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A man was asleep in his Tesla while in autopilot mode.

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For the second time this month, a video has surfaced that apparently shows a Tesla driver asleep or passed out behind the wheel while the car is operating in its semi-autonomous Autopilot mode.

The video posted to Jalopnik was allegedly shot somewhere outside Las Vegas. In it, a man can be seen resting his head on the seatback with his eyes closed as the car speeds up and slows down within a lane.

Any other vehicles on the road are out of frame during the short, 18-second clip, so there is no telling how heavy the traffic was at the time of the incident, but no reports have surfaced of anyone being involved in an accident in the area under similar circumstances.

Just 10 days earlier, a video of another driver in the same condition on a Southern California highway was posted to Facebook. According to Electrek, the photographer wrote in the since-deleted post that he observed the car riding along by itself for miles.

AAA this week urged the automotive industry to come up with standardized names for active driver assist systems, because it thinks brand names like Autopilot and Nissan's ProPilot Assist give a false impression of their limited capabilities.

Tesla would not comment on the videos, but cautions drivers to stay alert when using Autopilot. If it detects that a driver is not paying attention, through sensors in the steering wheel, it is supposed to warn them with lights and sounds before slowly deactivating itself. In the Southern California video, the driver's hand does appear to be on the wheel.

These sorts of reports have come up several times before. In December, a driver was cited for drunk driving after highway patrol officers spotted him passed out in the driver's seat, followed his car for about seven miles and then pulled in front of it and slowed down hoping it was in Autopilot mode and would come to a stop to avoid a collision. It did, but it was not immediately clear why it hadn't already deactivated on its own. Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted at the time that he was "looking into what happened here," but never made an announcement on his findings.

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Sleeping man spotted in Tesla as it apparently drives itself

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For the second time this month, a video has surfaced that apparently shows a Tesla driver asleep or passed out behind the wheel while the car is operating in its semi-autonomous Autopilot mode. The video posted to Jalopnik was allegedly shot somewhere outside Las Vegas.

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Polar vortex 'Boiling Water Challenge' goes viral in Midwest amid subzero temperatures

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Bored Midwesterners are putting the polar vortex to the test this week, challenging whether or not the current temperature in their area is cold enough to instantly freeze a pot of boiling water.

They're calling it the "Boiling Water Challenge" - not to be confused with the "Hot Water Challenge."

Locals are heading outside in subzero temperatures to see how strong Mother Nature really is. After boiling hot water, a participant heads outside and throws the liquid in the air, watching it disperse into tiny "snowflakes" and create a plume of smoke.
'FROZEN' LAKE MICHIGAN STUNS IN POLAR VORTEX PICTURES
The boiling water stunt itself doesn't actually create snow.

"Snow forms when the atmospheric temperature is at or below freezing (0 degrees Celsius or 32 degrees Fahrenheit) and there is a minimum amount of moisture in the air. If the ground temperature is at or below freezing, the snow will reach the ground," the National Snow & Ice Data (NSID) Center explains on its website.

While it can never be "too cold" to snow, the organization does note that heavy snowfalls typically occurs when there is warmer air close to the ground.
CAN BIRDS SURVIVE A POLAR VORTEX? HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS TO FEATHERED CREATURES IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES
During the "Boiling Water Challenge," the hot water simply evaporates into vapor and thus "condenses into a cloud," according to WTOL. Though the cloud disappears within seconds, it's still a thrilling sight (if you do it right).

Officials also urge anyone who attempts the challenge to be cautious and wear protective winter gear.

"Be aware of which way the wind is blowing so you don't end up with a faceful of either liquid or vapor," WTOL adds.

Many people have posted slow-motion videos and enhanced photos of the snow-like illusion.

An Indiana photographer shared an epic photo on Instagram Wednesday of the vapor cloud created in minus 20 degrees. It garnered more than 575 likes as of Thursday afternoon. The color of the falling crystals was even more vibrant with the Sun in the background in Portage.

In Evanston, Illinois, a woman took to a snow-covered sidewalk to create "[her] own cloud." The Sun highlighted the bright white cloud with a crystal blue sky in the background.

Maggie Russo, a Chicago-based photographer, also took the opportunity to snap a stunning picture during the "Boiling Water Challenge."

"It was -20 today so of course I had to do this," she joked online.

Chicago dropped to a low of around minus 23 on Wednesday, slightly above the city's lowest-ever reading of minus 27 from January 1985. Wind chills reportedly made it feel like minus 50 or worse.

A woman named Claire in Westwood, Michigan, said she also "did the thing."

"Also, my toes are now rather chilled," she captioned a chilly Instagram post on Thursday.

From afar, the cloud of smoke hovering over her head almost looks like a large bubble. Eventually, the cloud disseminated.

A winter storm warning was in effect for the Wolverine State Wednesday as snow pummeled several towns and cities. A timelapse video taken in Kalamazoo Wednesday shows an impressive 15 inches of snow accumulating outside of a home within just 13 seconds.

Here's a look at some other videos and photos from "Boiling Water Challenge" participants.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Polar vortex 'Boiling Water Challenge' goes viral in Midwest amid subzero temperatures

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Bored Midwesterners are putting the polar vortex to the test this week, challenging whether or not the current temperature in their area is cold enough to instantly freeze a pot of boiling water. They're calling it the "Boiling Water Challenge" - not to be confused with the "Hot Water Challenge."

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I guess sex trafficking is the wave during super bowl and 33 people got busted in atlanta for this.

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Interested in Super Bowl?

Add Super Bowl as an interest to stay up to date on the latest Super Bowl news, video, and analysis from ABC News.

Authorities say 33 people have been arrested in Atlanta on sex trafficking charges ahead of the Super Bowl.

Homeland Security Investigations Agent Nick Annan tells The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the arrests happened this week, but declined to discuss case specifics due to ongoing investigations.

Authorities say four victims have already been rescued. Advocates for sex trafficking victims say sex traffickers are attracted to large sporting events, such as this Sunday's game between the Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots.

Douglasville police say 16 people were arrested last week as part of an undercover operation whose timing was related to the Super Bowl. Atlanta police Chief Erika Shields says planning for Super Bowl security began over two years ago. Dozens of local, state and federal agencies are assisting with security.

---

Information from: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, http://www.ajc.com

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33 arrested on sex trafficking charges ahead of Super Bowl

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Authorities say 33 people have been arrested in Atlanta on sex trafficking charges ahead of the Super Bowl. Homeland Security Investigations Agent Nick Annan tells The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the arrests happened this week, but declined to discuss case specifics due to...

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Paper is due tomorrow

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Jeff Bezos investigating how his texts to woman, who was not his wife, were leaked.

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Amazon boss Jeff Bezos has launched an inquiry to find out how the National Enquirer got hold of his racy text messages to girlfriend Lauren Sanchez, The Daily Beast reports.
JEFF BEZOS, WORTH $137 BILLION, TO DIVORCE WIFE OF 25 YEARS
Earlier this month, the tabloid published the contents of lovey-dovey messages from the billionaire to his married new squeeze and reported that he had sent her nude pictures of himself.

Now, the Beast reports that Bezos is funding an inquiry into the leak - and is "increasingly convinced that political motives are behind the disclosure." It says that the probe has so far ruled out the possibility his phone was hacked, and investigators have "not uncovered evidence" that Sanchez was involved in the leak.
JEFF BEZOS HAS NO PRENUP, $67 BILLION ON THE LINE
However, when the Enquirer story was published, sources close to its reporting operation told Page Six that the tab had got hold of the texts because Sanchez had "loose lips" and shared them with pals.

On Wednesday, Enquirer insiders said they stuck by that claim.

Meanwhile, the Daily Beast says that Bezos' investigators believe that because the story showed up in the National Enquirer it suggests that it's a right-wing hatchet job on the liberal Bezos (who owns the Washington Post).
FRIEND OF LAUREN SANCHEZ 'SHOCKED' THAT SHE'S DATING JEFF BEZOS
They point out that the Enquirer has long been an ally of President Trump.

But a source told us that this theory is just a weird conspiracy.
JEFF BEZOS' NEW GIRLFRIEND LAUREN SANCHEZ HAS A LONG LIST OF HOLLYWOOD CREDITS
The relationship between Trump and the tabloid was seriously tested last year after its chairman, David Pecker, was granted immunity to testify in the investigation into whether the Enquirer paid Playmate Karen McDougal to stop her from claiming that she had an affair with Trump.
This story originally appeared on Page Six.

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Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos investigating who leaked racy texts to Lauren Sanchez

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Amazon boss Jeff Bezos has launched an inquiry to find out how the National Enquirer got hold of his racy text messages to girlfriend Lauren Sanchez, The Daily Beast reports.

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33 arrested on sex trafficking charges ahead of Super Bowl

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Interested in Super Bowl?

Add Super Bowl as an interest to stay up to date on the latest Super Bowl news, video, and analysis from ABC News.

Authorities say 33 people have been arrested in Atlanta on sex trafficking charges ahead of the Super Bowl.

Homeland Security Investigations Agent Nick Annan tells The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the arrests happened this week, but declined to discuss case specifics due to ongoing investigations.

Authorities say four victims have already been rescued. Advocates for sex trafficking victims say sex traffickers are attracted to large sporting events, such as this Sunday's game between the Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots.

Douglasville police say 16 people were arrested last week as part of an undercover operation whose timing was related to the Super Bowl. Atlanta police Chief Erika Shields says planning for Super Bowl security began over two years ago. Dozens of local, state and federal agencies are assisting with security.

---

Information from: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, http://www.ajc.com

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33 arrested on sex trafficking charges ahead of Super Bowl

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Authorities say 33 people have been arrested in Atlanta on sex trafficking charges ahead of the Super Bowl. Homeland Security Investigations Agent Nick Annan tells The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the arrests happened this week, but declined to discuss case specifics due to...

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A sinkhole turned out to be an underground tunnel to a Florida bank

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a sinkhole turned out be an underground tunnel to a florida bank  - cnn

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A sinkhole turned out be an underground tunnel to a Florida bank

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Public works employees in Florida stumbled upon something they don't see every day: a small "claustrophobic " tunnel leading to a Chase bank, according to the FBI.

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Chicago is setting train tracks on fire.

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why chicago train tracks are being set on fire - cnn video

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Why Chicago train tracks are being set on fire - CNN Video

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The weather in Chicago is so cold that rail crews are using fire to heat up railroad tracks to ensure trains can run smoothly.

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Students in all Kohl's classes prepare to stay up till 3 am to finish their essay that they probably only have like a paragraph on... rip

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Cop killed a colleague during a "Russian roulette" like game

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A St. Louis policeman is set to appear in court Thursday morning one week after he allegedly shot and killed his colleague while playing a Russian roulette-like game.

Nathanial Hendren, 29, is facing charges of involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the death of his fellow officer, 24-year-old Katlyn Alix.

Alix was off-duty at Hendren's apartment in St. Louis, Missouri, when she was shot in the chest just before 1 a.m. local time on Jan. 24. Hendren and his patrol partner who was present -- both on-duty at the time -- rushed Alix to the hospital where she soon died.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department initially called it an "accidental" killing in which an officer "mishandled a firearm." But investigators later determined that Hendren and Alix were playing a dangerous game with a revolver.

According to a probable cause statement from the police department, Hendren emptied the revolver's chambers, put one bullet back in and spun the cylinder. He then pointed the weapon away and pulled the trigger. The gun did not fire. Alix took the firearm, pointed it at Hendren and pulled the trigger. Still nothing happened.

Hendren then took back the revolver, pointed it at Alix and pulled the trigger. This time, the gun discharged the chambered round, according to the probable cause.

The way how everything went down, I don't like it. I think there's more answers. We need more answers. She loved her job. Even on her days off she would go visit all her friends down there because like I guess when you're a police officer, [you have] that close bond with everyone.

Hendren's partner, who has not yet been named, advised investigators that he had told Alix and Hendren that "they shouldn't be playing with guns and that they were police officers," according to the probable cause. The officer said he "felt uncomfortable" with the situation and "didn't want to have any part of it. He was leaving Hendren's apartment when he heard the gunshot, according to the probable cause.

The police department immediately launched an internal investigation into the incident and placed both Hendren and his partner on paid administrative leave. The St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office launched its own investigation with the help of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The St. Louis circuit attorney, Kimberly Gardner, announced on Jan. 25 that her office had filed charges against Hendren.

"This is a devastating incident for Katlyn Alix's husband, parents, family and for our entire community," Gardner said in a statement. "We will do whatever is necessary to get to the truth of this incident. Katlyn's family and this community deserve nothing less."

On Monday, Gardner sent a letter to Col. John Hayden Jr., the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department commissioner, and Judge Jimmie Edwards, the city's public safety director, raising concerns about how the investigation was handled in its early stages.

This is a devastating incident for Katlyn Alix's husband, parents, family and for our entire community. We will do whatever is necessary to get to the truth of this incident. Katlyn's family and this community deserve nothing less.

Gardner said she believed there was probable cause that drugs or alcohol may have been "a contributing factor" in the shooting. Members of her team began preparing search warrants to have blood drawn from both Hendren and his partner, but police informed them that the local hospital will not honor the warrants -- even though that is a common procedure in criminal investigations, Gardner said.

Gardner said her team was later told that, "in lieu of the more exact blood specimen test," the police department's internal affairs division had conducted a breathalyzer test and taken urine samples from both officers under Garrity rights, which shield public employees from self-incrimination.

"This is a serious problem in objective investigative tactics," Gardner said in her letter. "Taking these tests under the cover of Garry appears as an obstructionist tactic to prevent us from understanding the state of the officers during the commission of this alleged crime."

Gardner also expressed concern over the police department's swift assessment that Alix's death was an accident.

"In my opinion, it is completely inappropriate for investigators to approach a crime scene that early in the investigation with a predisposed conclusion about the potential outcome of a case," she said. "I understand your need to get information out to the public quickly regarding officer-involved shooting cases, however, the labeling of any criminal incident as an accident prior to a full investigation is a violation of our duty as objective fact finders."

Alix, a military veteran who graduated from the St. Louis Police Academy in January 2017, was laid to rest Wednesday. Her family is demanding answers.

"The way how everything went down, I don't like it," Alix's mother, Aimee Chadwick, told CBS affiliate KMOV in an interview. "I think there's more answers. We need more answers. She loved her job. Even on her days off she would go visit all her friends down there because like I guess when you're a police officer, [you have] that close bond with everyone."

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the metropolitan police department city of st. louis

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Cop accused of killing colleague during Russian roulette-like game to appear in court

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A St. Louis policeman is set to appear in court Thursday morning one week after he allegedly shot and killed his colleague while playing a Russian roulette-like game. Nathanial Hendren, 29, is facing charges of involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the death of his fellow officer, 24-year-old Katlyn Alix.

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endangered shark species is sold in the UK at fish and chips shops

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Endangered sharks are being sold as food in the U.K, according to experts, even turning up in some fish and chip shops.

Scientists from the University of Exeter made the shocking discovery after analyzing shark products from seafood stores and chip shops. They also examined shark fins from an Asian food wholesaler in the U.K.

DNA analysis was used to examine 78 samples from chip shops and 39 from seafood stores, mostly in southern England. Scientists studied 10 fins from the wholesaler.
GRAPHIC IMAGES: SHARK ATTACKS SEAL, TURNS WATER RED
"The majority of chip shop samples (usually sold under generic names like huss, rock salmon and rock eel) were spiny dogfish - a species 'endangered' in Europe and 'vulnerable' worldwide," they explained in a statement.

Fin samples included scalloped hammerheads, which are endangered globally and subject to international tread restrictions, according to the researchers.

"The discovery of endangered hammerhead sharks highlights how widespread the sale of declining species really is - even reaching Europe and the U.K.," said Dr. Andrew Griffiths, a lecturer in biological science at the University of Exeter, in a statement. "Scalloped hammerhead can be imported under strict conditions, but the wholesaler had no idea what species the fin belonged to."
MASSIVE GREAT WHITE SHARK FILMED JUST FEET AWAY FROM OBLIVIOUS PADDLE BOARDER
The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports.

As a result of the research, the study's authors want more accurate food labeling in the U.K. so that consumers know what they are eating.

"It's almost impossible for consumers to know what they are buying," said Catherine Hobbs, the study's lead author. "People might think they're getting a sustainably sourced product when they're actually buying a threatened species."
'VEGETARIAN' SHARK DISCOVERY: FIRST OMNIVOROUS SPECIES OF SEA PREDATOR STUNS SCIENTISTS
Consumers' health issues are also important. "Knowing what species you are buying could be important in terms of allergies, toxins, mercury content and the growing concern over microplastics in the marine food chain," said Hobbs.

Sharks continue to be a source of fear and fascination.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Last year, for example, surprised scientists identified the seagrass-munching bonnethead as the first omnivorous shark species.
Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers

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Shark shocker: Endangered species sold in UK fish and chip shops

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Endangered sharks are being sold as food in the U.K, according to experts, even turning up in some fish and chip shops. Scientists from the University of Exeter made the shocking discovery after analyzing shark products from seafood stores and chip shops. They also examined shark fins from an Asian food wholesaler in the U.K.

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Tesla driver was sleeping in the car while the car was on autopilot.

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For the second time this month, a video has surfaced that apparently shows a Tesla driver asleep or passed out behind the wheel while the car is operating in its semi-autonomous Autopilot mode.

The video posted to Jalopnik was allegedly shot somewhere outside Las Vegas. In it, a man can be seen resting his head on the seatback with his eyes closed as the car speeds up and slows down within a lane.

Any other vehicles on the road are out of frame during the short, 18-second clip, so there is no telling how heavy the traffic was at the time of the incident, but no reports have surfaced of anyone being involved in an accident in the area under similar circumstances.

Just 10 days earlier, a video of another driver in the same condition on a Southern California highway was posted to Facebook. According to Electrek, the photographer wrote in the since-deleted post that he observed the car riding along by itself for miles.

AAA this week urged the automotive industry to come up with standardized names for active driver assist systems, because it thinks brand names like Autopilot and Nissan's ProPilot Assist give a false impression of their limited capabilities.

Tesla would not comment on the videos, but cautions drivers to stay alert when using Autopilot. If it detects that a driver is not paying attention, through sensors in the steering wheel, it is supposed to warn them with lights and sounds before slowly deactivating itself. In the Southern California video, the driver's hand does appear to be on the wheel.

These sorts of reports have come up several times before. In December, a driver was cited for drunk driving after highway patrol officers spotted him passed out in the driver's seat, followed his car for about seven miles and then pulled in front of it and slowed down hoping it was in Autopilot mode and would come to a stop to avoid a collision. It did, but it was not immediately clear why it hadn't already deactivated on its own. Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted at the time that he was "looking into what happened here," but never made an announcement on his findings.

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Sleeping man spotted in Tesla as it apparently drives itself

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For the second time this month, a video has surfaced that apparently shows a Tesla driver asleep or passed out behind the wheel while the car is operating in its semi-autonomous Autopilot mode. The video posted to Jalopnik was allegedly shot somewhere outside Las Vegas.

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A massive cavity two-thirds the size of Manhattan has been discovered growing in an Antarctic glacier, signaling rapid ice decay that has shocked scientists.

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gigantic hole two-thirds the size of manhattan discovered in antarctic glacier  - cnn

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Gigantic hole two-thirds the size of Manhattan discovered in Antarctic glacier

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A massive cavity two-thirds the size of Manhattan has been discovered growing in an Antarctic glacier, signaling rapid ice decay that has shocked scientists.

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A teenager swallowed a toothpick and the doctors were stumped.

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Remember what your mom said: Chew your food! A mystery medical case published Thursday in The New England Journal of Medicine shows the damage an accidentally swallowed toothpick can do to the body.

It's more common and serious than you think: dozens of cases have been reported, with some ending in death.

The frightening story involves an 18-year-old professional athlete who'd been feeling fine until a recent training trip. He went to the emergency room complaining of fever, abdominal pain, loose stools and mild nausea after eating.

After a round of tests at the hospital, doctors were stumped. His blood test results and CT scan were normal, so the man was released after several hours of observation.

He felt better, but the ordeal wasn't over. Two weeks later, the abdominal pain and fever returned. The patient also developed low-back pain and noticed blood and mucus in his stools. He sought help at a second hospital. But again, his blood tests were normal and an MRI only showed "mildly distended, fluid-filled loops of small bowel."

Doctors scheduled a colonoscopy for the next day, but the athlete felt worse and noticed more bright red blood in the toilet, so he returned to the emergency room and was admitted to the hospital.

His fever spiked to 105 degrees and his pulse raced at 145 beats per minute. He was confused and tired.

A colonoscopy finally revealed what was wrong: Doctors found a 2-inch wooden toothpick lodged in the man's colon. The patient experienced life-threatening bleeding when it was removed, so he was rushed to surgery to repair the damage.

He spent 10 days in the hospital and had to undergo weeks of rehab. Seven months after his injury, the athlete was finally able to play in his first professional game and continues to do well, the case study noted.

It turns out he's not the first to swallow an intact toothpick. A 2014 study found 136 cases, with three-quarters of them involving men.

"Toothpick ingestion" creates a particularly high risk of complications, with 79 percent of cases leading to gut perforation and 10 percent ending in death, The New England Journal of Medicine warned.

"Patients with perforation by a foreign body are usually unable to remember ingesting the foreign body," the report noted. "Most ingested foreign bodies pass without consequence, but 10 to 20 percent need to be removed endoscopically and 1 percent surgically."

Chew your food!

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Teen's serious health scare turned out to be a swallowed toothpick

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Remember what your mom said: Chew your food! A mystery medical case published Thursday in The New England Journal of Medicine shows the damage an accidentally swallowed toothpick can do to the body. It's more common and serious than you think: dozens of cases have been reported, with some ending in death.

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this has brought the coldest air ever. mail components have started to shut down in the coldest states.

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The Windy City has become the frozen city.

CNN's Leonel Mendez took a time lapse video at sunrise showing steam rising off icy Lake Michigan.

Why the lake is steaming: Steam can rise off a lake when the water is warmer than the cold air above it. Here's how NASA describes it: "As cold, dry air moved over the lakes, it mixed with warmer, moister air rising off the lake surfaces, transforming the water vapor into fog - a phenomenon known as steam fog."
Watch the video:

Today is the last of the extreme cold air, and temperatures are expected to rebound quickly over much of the area that saw the extreme cold.

For example:

Chicago will see a temperature rise of nearly 75 degrees from extreme cold of -20 to -25 below to a forecast of low 50s and rain on Monday.

Atlanta, which dropped down into the 20s will see low 60s for the Super Bowl on Sunday.

Extreme cold continues to grip much of the eastern half of the country and has become more widespread with dangerous cold and wind chills extend from the Upper Midwest to Maine.
Here's where things stand this morning:

More than 75% of the continental US - or about 216 million people - are seeing below freezing temperatures this morning.

More than 20%, or 84 million people, are seeing below zero.

Wind chill warnings or advisories continue for nearly 140 million people, covering most of the Midwest and Northeast, and extending as far south as the Carolinas.

Wind chills are not as extreme as yesterday, but still in the -40 to -50 range in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and -30 to -40 in Northern Illinois, including Chicago.

The winter weather isn't done with Chicago; now there is talk of frost quakes.

Here's what that means: A frost quake, or cryoseism, occurs when the water underground freezes and expands causing the soil and rock to crack.

There's often a booming or banging sound, which usually begins when there is a sudden drop in temperature, WGN reported, much like Chicago's recent dip to a record-breaking low of 27 below.

CNN affiliate WGN reported Wednesday that viewers in the Chicago area were awakened by a series of booms.

"I thought I was crazy! I was up all night because I kept hearing it," viewer Chastity Clark Baker said on Facebook, the news station reported. "I was scared and thought it was the furnace. I kept walking through the house. I had everyone's jackets on the table in case we had to run out of here."

A deep freeze swept over the Midwest and parts of the Northeast today.

The frigid cold temperatures forced road, school and state office closures. Mail and train services were also suspended in some states.

In Chicago, officials set railroad tracks on fire because the extreme cold could cause defects.
This is what it looked across the rest of the Midwest today: Illinois Indiana Iowa Nebraska New York Wisconsin

Seven people were injured after a multi-car pileup occurred during a sudden snow squall in Pennsylvania, Wyomissing Police Chief Jeffrey Biehl told CNN.

At least 26 cars were involved in the crash that occurred shortly after 1 p.m. ET on Route 222 in Wyomissing. The injured victims were taken to Reading Hospital. Their conditions were not immediately known.

The snow squall caused whiteout conditions on the road, the chief said.

Wyomissing resident Kim Hart, who drove by the crash, said road visibility quickly diminished when the squall moved through the area.

"It made my stomach hurt. I wasn't scared just saddened and praying everyone makes it home," Hart told CNN. "The roads seemed okay but the snow started and the visibility went to impossible quickly."

The lowest windchill measured in the last 48 hours is -66 degrees in Ponsford, Minnesota, the National Weather Service said.

The lowest air temperature measured in that same time period is -48 degrees in Morris Camp, Minnesota.

Firefighters battling a house fire in Hammond, Indiana, in Wednesday's -22 degree weather ran in to a major problem: the hose water kept turning into ice.

"Everything got slowed down and even a fire hydrant was frozen," Hammond Fire Chief Jeff Smith told CNN. "I'm currently thawing out and so is my crew."

The frozen water and cold temperatures created a number of issues for the firefighters.

"A couple guys slipped and fell on the ice, including me. They looked like snowmen, ice was falling and cracking of them," Smith said. "It was a difficult situation. Cold weather takes a little bit extra time."

The fire was reported 7:15 a.m. ET, but it took firefighters several hours to finally extinguish the flames. An older woman who lived in the home remained missing as of Wednesday afternoon, Smith said. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but firefighters think it started in the basement.

That part of the house, he said, was "filled with a couple feet of water that's turned into ice."

All the runners in the Arrowhead 135 ultramarathon have completed the race, according to the race's Facebook page.

While 146 runners started, only 52 completed the course.

"It has warmed up from -32 early this AM to a balmy -16," race organizers said on Facebook within an hour of the racers finishing.

What we're covering here

The Windy City has become the frozen city.

CNN's Leonel Mendez took a time lapse video at sunrise showing steam rising off icy Lake Michigan.

Why the lake is steaming: Steam can rise off a lake when the water is warmer than the cold air above it. Here's how NASA describes it: "As cold, dry air moved over the lakes, it mixed with warmer, moister air rising off the lake surfaces, transforming the water vapor into fog - a phenomenon known as steam fog."
Watch the video:

Today is the last of the extreme cold air, and temperatures are expected to rebound quickly over much of the area that saw the extreme cold.

For example:

Chicago will see a temperature rise of nearly 75 degrees from extreme cold of -20 to -25 below to a forecast of low 50s and rain on Monday.

Atlanta, which dropped down into the 20s will see low 60s for the Super Bowl on Sunday.

Extreme cold continues to grip much of the eastern half of the country and has become more widespread with dangerous cold and wind chills extend from the Upper Midwest to Maine.
Here's where things stand this morning:

More than 75% of the continental US - or about 216 million people - are seeing below freezing temperatures this morning.

More than 20%, or 84 million people, are seeing below zero.

Wind chill warnings or advisories continue for nearly 140 million people, covering most of the Midwest and Northeast, and extending as far south as the Carolinas.

Wind chills are not as extreme as yesterday, but still in the -40 to -50 range in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and -30 to -40 in Northern Illinois, including Chicago.

The winter weather isn't done with Chicago; now there is talk of frost quakes.

Here's what that means: A frost quake, or cryoseism, occurs when the water underground freezes and expands causing the soil and rock to crack.

There's often a booming or banging sound, which usually begins when there is a sudden drop in temperature, WGN reported, much like Chicago's recent dip to a record-breaking low of 27 below.

CNN affiliate WGN reported Wednesday that viewers in the Chicago area were awakened by a series of booms.

"I thought I was crazy! I was up all night because I kept hearing it," viewer Chastity Clark Baker said on Facebook, the news station reported. "I was scared and thought it was the furnace. I kept walking through the house. I had everyone's jackets on the table in case we had to run out of here."

A deep freeze swept over the Midwest and parts of the Northeast today.

The frigid cold temperatures forced road, school and state office closures. Mail and train services were also suspended in some states.

In Chicago, officials set railroad tracks on fire because the extreme cold could cause defects.
This is what it looked across the rest of the Midwest today: Illinois Indiana Iowa Nebraska New York Wisconsin

Seven people were injured after a multi-car pileup occurred during a sudden snow squall in Pennsylvania, Wyomissing Police Chief Jeffrey Biehl told CNN.

At least 26 cars were involved in the crash that occurred shortly after 1 p.m. ET on Route 222 in Wyomissing. The injured victims were taken to Reading Hospital. Their conditions were not immediately known.

The snow squall caused whiteout conditions on the road, the chief said.

Wyomissing resident Kim Hart, who drove by the crash, said road visibility quickly diminished when the squall moved through the area.

"It made my stomach hurt. I wasn't scared just saddened and praying everyone makes it home," Hart told CNN. "The roads seemed okay but the snow started and the visibility went to impossible quickly."

The lowest windchill measured in the last 48 hours is -66 degrees in Ponsford, Minnesota, the National Weather Service said.

The lowest air temperature measured in that same time period is -48 degrees in Morris Camp, Minnesota.

Firefighters battling a house fire in Hammond, Indiana, in Wednesday's -22 degree weather ran in to a major problem: the hose water kept turning into ice.

"Everything got slowed down and even a fire hydrant was frozen," Hammond Fire Chief Jeff Smith told CNN. "I'm currently thawing out and so is my crew."

The frozen water and cold temperatures created a number of issues for the firefighters.

"A couple guys slipped and fell on the ice, including me. They looked like snowmen, ice was falling and cracking of them," Smith said. "It was a difficult situation. Cold weather takes a little bit extra time."

The fire was reported 7:15 a.m. ET, but it took firefighters several hours to finally extinguish the flames. An older woman who lived in the home remained missing as of Wednesday afternoon, Smith said. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but firefighters think it started in the basement.

That part of the house, he said, was "filled with a couple feet of water that's turned into ice."

All the runners in the Arrowhead 135 ultramarathon have completed the race, according to the race's Facebook page.

While 146 runners started, only 52 completed the course.

"It has warmed up from -32 early this AM to a balmy -16," race organizers said on Facebook within an hour of the racers finishing.

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Polar vortex brings coldest air in a generation: Live updates

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The Windy City has become the frozen city. CNN's Leonel Mendez took a time lapse video at sunrise showing steam rising off icy Lake Michigan. Why the lake is steaming: Steam can rise off a lake when the water is warmer than the cold air above it.

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At this time 11 people have died because of the arctic cold.

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us weather: extreme cold sends frostbite victims to hospitals - cnn

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Extreme cold in Chicago may cause some frostbite victims to lose limbs

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The bitter cold in Chicago has kept hospitals busy, with doctors at one facility during the brunt of an Arctic freeze treating 50 frostbite victims, including some people who may lose an arm or a leg.

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Rail crew sets rail on fire because of freezing temperatures in Chicago

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Screenshot

SALT LAKE CITY - There are some wickedly cold temperatures through the Midwest this week.

Right now, much of the Midwest is suffering from sub-zero temperatures. Chicago, for example, is seeing minus 23 degrees temperatures, while Minnesota is feeling icy temps because of the deep freeze.

Getting to work proved to be a hassle for many Chicago residents Tuesday - so much so that officials had to set fire to the commuter rail tracks to keep trains moving.

Watch a video of the crews burning the tracks below, courtesy of ABC News.

Chicago is expected to see these cold temperatures through Thursday.

"I don't want to go outside, but I'm a dog walker, so I have to," Chicago resident Mike Canjami told ABC News. "I'm from Boston. I thought Boston was pretty cold - until I came to Chicago."

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Video: Chicago crews set commuter rail tracks on fire due to freezing weather

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Screenshot SALT LAKE CITY - There are some wickedly cold temperatures through the Midwest this week. Right now, much of the Midwest is suffering from sub-zero temperatures. Chicago, for example, is seeing minus 23 degrees temperatures, while Minnesota is feeling icy temps because of the deep freeze.

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McDonald's employees praised for reopening restaurant for little girls after father’s DUI arrest

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Two Florida McDonald's staffers are being applauded for going above and beyond to temporarily care for two young girls, ages 4 and 8, after their father was arrested for DUI charges in the parking lot of the fast-food chain.

Police officers in Sarasota responded to a call Monday after midnight and found a man asleep behind the wheel of his car, KGNC reports. In the backseat were his two young daughters, who reported being hungry and in need of the bathroom.
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Though the fast-food restaurant had already closed for the evening, authorities approached the establishment, and informed the two lone staffers present of the situation, as per the police department's Facebook page.

"The two employees stopped what they were doing, started up all the machines and gave the two young girls anything they wanted to eat, allowed them to use the restroom and stuffed their Happy Meals with toys. Additionally, the employees would not allow Officers to foot the bill," reps for the department wrote online, in a post that has since been liked over 1,700 times on Facebook.

"To the two McDonald's employees, who went above and beyond, you are two of the many reasons it's an honor to continue to serve and protect such an incredible city," the emotional post concluded.

Moving forward, the girls were released to other family members, while their father now faces charges related to the DUI and child neglect, as per the police.
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Meanwhile, news of the Mickey D's employees generosity struck a heartstring with many.

"Thanks y'all I was the manager that helped those kids I wasn't worried about him hitting my truck my main concern was those kids it really touches me to see and hear such nice things," Montice Stayfocus wrote on Facebook.

"[Thanks] to the employees who re-opend the store and fired up those machines for those 2 little girls .... So very proud of two people I don't even know to open their hearts to help these girls who through no fault of there own were put into a bad situation," one fan said. "Glad they were fed and allowed to use the bathroom and are back with family. No child should have to go [through] that. There are still wonderful and good hearted people in this world."
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"Kudos to all the adults stepping up to do the right thing," another agreed.

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McDonald's employees praised for reopening restaurant for little girls after father's DUI arrest

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Two Florida McDonald's staffers are being applauded for going above and beyond to temporarily care for two young girls, ages 4 and 8, after their father was arrested for DUI charges in the parking lot of the fast-food chain.