we have minimum of another five. the temperatures are going down. i wish i had better news to tell you. 21 in bethesda. 24 within the beltway in d.c. 17 at dulles. there is a wind out there. it knocks the numbers down. widespread to the low 20s and the teens. wind chill factors in the low teens. easily single digits tonight. the air temperature will be there. clear skies again. beautiful sunset out there. gorgeous from the inside looking out. this morning was 13. yesterday was is 3. not records but one of doldest days we have had. -- coldest days

that is a big story. the other big story we are watching is the potential for snow tomorrow night and thursday. i will show you where it's going to be the best chance. how much and the timing of it coming up in a few minutes. jonathan: see you then. with the cold comes water main break. a water main break forcing the southbound traffic to one lane on new hampshire avenue. the crews say they found a leak. they have to replace it. it's four feet of pipe that has to be replaced. that is the big job. the wssc says there have been more than 60 water main breaks across the region since friday. up in baltimore a water main break. look at this. this is where streets are covered with ice and trapping cars because the water shot out. michelle: a tough

an exclusive look inside a home in montgomery county where fireplace ashes are to blame for a weekend fire. only on 7, the homeowner spoke exclusively about the hard lesson learned. >> we had a fire every day because of the cold. >> exclusive look inside the home where ashes from a fireplace caused one of several fires in the past week. >> i took the ashes out to make space for the wood there. i put ashes in the plastic bag. >> a tough lesson for he and his wife and two children. look at the flames shooting from the home on saturday. what was supposed to be a cozy fireplace is inconvenience. >> it's really sad. >> it is tough to recognize what was in here. there are black walls throughout the home from the smoke damage.

he thought he was safe because the ashes from the day before. >> they can retain heat for days. >> pete from montgomery county fire and rescue says ashes from a fireplace should go in a metal container and splash them with water and place them outside away from the home. >> i would scoop up whatever i can. >> after watching this, it's amazing there is a house at all. it will take six months to repair. >> with exdreamly careful -- extremely careful. cheryl: cheryl conner, abc7 news. michelle: to get up to the minute temperature reading or track snow in area download the stormwatch7 weather app to the phone or tablet. jonathan: the longest serving republican is

>> i am grateful for opportunity to serve as your senator if the last four decades. i'm leaving the senate but the next chapter in my public service is just beginning. jonathan: the 83-year-old hatch is senate pro tem meaning he is third in the line of presidential succession. romney lives in utah praised hatch's service and did not comment on a potential senate run. >> developing story from the federal courthouse in alexandria where the man at the center of an anti-terror investigation appeared a short time ago. they investigated sean duncan for a year before raiding his home on friday. richard reeve is looking into the case and he was wearing something in court that is a surprise. >> a blue lives matter flag on the back of his feature. it's a sport organization for

the police. here is the complaint. much of this case is hinging on a thumb drive. neighbors were startled to see the federal agents. >> it's scary that we don't know who the neighbors are. >> duncan tuesday where the judge told him he faces obstruction of justice charge. >> authorities say as the agents swept in, the 21-year-old ran in the backdoor to destroy a thumb drive and microchip that contained evidence against him they say. >> i thought it was a drug bust. >> this was no drug raid. the court documents show feds investigated him for a year. since a family member told him he converted to islam. may have been radicalized and voiced approval of the westerners being beheaded in the middle east.

case against him with evidence of an unnamed cosponnor. -- coconspirator. he appeared in court wearing a blue lives matter flag on his shirt. a police support organization. if duncan is convicted he could face $so,000 fine and prison time. we should hear more next week about the prosecution's case. jonathan: thanks. new developments to tell you about what a man accused of a car jacking that left to serious crash. and assault of police officers. he is out of the hospital and behind bars. the investigators say he randomly knocked on the door. when a child answered door he hit the child. that was last thursday. that sparked a chase that ended at the intersection of

road. six people were hurt. a child was thrown from the minivan in critical condition. we understand that he is stabilize. he is due back in court tomorrow. michelle: a year after the m.g.m. national harbor opened a celebrity chef is closing up shop. jonathan: as bodies of water ice over, emergency crews say don't go out on the ice yet. but there is one spot where it

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michelle: a maryland grand jury indicts a man akized of killing three coworkers. radee prince faces multiple charges following a shooting last year. he faces attempted murder charges in delaware. jonathan: scary moments in takoma park. police say two men tried to abduct an 8-year-old girl. michelle: this is how it began. the girl missed her bus and was standing on the corner of elm and pine avenue when a minivan pulled up. the man in the passenger seat reportedly said come to my home, i have candy. the girl told the police he was wearing all black clothing, had a hoop nose ring, flower tattoo on his left hand and a pink pimple or growth near his left eye. jonathan: a very good description. incorrect zika tests, botched d.n.a. matching

were just some of criticisms of the d.c. forensics lab. the city says it has turned things around. mayor bowser visited the last day to lower crime numbers she says going on. the director says the lab heightened -- tightened up the protocols. michelle: a big change on the restaurant front. just one year after the m.g.m. national harbor opened, marcus, the restaurant owned by the celebrity chef marcus samuelson closed. they say it auz mutual decision so saturday the space will be filled with what m.g.m. is calling conservetary cafe. >> so what happens when squirrels get on sugar? a woman called 911 after a got into her home.

>> i'm mike carter-conneen. coming up an important warning from the d.c. fire department. before we start, i just want to say if anyone still doesn't have fios,

get us all killed, ben. what's so good about fios anyway? uh. what's so great about a 100% fiber-optic network that makes your gaming system actually work awesomely? hey. did you take out the trash? haha, garbage boy! dad, i already took out ben. it's not funny. gaming is best on a 100% fiber-optic network. so get fios. now, just $79.99 per month with a 2-year price guarantee with a 2-year agreement.

jonathan: a squirrel attacking a police officer. a woman called 911 for rampaging squirrel eating cookies and chocolate covered pretzels. the squirrel chewed through the wall to get in. amazing what sugar does to animals. the police arrived and the body camera caught the action. they were trying to get the squirrel away from the cookies. the squirrel had none of it. one with cat-like reflexes caught the door. >> i can't get to the door. the squirrel is on the table by the door. >> he says he won't hurt you. i said oh, yeah? i had the in flash light in my hand. >> we were greeted with a surprise. the squirrel did end up coming up and jumping off the counter. which ran up the shoulder and jumped off him and hit me in the chest. then before coming down to the ground and running out

door. jonathan: this went on for a little while before an officer grabbed the squirrel, carried it outside and set him free. no word if he took a cookie with him. you can understand it. good eats. something more rare than a flying squirrel in your kitchen is winning the lottery. the jock paths are huge -- jackpots are huge. you will get a shot at two huge jackpots that keep growing. mega millions up to $361 million today. and that drawing is tonight. cash option puts $225 million in your pocket. tomorrow night is the power ball. $450 million. michelle: you can change the forecast. you can't complain. you go wherever is warm. we could use that. a large swath of the country is in a deep freeze. this is a sample of what people are dealing with. this is in houston. drivers headed t

deal with sleet and freezing rain. police responded to dozens of accidents as drivers lost control on the slick roads. in indianapolis, police are trying to convince the city's homeless to go to shelters. for those who won't they are handing out blankets, hats and gloves. it's so cold in florida manatees are huddling together. this is tampa. they chose a place where water is warmer. they have lows in the 30's. in orlando, disney world water parks are closed and florida state canceling classes tomorrow because it's just too cold. jonathan: let me show you something. potomac and the anacostia rivers. this is ice. but that is the open water. stuff to be careful. ice has formed. this is not enough cover to walk out there and not enough to skate

>> stay off the ice. >> in the ugly winter weather, this river is a beautiful sight. no matter how cold or how much ice you see the fire captain says this is not enough to hold the weight. >> the first reaction is to gasp. that is when people take in water. the first gasp from the temperature of the water. you probably going to go under. you won't be able to break through two inches of ice. >> d.c. fire and the e.m.s. is responsible for breaking up the ice on the potomac and the anacostia river. so far this winter, the crew says they have only seen up to four inches of ice. that is spotty. >> some of it right here is one inch thick. >> there is thicker ice where in certain area ice skating is not prohibited. >> get to play outdoor hockey when i get the chance. >> they stress individuals are responsible for the own safety and they should never skate alone or without an

>> it has burned 32 for the past week or so. >> it may look shallow but the canal ranges in the depth from 6 to 15 feet. there is still a constant flow of water beneath the ice. first responders insist it's not worth the risk. but in case of an emergency with another skater or a pet on the ice, they say bystanders should not attempt a rescue venturing out to help. instead call 911. along the canal, mike carter-conneen, abc7 news. michelle: all right. bill: i usually go on that role. better safe than sorry. you want that three or four inches to be super safe. i have gone out occasionally and drilled within areas i have gone out to make sure. jonathan: crazy thing in minnesota one year we drove cars out there. you think to yourself why are we doing this again? bill: right! i got to look back. i think you do that if it's a solid eight inches or more. i think that is what it is. i'd have to look at

technical guide. once you get to a foot you can put a tank on it. that is it. this is a quiet evening but man is it cold. 19 in gaithersburg right now. manassas is 14. wind chill factors play a role with the single digit wind chills around the area. 5 in detroit. 28 around charlotte. this is what i want to focus on. jump ahead to tomorrow night to thursday morning. so this is 11:00 p.m. not tonight. tomorrow night. we are watching a weather system work on in. here in the d.c. metro we are on the far western edge of where that snow possibility is. so here is thursday morning at 7:00. the farther east you are, the greater chance you have of seeing snow. or if you are traveling. in our legion there are very few of you in the sound of my broadcast where we broadcast, very few of you should have snow on thursday morning. i say it with caution. the reason i do becus

well out in the gulf of mexico and it could wobble 50 miles or 100 miles and that would make a difference in output. right now analyzing a lot of the models, most will stay offshore in terms of the bulk. watch as it rolls up. if you have travel plans thursday morning to take you in and out of philly, new york city, boston, providence and the areas farther north to maine. snow will be measured in a foot in spots there in the day. that is something we are watching. here locally. let me show you what one of the forecast models talks about looking at the snow. i don't think we see anything from d.c. to the west. but areas like easton, 1.3. southern maryland you could get an inch or go inches of snow. but the overall big picture in the advisory in our area, again the sound of my voice we don't have any of the winter weather advisories in the area. the winter storm watches posted well to the east.

so keep that in mind. i'll watch this closely because it could go the other way by 50 or 100 miles. tonight, clear skies and very cold. up to 33 tomorrow. another cold day. well below average. potentially time period or two we will get above freezing by a degree or two. late tomorrow night to early thursday is the abc7 day forecast. showing you where the snow is. then we cool down again and go beyond the seven-day forecast. it's another cold plunge on the way. this pattern is endless. it will come to an end sooner or l your daughter wants to stay organic. your husband wants to stay free from artificial ingredients. u want to stay free om artificial preservatives. and your debit card wants to stay on a diet. fill your cart with small victories like giant's nature's promise brand. great prices on over 1,300 items. eat well for less. only at my giant.

before we start, i just want to say if anyone still doesn't have fios, please stay out of the way so your lag doesn't get us all killed, ben. what's so good about fios anyway? uh. what's so great about a 100% fiber-optic network that makes your gaming system actually work awesomely? hey. did you take out the trash? haha, garbage boy! dad, i already took out ben. it's not funny. gaming is best on a 100% fiber-optic network. so get fios. now, just $79.99 per month

with a 2-year agreement. robert: well, how good was kirk cousins this year? threw for over 4,000 yards. that is pretty good to a lot of people. but is it good enough for head coach jay gruden. today he was asked to sum up kirk cousins' season. coach gruden: kirk had flashes where he is very good. consistent standpoint, threw for 4,000 yards. and he is a very good quarterback without a doubt. as far as getting us over the hump from 7-9 to win a division with all the injuries we had, he competed and did good things. robert: his big bro jon gruden has everyone talking and he confirmed he is in contact with the raiders regarding the

so if he leaves who will do "monday night football"? couple names. peyton manning. and tim tebow. former quarterback and the minor league baseball player. but the favorite seems to be peyton manning, of course. he'd be pretty much perfect. the nfl playoffs on the way. guess what, the buffalo bills are in the playoffs. here is where it gets funny. quarterback jason brian dalton's foundation received donations since sunday from the bills fans because he knocked ravens out of the playoffs opening up a spot for the bills. so basically help us get in the playoffs and then we will donate to your charity. jonathan: quid pro quo. robert: there you go. jonathan: pay to play. robert: exactly. michelle: "world news tonight" with david muir is coming up next. jonathan: we'd have bill say something but he says it's freezing for a while. we'll see you at 11:00. good night.

tonight, several dropping stories as we come on the air. if monster winter storm brewing right now off the east coast. set to hit in the coming hours from florida, then all the way up to d.c., philly, new york and poston. schools closed tonight already. and it all comes amid the deadly deep freeze in this country, 30 states already. the massive pileup tonight. the images coming in right now. also tonight, president trump, back at the white house and back on twitter. the president targeting the justice department, using the words "deep state." and this evening, our droernt asking, does the president really believe there's a shadow government actively plotting to sabotage him? the deadly police attack. the gunman