is 23. fredericksburg to 26. andrews at 24 degrees. these are sustained winds. we have cold factor out there now. it feels like 11 it at b.w.i. we have another cold night ahead. 12 to 19. the skies are mainly clear.

the winds out of the northwest at 5 to 10 miles per hour. we have a potential storm. >> giving you a look ahead friday to saturday, saturday to saturday night, heavy snow in the severe range. we can't win point the exact area for the heaviest snow. but the viewing area will be in that. the freezing rain is not so much. it will be cold. cold temperatures for the driver of the storm. storm system that we showed early yesterday across the pacific ocean. now that it is over the land mass, the weather balloons released twice daily are providing the data for the computer model so it will be more and more reliable. the track is expected to move like this to the northeast.

where it will cross the coast, where the low pressure center is cue to everything. the computer models have a general theme and direction, they don't agree on the placement. it will come in better focus as well. this is what we can offer with reliability. the general timing move in friday from the south and the west. the moisture availability is impress waiver the winds off the atlantic ocean. with have a dynamic storm. stay with us. we are working on this.

the best chance for snow is western through saturday and friday. no mix expected. many if suburbs the heavy snow looks likely there. but now with the colder run of the computer model if anyone gets rain mixed in, it's closer to the by a, the southern maryland and the eastern shore. likely to have a snowstorm in the mid-atlantic and some or all of the viewing area could get in on the action. not often you see 100% probability four days down the road but that is how confident we are in the storm. but not on the exact amount. we're on it day in and day out. leon: and will be. alison: okay. take a breath before we get ready for the big storm. talk about spring.

the dates are announced for the cherry blossom festival. leon: it will run from sunday march 20 to april 17. this is something to keep in mind. the opening ceremony underway saturday march 26. the parade and the japanese street festival saturday april 16. snow is more likely. how businesses are racing to make sure you have what you need. >> a frightening story that the parents will want to pay attention to. a boy goes to see a movie at local theater and alleges he was molested using the bathroom. we have details on a lawsuit filed two days later. alison: on the on abc7 --

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is so o wholesome... and it doesn't take the whole paycheck. gianant's exclusive nature's promise. eat well for less. my giant. leon: this next story could alarm parents. d.c. mom filing a lawsuit after her 13-year-old son recorded being molested by a man in a local theater. alison: but the lawsuit was filed before any control charges in the case.

>> i just can't understand how this could happen. reporter: michelle marshall is in tears of what she says happened to her nephew. >> he had no time to do anything. he was attacked. reporter: this happened here at the movie theater in brandywine. a boy, his brother and cousin came to see a movie sunday afternoon. when the 13-year-old went to use the bathroom he says he was molested by a man. >> there is no way a person of his history should be around children at all. reporter: today a lawsuit was filed against come pass, inc. -- compass, inc., rehabilitation facility where the man has a record. he was declared legally incompetent. ratterring this case, the prince george's county state attorney they will review details in the next few days to determine whether to file criminal charges. it's unclear how the police and the prosecutors might proceed, why file lawsuit two

days after the incident? >> we have no faith whatsoever in the prince george's county prosecutor's office to prosecute the cases. >> prosecutors said we take the case as we do with all children, seriously. the family attorney says he is filing a complaint with the state of maryland asking for investigation. in brandywine, mike carter-conneen, abc7 news. alison: breaking news in columbia heights with the d.c. police are on the scene of a shooting there. d.c. fire says a man was rushed from the scene with critical injuries. this is a live picture from the scene. we are told this is the 3400 block of 14th street. police are looking for two men. they were seen fleeing the

scene in sky masks. we will -- ski masks. we will stay on the scene and bring you new information. leon: still ahead, a warning after a virus that can have a devastating effects on pregnant women makes the first appearance in the u.s. >> first, missed by inches. this is unbelievable. we talk to the man who was behind the wheel when a pole skewered his car. >> with a chance of snow, stores are having to restock the shelves.

announcer: you're watching "abc7 news at 5:00". on your side. leon: there are very few things that gets the whole area talking and get everybody worked up quite like a big storm. alison: that and power ball. that is what everybody is talking. leon: true. leon: this is a big talker and serious. we have the possibility of a winter storm. by the end of the week. we are all asking chief meteorologist doug hill the same thing. can you tell us what to expect. and what factors are still in play in all of this? doug: i will be happy to. we have gone past the possibility stage to the probability stage with a major winter storm this weekend. friday, friday night, all day saturday. but which part of the area is going to get the heaviest snow. these are the computer models. the european and the g.f.s., the american model. the brighter area with the hev jest snow. they have shifted south a little bit.

shifted g.f.s. more to the south. that means that the air will be colder and it also shows the placement of the european model the low, and the other low from the g.f.s. see where the low is. the farther south it is, that is where the colder air. also farther south it winds up being, that is access of the heaviest snow. while the area is likely to see snow or snow and rain friday, friday night and saturday it remains to be seen where the jackpot will be. those that get the snow could be tremendous snow fall. by this time tomorrow we'll have a better idea what is headed our way. leon: stay connected with the weather team and you should.

some storms can't keep supplies coming in fast enough. >> they expect today's shipment to last through this evening. >> vanessa is stocking up. >> go with the hype. if i weren't prepare and the storm does hit, i would kick myself. >> not far away in takoma park, ace hardware calls it the quiet before the storm.

they don't expect winter products until thursday. >> people tend to worry when we know more about the depth of the snow. they are working up to the first big snow of the season. alison: thank you. now the other top story. firefighters are investigating a deadly house fire in prince george's county. two grandparents and the twin grand children died. the mother jumped from the second floor of the home. two others escaped without injury. there was no sign of a smoke alarm in the home.

leon: three class action lawsuits filed by the flint michigan residents over the ongoing water crisis. they couldn't drink the water because of the lead. flint's mayor is lobbying for federal help. alison: search is on for a hit-and-run garbage truck driver blamed for a deadly crash. a woman driving a pickup truck made contact with the garbage truck, lost control and hit a pole. she died on the scene. leon: two are dead and 18 others are hurt after a greyhound bus crash. san jose fire department reported that the bus flipped over on its side to the center divider. no other vehicles involved. traffic was backed fun several miles as the energy crews cleared cleared the scene. alison: now an image you have to see to believe. a man narrowly avoiding a potentially deadly crash after

a me tell post impale -- metal post impaled his car. michelle marsh has more with what happened and what he is saying today. michelle: the unbelievable scene played out after a car slammed in the ambulance on the inner loop. in oxon hill. that ambulance crashed into a pole. the two paramedics on board weren't hurt. minutes after, the crash, the light fell as louis' car drove by. >> it was on the top. come through to the floor. over the car. >> of your car? >> of my car. >> how close did it come to hit you? >> almost six inches close to my head. michelle: incredible. he is alive to tell the story. oddly enough that light pole is supposed to break away as a safety feature. alison: the

baltimore police department department is now getting body cameras. it was announced today at a press conference by baltimore mayor stephanie rawlings-blake and the police commissioner. 3,000 officers will receive the camera as paral of a pilot program since october. just ahead, as flint, michigan, deals with alleged water crisis. the district has history with

lead in the water. where the effort stands today. leon: a virus that could be dangerous for pregnant women appears appears in the u.s. alison: ahead at 6:00, free data for the cell phone. the company about to pick up the tab for the

steve:all eyes are focused for the upcoming weekend. it could be a mess. tracking the storm to make the trek around dallas and up the coast. that is the jackpot area for the region. in terms of the potential for heavy snow. this is separate on the way to saturday. saturday afternoon the leading edge to the south and west.

it will determine the snow in the area. by this time tomorrow night most of the area will be under a winter storm watch. a weekend outlook. hopefully the fingers crossed we will get it out by sunday. the temperatures will be in the middle 40's monday and tuesday. we are watching "abc7 news at for the girl scout meeting... okay. for the soccer team...

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leon: a grim discovery for those searching for those aboard the helicopter that crashed in the pacific ocean. they still no sign of the 19 marines on board. one of the marines is the brother of reigning miss district of columbia haely jardis. alison: now a "7 on your side" health matters alert. growing concern about a mosquito-borne virus that spread to the u.s. the zika virus. it has been discovered in

hawaii and houston. alison: this can cause a serious birth defect. it causes incomplete brain develop in the the baby resulting in a small head. the doctors believe the most damage occurs in the first trimester but there are a lot of unanswered questions about this disease. >> at this point in time we don't know how long the woman may be suck sentable after being bitten. alison: if you are pregnant or anticipate becoming present or plan to travel or live anywhere that zika virus is protected cover up and wear insect repellent. leon: still ahead on "abc7 news at 5:00" -- see what happened when erin hawksworth bake turgeonite for a day at the university of maryland. alison: flint, michigan, deals with a lead problem in the water. d.c. has its own history of the problems with lead. where this year long effort fixed the problem stands

today.

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alison: three class action lawsuits are filed over the water in flint, michigan and seek damages to help families billed for water they could not use. they are under investigation to change water source to save money and waited five months to warn residents and they were exposed to toxic levels of lead. >> you made the mess, you clean it up. you fix the problem. our people need financial aid. we need it now. alison: president obama declared a state of emergency. leon: a decade ago the district wanted to rid its water of the lead. we look at where the efforts stand tonight. >> we had neighbors who did have it. >> john of capitol hill a dozen years as well when the water levels soared in the

neighborhood. news of water crisis in michigan brings bad memories. >> it's still similar situation. the kids were exposed. >> in the dozen years since, many lead pipes have been replaced and the city is alert. the d.c. department of the environment and the other agencies tested for lead. levels must be no more than 15 parts per billion. >> we didn't find any in anybody's home in 2015. >> for homeowners marilyn who thought her lead pipe issues were over -- >> this year doing repairs on my basement. and i discovered that led pipe was still in the wall. >> contractors found that removed five feet of the led pipe that contractors a dozen years ago left behind. >> if you lived in d.c. a dozen years ago you may recall the britta filters to put in the pitcher and take lead out of the water. the concerns are nowhere near

where they were a dozen years ago. leon: the world is flooded with the plastic garbage that issued report to say they will out weigh fish in the ocean. it's more than three times and more than 1.1 million. alison: let's check on the roads. jamie sullivan is on traffic watch. israel it's busy already. we will see the traffic get lighter. 395 southbound crash at king street, we had a right lane blocked. in past couple of minutes we moved it out of the way. the crash is cleared.

the volume is heading out. not bumper to bumper. we are seeing it on the northwest side. seeing the heavy traffic to prince george's county. metro, single tracking now on the green and yellow lines. it's because of a medical emergency altar kiev. 20 to 25 minute delay. aing the blue line with d.c. and maryland because of medical emergency. take a live look outside. through the area, prince george's county, passing by good luck road. inner loop to the outer loop bumper to bumper traffic. that is a look at the delays alison: slow going. leon: we are looking at the snow coming in. the winds are a big issue. alison: it is wenter in high gear. doug: we have sunshine but it

didn't do much to warm us up. 21 in winchester. 26 in the capital. enough wind to feel colder than that. clear skies the morning temperatures going to range in the mid-teens across loudoun county and the frederick county. to the panhandle of west maryland. single digits in the morning. we will clearout on the day thursday. the attention will move to the major storm through the midatlantic states. this is a snowshowers tomorrow night. once we clear to thursday.

the average with early afternoon to the mid-afternoon on friday. heavier friday night and through the day on saturday. d.c. metro jackpot of the heavy snow. not in a position to tell you where or how much because the track of the storm is far from certain. heavy snow and winds. but saturday if it works out the way we think it will, traveling will be difficult at the best. steve rudin will be back on what is happening now and headed our way by the end of the week. but. alison: busy in the weather center. leon: busy, busy today themselves. turgeonite. alison: tell us about this. erin: first, maryland is back in action tonight after they crushed ohio state on saturday. leon was at the game and i got to hang out with the

turgeonites. who are they? i spent the day to find out. >> a person who doesn't mind to make a fool of themselves at the maryland game. >> nick and six of his buddies are big maryland basketball fans. so big, they dress up like head coach mark turgeon at every home game. >> we always try to come up with funny signs. people think it's funny. erin: they must be doing their star because the terp fan trimmable is a fan. >> it's funny to dress up like coach turgeon. it's exciting. especially they all wear the same outfid. black suit, red tie. even use baby powder to replicate the patch of gray hair. >> can by one? >> you need a tie. >> i brought a tie actually. >> okay, sure. >> we know that the maryland students love the turgeonite concept.

what does head coach mark turgeon actually think about the concept? >> well, it's been a great group that has followed me. apparently they try to act like me a little bit. i do think it's too much gray in their hair. it's been good. a positive thing for our student body. positive thing for maryland basketball. erin: the turgeonites will be in action tonight as they host northwestern. tip-off at 8:00. leon: i miss them.

alison: we are less than two weeks away from the iowa caucus. the debate over guns is rising to the top of the national debate. jeff barn breaks down where each of the top candidates stand on the issue. jeff: two weeks before the caucus season, they are on the attack on the issue of gun control. >> i insist this president if he could get rid of the second amendment he could. >> guns don't pull the trigger. people pull the trigger. >> there is a reason gun owners of america endorsed me in this race. >> the top candidates agree enough laws are in place to keep guns out of the hands of criminals. the focus should be on mental health programs. all fully support the second amendment. >> in any republican primary everyone say they support the second amendment. unless you are clinically insane. >> donald trump heard the message loud and clear. trump the mogul used to support longer background checks for firearms. now trump the g.o.p. candidate has gone to the right.

>> every republican candidate is trying to come out with a more extreme position on gun rights than the other. >> the top democratic presidential candidate favor some sort of gun legislation with very few differences. >> it's time to pick a side. either we stand with the gun lobbies or we join the president. and stand up to them. >> hillary clinton wants to make universal background checks the law of the land and make gun lobbyists libel. bernie sanders reversed himself from a law he favored to give immunity to the gun makers to recind portion of the law. >> i'm pleased to hear that senator santorum reverse -- senator sanders reversed his position. >> sanders does promote president bam executive action on gun control saying republicans have little interest to do anything about the gun safety. reporting from washington, i'm jeff barnes.

alison: tonight, abc7 is hosting a round table discussion on guns in america that includes a look at the second a.m. and president obama's recent executive action. the chief political correspondent scott thuman will be live in paris to compare the u.s. and european gun laws. that is all tonight at 7:00 on newschannel8 and wjla.com. that will do it for "abc7 news at 5:00". here is what is coming up on "abc7 news at 6:00" tonight -- the big chill. tracking brutally cold temperatures. the possibility of a major snowstorm on the way. a devastating deadly fire in prince george's county. why a couple to colorado drove to virginia and left the car there with 20,000 petitions. "abc7 news at 6:00" starts right now. announcer: now "abc7 news at

6:00". on your side. maureen: it has been a bitter-cold day in d.c. the good news is the cold will end. but by the end of the week we could be in for a big snowstorm. leon: you know how much we love big storms here. getting all worked up about them. maureen: absolutely. leon: we are good at that. we are good at tracking the cold and the storm for you tonight. we will get to stephen tschida with a look at how people are coping with the cold in a bit. but first, get to the chief meteorologist doug hill tracking the storm that is still forming. doug: the storm and the energy is the basis for the system yet to develop is over the pacific northwest and the u.s. we have time to work with it. we are following everything. it still looks likelihood to affect the large viewing area as well. it's cold and clear outside the belfort furniture weather center. low to mid-20's around the area. 25 in washington. the wind will feel like 13 above. feels like 7 in winchester.