score, michael finney explains tonight, as we come on the air in the west, major concerns amid pounding rain and heavy winds. and, the storm slamming the east, already turning deadly tonight. the dangerous commutes. the ice, snow and rain. the pileup on an icy highway. alerts at this hour from d.c. to philly to new york. while in the west, those evacuations under way right now. ginger zee leads us off on the west tonight. the white house tonight. will the special counsel, robert mueller, soon be questioning president trump? what we've learned tonight. growing concern this evening amid the deadly flu outbreak in this country. tents set up in the west. emergency rooms packed across the country. where it's hitting hardest and how effective is the flu vaccine? and should you still get it if you haven't already? what surprised us today about that. the urgent manhunt for a suspect. the deputy killed responding to a 911 call. a married father of three. and tonight, is oprah

running in 2020? what her long-time partner stedman graham reportedly said overnight. it's making news tonight. food good evening as we come on the air in the west torrent. it's great to start at week with you. what's not great are the two storms hitting both coasts at this hour. and we begin in the wiest. real fear in california tonight about what could come in the hours ahead. and part of the reason there's so much concern is this right here. some of the same areas still recovering from disastrous wildfires, scorched earth, mudslides and nothing to keep the hillsides there from coming right down. so, let's get right to ginger zee, tracking both storms on both coasts tonight. let's begin in the west. >> reporter: yes. san francisco, an inch and a half of rain already. we have 12 to 18 hours of heavy rain from there to the south. flash flood watching from santa rosa to san clemente, david.

this is a large swath of california concerned. and my major concern is how quickly it falls. you can see, 4:00 to 7:00 a.m., on the thomas fire burn scar. creek fire. an inch to inch and a half-hour rainfall rates and this all comes together so quickly on your tuesday that i do think that there will be major debris fleo a floe and mudslide issues. >> what are we looking at in the east? >> reporter: still, that snow and ice for a couple of hours and then we thaw out. >> so, a few more hours here in the east, as ginger points out. but the ripple effect across this country continues tonight, after a week of winter misery for much of the country. that eastern storm starting in the midwest. cars sliding on icy roads in springfield, missouri. and look at this today. a 35-car pileup on i-75 in north georgia today. georgia. that was during the morning rush. and at new york's jfk airport look at this. luggage still piled up from the storm last week.

abc's david kerley covers transportation for us, and this ripple effect from coast to coast tonight. >> reporter: the frigid temperatures are tonight turning roads into rinks. one killed in a four-car crash this morning in georgia. and in tennessee -- >> boom! did he miss him? >> reporter: -- on an overpass, workers watch as cars bounce off barriers and other vehicles. the new storm moving to the east keeping a bitter cold grip on much of the country. already airlines are offering waivers for passengers hoping to avoid the deep freeze. those freezing cold temperatures burst a water pipe in the main international terminal sunday at jfk. three inches of water on the ground, capping four days of misery for passengers. >> nobody can tell me and nobody wants to give me an answer because they know they'll be wrong. >> reporter: lilly, hoping to travel friday, just boarded late today. there is a sea of bags here. matt stein arrived late friday, sat on the tarmac for nearly eight hours and just got his bag today.

>> there are people who have been here for almost four days, who haven't slept, who haven't gone to a hotel and are just trying to find their luggage. >> reporter: while the water pipe break was a problem, an aviation source tells abc news that many airlines tried to make up for lost flights during the weekend, run a regular schedule as well, therefore, some doubling arrivals. and there just weren't enough gates to handle it all. >> and david kerley with us tonight from jfk airport. and david, with this newest system hitting the northeast tonight, all of the airports are still dealing with the ripple effect from the bomb cyclone that hit last week. >> reporter: it's making it very hard for these airlines to recover, david. half of all the cancellations today were at new york's three major airports. and the cold grip continues. >> david kerley leading us off tonight. david, thank you. zmril we turn now to the white house tonight. abc news confirming this evening that special counsel robert mueller will likely request an interview with president trump. the president, when asked in the past if he would answer

questions under oath, answering "100%." but what would his lawyers say now? here's abc's chief white house correspondent jonathan karl tonight. >> reporter: as the president traveled to nashville today to talk up his tax cut, a potentially major development in the russia investigation. abc news has confirmed that special counsel robert mueller met with the president's lawyers and told them he is likely to request an interview with the president himself. news of that december meeting was first reported by "the washington post." in the past, the president sounded almost eager to tell mueller his side of the story. would you be willing to speak under oath to give your version of the events? >> 100%. >> reporter: so if robert mueller wanted to speak with you about that, you'd be willing to talk to him? >> i'd be glad to tell you exactly what i just told you, jon. >> reporter: he was asked about it again just this weekend. >> if robert mueller asks you to come and speak with his committee personally, are you committed still to doing that? do you believe that's appropriate? >> yeah. just so you understand -- just so you understand, there's been no collusion. >> reporter: but sources

familiar with the discussions tell abc news trump's lawyers are exploring options short of a formal interview, such as providing written answers to a questionnaire. it's not clear that would be sufficient for the special counsel. this comes as the president deals with fallout from the new book "fire and fury," which says some of the president's own top advisers question his sanity and his intelligence. the president tweeted over the weekend, quote, "throughout my life, my two greatest assets have been mental stability and being, like, really smart," calling himself, quote, "genius, and a very stable genius at that." >> i went to the best colleges for college. i had a situation where i was a very excellent student. >> reporter: the president angrily cut ties with one of the book's main sources, former chief strategist steve bannon. >> that's why sloppy steve is now looking for a job. >> reporter: the book quotes bannon eviscerating members of the president's family, even suggesting the meeting donald trump jr. set up at trump tower

with a russian lawyer said to have dirt on hillary clinton was "treasonous" and "unpatriotic." bannon has now issued a partial mea culpa, writing, "donald trump jr. is both a patriot and a good man." but the white house isn't satisfied with that. a spokesperson telling reporters, "i don't believe there's any way back for mr. bannon at this point." >> all right, so, let's get to jon karl live at the white house tonight. and jon, as you reported there, the president defending himself against stories about his mental fitness, tweeting he is a very stable genius. he's supposed to get a physical this week and the white house was asked if mental stability would be part of that exam. >> reporter: and the answer, david, is no. he is going to walter reed on friday for a physical exam, not, the white house says, a mental exam. and the doctor who will be examining him, dr. ronnie jackson, has been a white house presidential physician for more than a decade. the same doctor who examined both president obama and president bush. >> all right, jon karl at the

white house. jon, welcome back. next, to the especially dangerous strain of flu, spreading across the country tonight. a major spike in new cases. the flu now spreading across 46 states. hospitalizations doubling in just a week. and in hard-hit california, they are setting up tents now in some places. tonight, this question. how effective is the flu vaccine this year? and if you haven't received the shot yet, should you still get it? how quickly does it make a difference? abc's kayna whitworth from california. >> reporter: tonight, hospitals overflowing, incoming flu patients doubling in the last week alone. overcrowded hospitals forced to use tents. e.r. cases triaged in the hallway. >> we're so busy that paramedics are spending a good amount of time in this hallway. >> reporter: the outbreak deadly. 7-year-old cisco glavez died from the virus. his mother devastated. >> i never expected it, he was very healthy. >> reporter: in california,

27 people under the age of 65 have died since october, compared to just four last season. nationwide, over 41,000 cases reported. widespread flu activity in all but four states in the last month. arkansas and texas, the hardest hit. >> this is, i would say, the worst flu season that i've seen. >> reporter: early reports estimated the flu vaccine as 10% effective against the deadliest strain. the cdc now estimating effectiveness at roughly 30%. >> all right, so, 30%. kayna whitworth with us live tonight from one of those overflow tents. and kayna, as you just mentioned there, the vaccine may be 30% effective, but doctors are still saying you should get it, not just for you, but the people around you. how soon does it actually kick in? >> reporter: david, every doctor i spoke with said you should absolutely get the flu shot and it's not too late. even though it takes a couple of weeks to kick in and be at full strength, it can lessen the severity of your flu symptoms. david? >> all right, kayna whitworth

with us tonight from california. we turn next here to high stakes talks set to begin between north and south korea. the first between the warring nations in two years. it was just last week here, we showed you this image. south korea firing up the hotline with the north. and of course, this all comes amid nuclear tensions between the u.s. and north korea. abc's chief global affairs anchor martha raddatz in seoul tonight for us. martha? >> reporter: david, the olympic games may be the focus of these talks, but this could be a dramatic step in improving relations between the north and south. the setting is historic, that truce village that straddles the heavily fortified border, and, of course, this comes amid the nuclear weapons standoff. kim jong-un likely just one or two tests away from having the ability to hit the u.s. president trump has applauded these talks, david, and said he would be willing to talk to kim if certain conditions are met. david? >> martha raddatz with us tonight from seoul. martha, thank you. and back here at home now, and to the golden globe awards overnight, and that new movement, time's up.

but it was oprah winfrey who was the star of the show last night, with her powerful and stirring speech. and new questions about whether or not she'll run for president in 2020. what her long-time partner said overnight that began the headlines immediately. there was no hiding the headlines that have dominated the news for months on sexual harassment in hollywood and beyond. >> good evening ladies and remaining gentlemen. >> reporter: and throughout the night, moments of victory. for women and for the new campaign, time's up. >> nicole kidman, "big little lies." >> reporter: "big little lies," produced by reese witherspoon and nicole kidman, winning over and over again. >> wow, the power of women. >> reporter: but there were also the reminders of the progress yet to be made. natalie portman and ron howard introducing the nominees for best director. >> and here are the all-male nominees. >> reporter: and there was oprah winfrey. the first black woman to win the cecil b. demille lifetime achievement award. and she remembered watching the

oscars in 1964. >> in 1964, i was a little girl sitting on the linoleum floor of my mother's house in milwaukee, watching anne bancroft present the oscar for best actor at the 36th academy awards. she opened the envelope and said five words that literally made history. "the winner is sidney poitier." and i'd never seen a black man being celebrated like that. and it is not lost on me that at this moment, there are some little girls watching as i become the first black woman to be given this same award. >> reporter: oprah spoke of being inspired by the women who have felt strong enough to speak up. >> so, i want tonight to express gratitude to all the women who

have endured years of abuse and assault because they, like my mother, had children to feed and bills to pay and dreams to pursue. they're the women whose names we'll never know. for too long, women have not been heard or believed if they dared to speak their truth to the power of those men. but their time is up. >> reporter: and during her speech, the hashtag going viral, #oprah2020. >> so, i want all the girls watching here now to know that a new day is on the horizon. when nobody ever has to say "me too" again. thank you.

>> reporter: "the l.a. times" overnight asking oprah's long-time partner stedman graham if she'll run for president. he said, "it's up to the people, she would absolutely do it." bloomberg said in a brief interview backstage, winfrey herself was told #oprah2020 was circulating on twitter, and asked whether she planned to run. "i don't. i don't," she said. and this is what she told her friend gayle king in october. >> 2020, i'm wondering if you've narrowed down your short list of v.p. candidates. >> she's lost her mind now. no, i haven't. >> no, no. >> it took me a minute to follow. >> i know, okay. "20/20," i was thinking of the show. people ask it all the time. >> even i am now starting to think the rules changed about running for president. >> there will be no running for office of any kind for me. >> i like that she was thinking of the show "20/20." she can come tell us any time. in the meantime, tonight, the white house is weighing in on all of this. the deputy press secretary saying, quote, "we welcome the challenge, whether it be oprah winfrey or anybody else."

there is still much more ahead on "world news tonight" this monday. the fire at trump tower. dozens of firefighters on the scene. we'll have the latest. also, the urgent manhunt for a suspect. the deputy killed responding to a 911 call. images from that scene tonight. and you met him here nearly a decade ago. he was our "person of the week" back then. and he had one dream, he told you all about it at home. tonight, that dream has come true. you've got to see this.

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chased two suspects who had taken off. investigators say one pulled a gun. you can hear mccartney on the radio. >> put it down! county 484, shots fired. >> reporter: in the gun battle, one suspect was killed. the other got away. >> going to need fire priority. we got one officer down. >> reporter: fellow officers finding and then rushing deputy mccartney to a hospital, but he did not survive. >> bravery showed. took off after them. that's what our guys do. >> reporter: mccartney was a navy vet, married with three young boys. and so far, in this year, 2018, he is the fourth law enforcement officer to be killed in the line of duty. david? >> all right, clayton sandell tonight. clayton, thank you. when we come back here tonight, the new health headline. if you start moderate exercise right now, how quickly can you reverse damage to the heart? also, the championship battle tonight. amy robach is standing by for us. and that fire breaking out at the top of trump tower. smoke pouring from the roof. news tonight on how it all news tonight on how it all started. you not only want clean feeling every day, you want your denture to be stain free. did you know there's a specialty cleanser that's gentle enough

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the high rise contains president trump's home and business offices. investigators say the fire broke out in a heating and cooling unit. three people were treated for minor injuries. the new health headline tonight involving moderate exercise and how quickly it can help the heart. a new study finds it may help reverse heart damage, especially in middle aged americans who have not previously exercised. the group studied people aged 45 to 64 lowers their risk of heart failure with a moderate intensity workout, five hours a week for two years. the study in the journal "circulation." and the college football national championship tonight, georgia taking on alabama. president trump will be on-hand and so is amy robach, and her hat gives away where she's from. amy? >> reporter: david, security is tight here in atlanta, as the georgia bulldogs face off against alabama crimson tide. no player will be protesting the national anthem with president trump in the stands here tonight. both teams will be in their locker rooms when that song is playing, as they normally do. as for the game itself, it is teacher versus pupil. georgia's kirby smart, hoping to end his former boss, alabama's

nick saban's winning streak, 11-0 against his former coaching employees. and this georgia bulldog hopes he does. david? >> we'll see, amy. we'll all be watching. you can watch the national championship on espn tonight, 8:00 p.m. eastern on espn. when we come back, you met him, he was a 10-year-old. he was once or "person of the week." you met him nearly a decade ago, he had one dream. you've got to see this. nick was born to move. 3 toddlers won't stop him. and neither will lower back pain. because at a dr. scholl's kiosk he got a recommendation for our custom fit orthotic to relieve his foot, knee, or lower back pain, from being on his feet. dr. scholl's. born to move. if you have moderate to severe plaque psoriasis,... ...isn't it time to let the real you shine through? maybe it's time for otezla (apremilast). otezla is not an injection or a cream. it's a pill that treats plaque psoriasis differently.

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nathan chen, who's a contender for gold at the olympics next month, isn't chasing the field. >> i think nathan chen is ready for the olympics. >> reporter: the 18-year-old is chasing perfection. and long before becoming the first human to nail not one, not two, but an unheard of five quadruple jumps in a single program -- >> quad, so clean. >> reporter: -- nathan was already gunning for gold when we first met him in 2010. >> he has his sights on 2018. >> reporter: by then, nathan was already an accomplished pianist, a solid gymnast, a ballet dancer and a phenomenal skater. he was 10. >> which olympics are we going to see you in? >> 2018, i think. >> reporter: but olympic dreams started way before. >> i started skating in salt lake city during the 2002 olympics, really. >> reporter: so, 2002, you were

2 zwh? >> yeah, i was 3, yeah. >> reporter: now, there is fame -- these are all for you, nathan. these are all nathan's. and fan mail. >> that's sweet. i like that. >> reporter: but one thing hasn't changed since he was 10. the olympic dream. >> 10-year-old nathan chen, 4'5", 69 pounds, but watch out for him in 2018. >> we listened to diane then, and there's nathan now. we're rooting you on, nathan. thanks for watching here tonight. i hope to see you right back here tomorrow. good night. . the top concern on this rainy day, the risk of flooding.

we're live, seeing if all the preparations have paid off. rain and the roads. it can be a dangerous combination, especially when you add in some other factors as well. >> the wind and rain continued to pound the bay area, i'll show you where the heaviest rain is right now. >> live where you live, this is abc 7 news. you know, we rarely see live doppler 7 lit up like this, shades of dark green and yellow indicating a strong storm that ranks 3 on our storm impact scale. >> the risk of crashing remains high. >> that's because we're in the heart of the storm right now and we still have several more hours of weather like this to go before it passes through >> this is the first level three storm that we've had in over a month, and it is drenching the entire bay area. >> we have team coverage from

the south bay to the north bay and the east bay as well. >> and we have team coverage of weather experts tracking the storm. drew tuma monitoring the watches and warnings in effect right now. but let's begin with spencer christian. hey, spencer. >> we want to start by looking at the rainfall totals. nearly 2 inches in san francisco. this is the wettest in san francisco in two years. it is wet and getting wetter all across the bay area, as you can see right here. these batches of yellow and orange offshore represent heavy downpours just beginning to push onshore. the beach is getting a heavy downpour at the moment. we'll see heavier rainfall up to san rafael by 6:09. and fairfield, that's the path that this area of heavy downpours will be taking. as we go