next. coming up tonight from snowy and cold new york, it has arrived. the big winter storm here in new york, but much more important, a second big hit for cities like washington and baltimore. complete coverage here tonight. also, what was that that woke up so many folks this morning in the midwest? turns out it was just what they thought it was. rising tensions in iran. a widening crackdown and there are fears tonight something big may be coming. and is it downhill for the american ski racer many said wod be the face of the vancouver olympic games? she came public today with a revelation that could end her

participation. "nightly news" from snowy new york and elsewhere begins now. captions paid for by nbc-universal television good evening, from new york. we are alongside the famous 30 rockefeller skating rink tonight. this is the pummeling, punishing conditions tonight as a massive snowstorm bears down on the major metropolitan areas here in the east. most important cities like washington, baltimore, that are getting their second big hit in less than a week. and look at the size of this storm. our friends at the weather channel estimate before it's er, it will impact 1 in 3 americans, 107 million people in 25 states, including ten of the 25 most populous states in the united states. talk about a ripple effect, the airlines have already canceled

more than 2,400 flights in this country. here in the new york city metropolitan area we are expecting anywhere from a foot to about 1.5 feet of snow, but again, the concentration is to the south. those metropolitan areas that just can't take another punch this winter. we have it all covered tonight. anne thompson is in central park not r from here. my friend al roker is here on the rink with us. to start us off, tom costello in already hard-hit washington, d.c. hard to believe here we go again. >> reporter: absolutely, brian. good evening. we've still got winds here 30 to 40 miles per hour. in maryland, the governor estimates they got 20 inches on top of the 30 they got over the weekend. 17,000 homes thought to be without power in northern maryland, in d.c., 1/4 of the snowplows have broken down at one point or another and tonight

d.c. is largely paralyzed. for much of the day, blowing snow and a near whiteout covered the mid atlantic. the capitol nearly impossible to make out through blizzard conditions. while on the streets of d.c. -- >> i'm training for the olympics in washington. >> reporter: the die-hards were turning to skies to get through it all. at 8:00 a.m., only a light snow was falling, but by 10:00 the white house had disappeared. for a third straight day, the federal government is shut down. d.c.'s airports are closed and deserted. and area roads already glazed with layers of ice are now covered in even more snow. so dangerous the national guard has been called in to help transport emergency personnel. >> it's very, very difficult conditions, the snow has been blowing, we are near blizzard if not at blizzard conditions. it's been a total whiteout. we had problems with apparatus responding around. >> reporter: farther south near williamsburg, virginia, zero visibility led to a 50-car pile-up. >> i come up on a stop and the

cars are just parting left and right. i slid over and almost ran into the guard rail. i get up on this one, all the cars stopped. >> reporter: in maryland, the entire state was enveloped in a blizzard today. wbal's, rob roblin is in baltimore. >> where i am we had over 11 inches of snow on top of 27 inches of snow from last weekend. this is a real mess. >> reporter: digging out won't be easy. much of the region already buried in up to 30 inches of snow now has another foot. >> this is the walk to the subway, about a half mile. game on. >> reporter: entire neighborhoods, cars and downed trees buried. in washington, a little girl named charlotte insisted she and george the snow shark were responsible for all of this. >> you sleep with him on the night before you want it to snow and the next day it snows. maybe we can sell him to vancouver. >> good idea, vancouver.

>> reporter: we have already this year in washington, broken the all-time record for seasonal snowfall. 55 inches. baltimore, they got even more, but the washington record goes back to 1899. brian, back to you. >> tom costello starting us off. to the north of you in new york we dodged a bullet this last weekend storm that dumped so much on washington. our luck ran out effective with this one. it started snowing overnight. it's still snowing, obviously, and it's going to snow into tonight for a second evening. anne thompson is live in central park not far from here in midtown manhattan. good evening. >> reporter: hi, brian. you know nothing is cheap in new york, including the snow. mayor michael bloomberg estimates that for every inch of snow that falls, it costs $1 million to clean it up, and here in central park, so far there are seven inches. new york may be the city that never sleeps, but a big wallop

of snow tried to bring it to a standstill. >> snow falling very hard. thick snow flakes now. >> reporter: commuters on the long island railroad found plenty of seats into the city as many workers took a snow day. >> we closed early because all the patients canceled. we work from 8:00 to 8:00 today, no one's coming in because of the weather. >> reporter: some new yorkers tried to stick to their daily routines, but by mid afternoon it was difficult to get around. local tv went wall-to-wall with warnings. >> blizzard warnings in effect across long island, for the city, central and southern new jersey for the rest of tonight. >> reporter: reporting on cash-strapped cities and towns watching expenses pile up with the snow. >> our budget was shot yesterday. >> reporter: those who dared to drive soon wished they hadn't. in central pennsylvania, a 50-vehicle pile-up closed a nine-mile section of westbound i-80. >> the truck in front of me jack knifed.

i tried to stop, couldn't. after that, it was one big reaction after another. >> reporter: mangled tractor trailers littered the snow-swept highway. 17 people sent to the hospital. the furious storm whipped up by 40 mile-an-hour wind gusts grounded air travel, stranding thousands, including ice dancers. a high-flying couple's flight from philadelphia to vancouver was canceled. back in new york with the snow still falling, even the united nations closed its gates, leaving disappointed tourists to find other ways to entertain themselves. across the region, schools were canceled, but on broadway, the shows went on, as hardy tourists waited patiently in line for discounted tickets. now the trick tonight is going to be getting home because this storm strengthens without warning. and it's going to keep snowing for at least a while longer. we are under a blizzard warning

here in new york city until 6:00 tomorrow morning. brian? >> anne thompson in central park. anne, thanks. we now want to go to our friend pat battle in woodbridge, new jersey. pat, you and i covered a lot of these over the years. this is about as bad a snow/wind combo as we can get here in midtown. >> reporter: i think you said it, brian. we weathered a lot of storms but this is starting to pick up in intensity. you see the wind is blowing, the snow is coming down. for the first time in a very long time, new jersey transit suspended bus service statewide tonight. that is a very rare occurrence, as of 7:00 tonight. they were able to do so though because ridership was so light here in the state of new jersey today, a lot of people heeded the warnings and did stay home tonight. for those who ventured out, state police say they responded to more than 450 calls for assistance. more than 150 accidents, and that's just the state police, not counting locals. one of the of the most serious accidents on the major thorough

fare here in new jersey, route 287, involved a snowplow that went off the road. that gives you an indication of just how bad the roads are tonight here in new jersey. we are under about 18 inches of snow in most parts of the state. brian, back to you. >> pat battle in woodbridge, new jersey. thanks for that. all of this brings us to al roker who joined us here on the rink because we bring you to all the nicest places. did i hear correctly tonight that baltimore and washington have received more snow this season so far than buffalo, new york? >> absolutely. more snow than cleveland, ohio. we are getting hammered. the snow amounts so far, we are talking snowfall amounts 10.5 inches so far in washington, 17 baltimore, 20 in new freedom, pennsylvania, and 12 in philly, philadelphia, baltimore and washington, d.c., all snowiest seasons on record. we take a look at wahes and warnings. we've got blizzard warnings from north carolina, washington, virginia, delaware, jersey, new york city.

that's because of the winds. take a look on the radar. you can see it is spinning. this system is doing just as we predicted. it is intensifying as we move off the coast, drawing in that moisture off the atlantic, mixing with the lder air. we have wind gusts 55 miles per hour. jfk reporting wind gusts of 50 miles per hour. as that system moves off, you can see the isobars tightening. we have strong winds and that's why we have blizzard-like conditions. we have three to six inches of snow on top of what's already fallen. some areas may pick up another six to nine inches. while the snow will start to taper off after midnight tonight, these blizzard warnings go into effect here in new york city until 6:00 a.m. >> an intense blizzard event here in new york. so rare to see this intensity in the weather. >> absolutely. >> al, thanks for being with us out here. we'll see you later in the broadcast. our next story comes from the american midwest. it also involves nature, and the weirdest kind of wake-up for people in the chicago region.

turns out it was just what they suspected. tonight the story from nbc's john yang. >> continuing the earthquake coverage this morning, never thought i would say that. >> reporter: beneath a blanket of fresh snow outside chicago this morning, a rude wake-up call. >> we felt it have a good rumble where it woke everybody up. >> couldn't figure out what was going on. i thought i had a bad dream. >> reporter: the unusual 3.8 magnitude quake hit just before 4:00 a.m. >> phones in our newsrooms and police stations ringing off the hook. >> reporter: it didn't cause any reported injuries or much visible damage, but it startled people as far away as michigan and iowa. >> 3.8 happens every week in california. in illinois, it's a once every 20 years sort of event. >> reporter: the epicenter was about 40 miles west of chicago. scientists said it didn't appear to be related to either of the area's two known major faults. in chicago, digging out from as much as a foot of snow, many didn't notice.

>> actually, i thought it was a snow shark in the snow. >> reporter: big snowstorms, howling winter winds and even though it may beard to imagine on a day like today, sweltering summer heat, but earthquakes? >> you expect that in other states, but not here. it's weird. >> reporter: the midwest is no stranger to quakes. in early 1800s, three massive ones in missouri levelled 150,000 acres of forest, created new lakes and changed the course of the mississippi river. scientists said today's small quake probably isn't a sign of a bigger one on the way leaving residents to cope with the more usual kind of fallout. john yang, nbc news, chicago. we are going to, i think, wisely seek shelter. when "nightly news" continues on this snowy wednesday night, the situation we are watching very closely tonight overseas. tonight overseas. in a neat little single dose spoon.

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as the snowfalls in sheets swirling through midtown manhattan, in an attempt to dry out for just a moment, we are back inside for a look at some of the day's other news. starting with what might come in iran. as that country braces for a big anniversary tomorrow. its hardline government is reportedly cracking down on the opposition and defiantly moving ahead with its nuclear plans. our chief foreign correspondent richard engel has been watching all of it from our london bureau. richard, good evening. >> reporter: good evening, brian. as the iranian government braces for a showdown with the opposition, today iran announced plans to produce higher enriched uranium within days. iran today issued a rallying cry and new warnings. show support for the government or risk being silenced. at least a million people are expected to converge around

tehran's freedom square tomorrow for annual state sponsored celebrations on the anniversary of iran's 1979 islamic revolution. but this year could be very different. opposition leaders who claim president mahmoud ahmadinejad stole elections last june called on their supporters to attend the celebrations, as ll, but to wear green, the color of the protest movement. u.s. intelligence and iranian analysts suspect clashes are likely. >> the regime is intent and bent on punishing those that oppose it. and the people are intent and bent on making themselves heard. >> reporter: during the last big opposition rallies in december, at least ten demonstrators were killed. nbc news' tehran bureau chief ali arouzi is working for western news agencies still in iran. >> iran's police chief warned

there will be severe consequences for anyone who uses tomorrow's rally to protest against the government. for the last several days security has been dramatically stepped up, with road blocks and check points scattered throughout the city. communications have ground to a halt, with text messaging and internet cut off. >> reporter: further cutting communications, iran said today it will permanently block google's gmail service, but similar attempts to cut off iran have been unsuccessful, with pictures and cell phone videos flooding the internet. today, washington stepped up its pressure on iran. the treasury department tightened sanctions on iran's revolutionary guard, targeting its engineering wing, which raises billions of dollars. brian? >> richard engel in london tonight. we'll continue watching this. thanks. a lot of americans learned his name as part of charlie wilson's war, the movie a few

years back starring tom hanks of that title. former democratic congressman charlie wilson died today. he represented his east texas district for a quarter century in congress, best known for his role in helping secretly fund afghanistan resistance to the soviet union in the 1980s. charlie wilson was 76 years old. we'll take a break. when we come back, the news today that could put one american's olympic dream on ice. that could put one american's olympic dream on ice. that can build up e in arteries. it's called atherosclerosis--or athero. and high cholesterol is a major factor. but crestor can help slow the buildup of plaque in arteries. go to arterytour.com and take an interactive tour to learn how plaque builds up. and then ask your doctor if crestor is right for you. along with diet, crestor does more than lower bad cholesterol and raise good. crestor is proven to slow the buildup of plaque in arteries. crestor isn't for everyone, like people with liver disease, or women who are nursing, pregnant,

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now to the winter olympics in vancouver. the games get cranked up after the opening ceremony friday night. if you're a sports fan you know about the "sports illustrated" cover jinx, the number of athletes who have been on the cover of the magazine and then faced disaster of so sort. here is the current cover of "sports illustrated." that's american skier lindsey vonn, who today announced she has an excrutiating injury that may keep her out of the competition, even though this morning's papers were still calling her the face of these olympic games. our report tonight from vancouver, nbc's kevin tibbles standing by. kevin, good evening. >> reporter: good evening, brian. from a rainy vancouver, where multiple medal favorite lindsey vonn says her participation in thalpine events is day to day, after suffering an injury while training. she arrived in vancouver with a fanfare of a superstar. and the expectations of a nation on her shoulders.

but lindsey vonn also carried with her a startling announcement, she is hurt. >> this is definitely the most painful injury ever had. >> reporter: the 25-year-old speed skiing sensation fell while training a week ago in europe, suffering a deep tissue bruise to her right shin. >> the majority of it is right here. i tried just putting my boot on and it is excruciatingly painful. >> reporter: it's not the first time vonn might have to ski with pain. a violent training run crash at the torino games left her with a bruised hip, jet 48 hours after being air-lifted from the course, she raced. >> lindsey vonn is one of the toughest young women you would ever want to meet. she is tough as nails. >> don't count her out? >> do not count lindsey vonn out. i would fully expect to see lindsey vonn out there skiing and skiing well. >> reporter: vonn refused an x-ray. while being cared for by team doctors, she is also using rather unorthodox treatments.

>> natural healing thing where you put cheese on your leg and that takes the swelling out. >> reporter: but the pressure's on. this high-speed cover girl is touted to win multiple races. there have been comparisons with michael phelps. vonn doesn't like what she calls the phelps syndrome. >> i'm just going to go out there and fight. that's all i can do. i'm not out there to be michael. i'm just lindsey. >> reporter: there's one other thing vonn doesn't like, and that is any suggestion she is trying to purposefully lower expectations. she says if she can be in the starting gate, she is going to be there to win. brian? >> if this homemade cure of her works, look at a run on cheese at a store near you. kevin tibbles in vancouver. there was a celebration in washington at the white house last night. president obama welcomed legends of american music to perform songs at the civil rights moveme. the audience, including some senators and member of congress -- yes, that's the president on t microphone --

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today's the day to talk to your doctor... about your urinary symptoms and find out... if avodart is right for you. back out here on the plaza. we have some terrific viewers who already e-mailed, where's your hat, where's your gloves? i was raised better than this, but i forgot them both. >> i may not be fashionable, but i'm warm. >> enough about you. what a swirling intense low pressure system over the city of new york tight. >> really. this exactly what we thought this was going to do. when i woke up this morning at 3:00 and the streets were just wet, i go, uh-oh, but then it

really got going and sure enough this thing has become quite the storm as advertised. the snow down in washington, setting records in washington, as well, as baltimore and philadelphia. we'll see their record fall for snows. look at winds, 25 miles per hour along the long island coastline. gusting up to 30 miles per hour. jersey shore, 18 to 25 mile per hour winds. we've got snow, but we also have winds. that's why blizzard warnings are in effect from washington, d.c., and north carolina, all the way up into new jersey and new york. >> my beloved jersey shore is taking it on the chin tonight. >> it's been rough for t jersey shore. they've taken a lot of pouing this whole winter season. >> i like the look. >> thank you very much. >> it's not all your head. that's reassuring. >> and we'll update you tomorrow morning on "wake up with al" on the weather channel and "the today show" at 7:00. >> more with al roker. name the hour, he'll be on. that's going to do it from nbc "nightly news" tonight. from the plaza.

for my friend al roker and our entire team, i'm brian williams. we'll look for you hopefully inside this building tomorrow night. thank you for being with us. good night. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com