Return to Transcripts main page

CNN NEWSROOM

New York Mayor Discusses Preparations For Blizzard; Congressional Republicans Consider Proposals To Increase Sanctions On Iran; Japan Mourns Deaths Of Those Killed At Hands Of ISIS; Super Bowl Sunday Kicks Off In Arizona

Aired February 1, 2015 - 15:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: All right, happening right now in the NEWSROOM.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: Here in the Midwest, the storm is coming down hard.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Blizzard warning in Chicago, 100 million people in the path of yet another winter storm, 18 states this is time now under some sort of watch or warning, winds up to 35-mile-per-hour heavy snow and ice stretching from Illinois to Massachusetts.

And New York City mayor Bill de Blasio is expected to hold a news conference any moment this hour to address the winter weather.

You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

All right. Here we go everyone. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Thanks so much for joining me.

Here we go again, another huge winter storm hitting parts of the U.S. Some 100 million people this time are or soon will be under some sort of winter storm watch, warning or advisory as another massive winter storm begins to unleash, this time across 18 states.

There was already hitting the Midwest. More than 2,000 flights have already been cancelled and if you have heading out to a super bowl party this evening, guess what? The weather just might be worse on your way home if you live in that region.

We have full coverage for you. Ryan Young in Chicago, Martin Savidge in Cleveland, Sarah Ganim in LaGuardia airport in New York and meteorologist Tom Sater is tracking the winter storm path for us in the severe weather center.

So Ryan, let's begin with you in Chicago, where it is indeed coming down and I know there are hearty folks there that are used to this kind of weather, but what's different this time?

RYAN YOUNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They are in fact it is coming down to heavily, you almost have to cover your eyes to keep the snow out of your face. I can tell you, they have been working since early this morning to make sure that the roadways are clear. In fact, this guy right here, he has parked behind us, there are more than 350 snowplows and salt trucks are out on the streets to make sure the streets stay clear. I can tell you that folks that we have been talking to many Chicago all tell us that this has been an easy snow so far.

But just to get an idea of this, they're going to have enough snow today. More than 12 inches, that's more than you had all last month. Now, that is what they are expected. If you look back this direction when they haven't clear the street, you can see just how snowy it has been.

We started covering this since about 3:30 this morning. They say so far they're calling this extreme weather. But the good news so far is that no one has put in danger. The roadways have been cleared and everything has been working. In fact the mayor told us they believe people are be able to get to work and school in the morning, but I can tell you, it's not too cold but look, the snow is coming down in a heavy fashion.

WHITFIELD: OK. It is coming down. And wow, they are hardy folks. They're going to continue to soldier on tomorrow morning.

All right, Ryan, thank you so much.

So Ohio too is feeling the brunt of this storm and our Martin Savidge is in Cleveland where right in front of that beautiful park, it looks so welcoming and gorgeous and nice. Is everybody happy about it?

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It does. Well, you know, it is a Sunday afternoon, super bowl Sunday. It's pretty quiet. This is the heart of downtown, right on Public Square. They've got about three to four inches on the ground right now. They're expecting about nine inches. And so, it's nothing that the city can't handle.

However, right now, the roads are snow covered here. The highways are slush covered. So they are taking it in stride in the city here. It is a beautiful scene. These are those big floppy snowflakes, the ones that could up your eyelash and everything else. So it looks delightful. It's hazardous, though.

And this is the intense period now. We found in late afternoon, in the evening, overnight, this is when the most snow is expected. Again, less than a foot is going to fluctuate in certain areas, to the west of Ohio. But we were talking Toledo, up by the Michigan border. They're under a level three snow emergency that started in Lucas County at the top of the hour. They're basically saying that if you're not an emergency vehicle, you should not be on the road way up there. So conditions there are going to be far worse. Right here, they should be able to handle it. They will be watching and seeing school kids. They are going to be keeping a close eye on those closing if and when they come, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, thank you so much, Martin. I appreciate it. So New York city Mayor Bill de Blasio is expected to hold a news

conference at any moment now to talk about the weather conditions there. We'll bring you the comments as it happens live.

Let's take a look at Indianapolis, just because we can. And it is snowy there too, my goodness, and it is very cold in the Midwest and these places that are being hit. So that snow is going to stick around for a little bit. To better tell us and to fill in the details of just how bad this storm is, let's check in with our Tom Sater.

So it's cold, temperatures continue to dip as I remember you saying in the last hour.

TOM SATER, AMS METEOROLOGIST: And some areas are warming up. It is a variety of weather. Some are just rain; some were just now, Fredricka. Some are going to get a mix and then a whole bunch more.

Unlike last week's nor'easter, that only dropped two to three fight in New England, this is dropping even more in (INAUDIBLE) and the same spot.

All right, here it is. We have got a warm front that's lifting northward. And as it does that, points south or in to the rainfall, everyone to the north stays cold enough for snow. But it really does depend on where you are. There is a lot of U.S. real estate that will be affected by this storm, twice as many Americans than the last one, the nor'easter. This is not the nor'easter.

But really it depends on where you live. So we got to break it down a little by little. And that means New York City meets Boston too.

Notice all the warnings, blizzard warning for the nine-and-a-half million of you in Chicago. If you get 14 inches, that will crack your top ten biggest snowfalls. In fact, a 15-inch snowfall in Chicago happens roughly once every 19 years. Although, you have one about four years ago. So that was 21 inches. We are not going to see that.

So the warnings continue. This is a stretch, the elongated storm and it does include New York and it does include Boston. But the snow won't get there until overnight.

St. Louis, you have been lucky. It has been all rainfall. Indianapolis and we are going to get there because you've been fluctuating right around 31, 32 degrees. Chicago you're into the snow, a good seven to 12 inches already falling and you've got more on the way. Detroit, eight to 12, at least a foot there. Cleveland, from Cincinnati southward, its rainfall. Louisville, lucky, its rainfall. Indianapolis as mentioned, 31, 32. You're going to go to rain, but many of these areas will get hit by a little blast of snow after this storm is ending, to give you another additional inch. Pittsburgh is the same. You are in to the snow. You're getting ready to go to rain. It will sweep through later on tonight and drop more snowfall.

So again, New York City, the snow comes in, drops a few inches tonight. Goes to an icy mess for your morning rush. And then, that's bad enough, then look for it to end as a little bit of snow late. Boston, I think you're all snowfall. And we are looking at several inches. And it could see a foot, Fredricka, in the same areas that had two to three, just a week ago. And that means awful.

WHITFIELD: What a way to start February.

SATER: Yes. And grandpa's day tomorrow.

WHITFIELD: Yes. And then there is that.

All right, thanks a lot, Tom. Appreciate that.

All right, still ahead, President Barack Obama will host Jordan's King in Washington, but what is he saying about the Israeli prime minister's planned visit and Iran's nuclear program? Fareed Zakaria's exclusive one-on-one with the president next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, that snowy massive already began in the Midwest and will be making its way to the northeast. Right now snowy blizzard conditions right there in Chicago, and then in Cleveland, where the temperature is expected to dip, maybe down to 11 degrees tomorrow morning, already seeing a snowy mix there.

And of course in New York, where they're going to be experiencing snow yet one more time. It's almost a duplicate, nearly a duplicate from last weekend. You're going to see the New York mayor Bill de Blasio take it to the podium to folks understand what kind of condition will be expected and what kind of precautions are being taken. We will take that live.

All right, President Barack Obama says he won't retreat from efforts to reach an agreement by March 24th with Iran to lift its nuclear capabilities. Congressional Republicans are considering proposals to increase sanctions on Iran even while negotiators are at the table.

House Speaker John Boehner has invited the Israeli prime minister to advocate for the sanctions in a speech before Congress during the first week of March. And in an exclusive interview with Fareed Zakaria, the president reiterated he won't meet with Netanyahu during his visit to Washington and that Congress needs to give diplomacy a chance.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FAREED ZAKARIA, CNN HOST, FAREED ZAKARIA GPS: Many people think this is a rebuttal of your argument with the possible deal with Iran. Do you think it's appropriate for him to come in this manner at this time to Washington?

OBAMA: Well, I'll let Mr. Boehner answer that and Mr. Netanyahu. I speak with Prime Minister Netanyahu all the time. We're declining to meet with him. I'm declining to meet with him simply because our general policy is that we don't meet with any world leader two weeks before their election. I think that's inappropriate. And that's true with some of our closest allies.

To the broader issue, Fareed, I don't think there's been any rebuttal of my argument. I haven't heard a persuasive rebuttal of my argument that we crafted very effective sanctions against Iran specifically to bring them to the negotiations table to see if we could resolve the Iranian nuclear issue through diplomatic means.

By all accounts, including the accounts of Israeli intelligence, Iran has abided by the terms of this interim agreement. They have not advanced their nuclear program. They have actually rolled back their stockpiles of highly enriched uranium. And so, we have lost nothing during this period of negotiations.

I haven't heard a good counter argument yet. I will veto legislation if it comes up. That imposes additional sanctions. And by the way, what I have said to members of Congress and what I have said to the Israelis is the day after Iran walks away from a reasonable deal. The easiest thing for me to do in Congress is pass additional sanctions against Iran.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right, so let's talk more about this. Joining me right now, Ron Brownstein, CNN's senior political analyst and editorial director at the "National Journal." Good to see you. And Larry Sabato, director at the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. Good to see you as well.

So Ron, let me begin with you. President Obama is expressing real confidence in his approach are Iran. He's also hosting King Abdullah of Jordan this Thursday at the White House. And he is standing his ground on not meeting with Israel's Netanyahu in March.

So how significant is it at the president as calculating how to use his influence in the Middle Eastern region?

RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, I think the situation in the Middle East as is always the case. You have many different variables at any one point. And they are moving in difference direction. But if you look at the biggest challenges we face, there is kind of a common theme, which is that we are at an adequate but not utterly intolerable. Still, he may give the ISIS situation which has already dominated the American debate for most of the last year for good reason.

WHITFIELD: All right. I'm so sorry, Ron, if I could interrupt you for a moment there, because we are going to be talking about the weather conditions that will be engulfing New York. Once again here's the New York City mayor Bill de Blasio. Let's listen in on the plan.

MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO, NEW YORK CITY: Everyone knows that we are once again facing tough winter weather. We want to get all New Yorkers updated and prepared. We will be under a winter storm watch starting at 7:00 p.m. this evening. So just around the time the super bowl is starting, we will be under a winter storm watch that will go on until 6:00 p.m. tomorrow, Monday. So almost 24 hours under the storm watch. We're expecting snow, sleet, and freezing rain.

Now, we have the latest forecast from the national weather service from a couple of hours ago, but I will say at the outset, we all know the weather forecasting is imperfect, we're not going to have a full and complete update until the very early morning hours. So this situation could change a lot between now. And when we wake up tomorrow morning, could change for the better, could change for the worse. We have to be ready for any eventuality.

But the latest that we have got on from the weather service and trying to adjust a little bit for some of what we have seen lately where the numbers come in a little higher than expected, we're hearing most likely a range of two to five inches of snow. It would not be surprising if that turned into four to seven inches based on what we're seeing so far. But again, a lot can change between now and the early morning hours.

From what we know now, if it is most likely in the two to five range, possibly in the four to seven range, that's the kind of snow storm we can accommodate fairly well. The biggest threat in this case would be ice. We would expect a lot of icing on our roads and sidewalks, up to a quarter inch of ice in some places and a lot of that will happen in the early morning hours.

So we want people to be very, very cautious tomorrow, as you get around looking out for the potential danger of ice.

There will be wind gusts of up to 35 miles an hour, so it's not particularly extreme, but it will be a noticeable amount of wind. Now the snow again, the winter storm watch begins at 7:00 p.m. tonight. We think you probably won't see actually snowy accumulating much at all before the end of the super bowl, so 9:00, s10:00 in the evening. But for anyone leaving super bowl parties, you're going to have to be ready to be careful at that point. You could have some beginning of accumulation of snow; you could have slippery driving conditions. I want to urge people to think ahead, have a designated driver, obviously don't drink and drive in any case, but particularly on a night when it could be snowy and icy. So I want people to be very, very careful after the super bowl tonight.

Again, the real snow will happen in earnest overnight particularly in the early, early hours of the morning. You know, I'm talking about 3:00, 4:00 a.m. as when we think it will hit stronger based on the information we have now. The snow will continue into the morning rush hour. At some point in the morning we expect to convert to freezing rain and then regular rain. So we're going to see a progression here as things warm up going through the morning.

At the end of the snow, we expect to be hit by very cold temperatures. So right now, the projections for with wind chill temperatures of 10 below to 20 below on Monday evening.

Tomorrow night, Monday night, 10 below to 20 below. Again, very dangerous conditions Monday night in New York City in terms of just exposure. We want people to really keep their time outside limited tomorrow night. Don't go outside if you don't need to. If you know of anyone who may be vulnerable, it's very important to help them out or to call it in because those will be extremely cold temperatures.

As you know, we are prepared for snowstorms. We have a huge task ahead this next 24 hours, covering our 6,000 miles of roadways. I never tire of reminding you, that's like going from here to Los Angeles and back, but that's what sanitation and DOT deal with every single day. And they are more than up to the task.

I want to thank everyone at DOT, everyone at (INAUDIBLE) particular. Thank you to the men and women of the sanitation department who are already in action, getting ready for this. They have been, at sanitation continuing those 12 hours shifts, still coming off the last storm, now getting ready for the new one.

Here is what we have in action preparing for this storm, 2,400 sanitation workers per shift, 500 salt spreaders ready, 1600 snowplows, FDNY will also be adding personnel, an additional 25 ambulances and 10 support units to handle any emergencies and we have the ability to add personnel as the weather report clarifies. So they are for initial, extra personnel in place we may add to that depending on what we see with the next report when you come in starting after 1:00 a.m. this morning -- this coming morning I should say.

We know that our workforce has seen it all and they're going to handle even the toughest situations. We know they're doing everything to get us ready for the tough weather ahead. What we need to do as New Yorkers is does the right thing, do the smart thing and prepare. So even tonight after the super bowl, driving could be a little slower. Take some precautions. Take your time. Tomorrow morning, expect your commute to take more time. Drive slower. Be careful. If you don't need to be out on the roads tomorrow morning, don't go out on the roads. If you don't need to walk around, don't walk around. Just exercise some caution. Because again, we think the worst of it will be over by late morning tomorrow.

You have to get around, you have the option of mass transit, mass transit is by far the best options in this situation. We're going to ask people to avoid city parks when we get this snow going in earnest overnight so going into the morning hours. We would like people to stay out of city parks tomorrow morning because we're worried again about accumulation on the trees and any danger of falling limbs. We'll have more to say, well, obviously we'll have updates throughout the daze tomorrow. But we start with you some city parks are not a great place to be in the morning.

As I always emphasize, if anyone is having problem with heat and hot water, we particularly like to make sure those issues are addressed on this bad weather, call 311 if you are having a problem with either hot water so we can act on it right away.

Always do something basic but very important, check on your neighbors, particularly check on your neighbors who are seniors, who happened to be disabled or, you know, if they have some particular who happen to have medical needs. It's a great time to check on them this afternoon, see if they have everything they need, check on them again tomorrow, it helps a lot. In terms of other announcements, we're announcing that ultra side

parking is cancelled tomorrow. Ultra side cancelled tomorrow. Garbage and recycling pickups cancelled tomorrow. We'll have an update, obviously, tomorrow on whether that will continue that into Tuesday. But we know for sure no ultra side tomorrow.

As for school, as this moment, we expect school to be open. This will be -- final decision will be a game time decision as we get the national weather service report in the early morning hours tonight. But based on what we know now, we expect school to be opened. Parents should check first thing in the morning to confirm that, but plan on school being open.

Again if people need information, 311, if they see an emergency, they see a life threatening situation, 911.

Quickly in Spanish before I brought up a few of my colleagues.

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

With that I would like to bring up our sanitation commissioner. She has gone through her first big storm with flying colors, as she will the next one, Commissioner Catherine Garcia.

CATHERINE GARCIA, SANITATION COMMISSIONER: Thank you Mr. Mayor.

As the mayor said, we do have 2,400 employees on each of our shifts. They have been on 12-hour shifts for over a week now. They will continue to be as we attack this storm as we have attacked the other storms. We have been prepositioning our equipment this afternoon and we have been doing a lot of planning in the last 18 hours, getting plowed and chained and ready to go.

This will be a difficult storm in terms of the fact that the timing has been a little bit unknown and there will be ice accumulation. So I do ask folks if they are driving to make sure that they are taking it slow. Thank you.

DE BLASIO: Thank you very much.

DOT has been doing a great job trying to fill potholes at every opportunity to make this work go better. A great coordination with sanitation, I would like to welcome our DOT first deputy commissioner Laurie Ardito.

LAURIE ARDITO, DOT FIRST DEPUTY COMMISSIONER: Thank you, Mayor.

WHITFIELD: All right. You have been listening to New York City mayor Bill de Blasio say that New York City is going to be in the middle of a 24-hour storm watch. And while the accumulation of snow can be anywhere between two to five inches, he said it also could be four to seven inches and the temperature is going to drop significantly.

So while the winter storm watch is in effect beginning at 7:00 p.m. this evening. It will continue into the next day Monday evening 6:00 p.m. And then he says, after all that accumulation, temperatures are going to be very cold. It could be 10 below to 20 below. So he's asking people to take precautions. And while school might still be under way tomorrow, he says, warning to parents, doo check in the morning. And folks, be very careful try to avoid the parks because he is concerned about the accumulation of snow and making the limbs very heavy in the early morning hours.

Now, you're looking at the weather map, which we're talking about, blizzards like conditions, winter weather seasons, all the way from Des Moines, Iowa and through New England, Portland, Maine, accumulations from in some cases just a few inches to as much as a foot and very cold temperatures throughout.

Our Tom Sater is going to be checking with us a little bit later on to give us an update on this weather picture. And he said, you know, it really is a mix, it's not just snow everywhere. In some cases it's going to be sleet, icy rain, and participation in all forms.

We're going to keep a close watch on the weather conditions and we'll be right back in the NEWSROOM after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, we continue to watch the winter weather on imposing big threats for the Midwest, all the way to the northeast. But let's also get back to our conversation that I was having earlier, particularly as President Barack Obama in a sit down exclusive interview with our Fareed Zakaria, said he wants to give diplomacy a chance, especially as it pertains to continue diplomatic efforts toward Iran, despite the fact that many Republicans in Congress want to impose more sanctions.

So back with me Ron Brownstein, CNN senior political analyst and editor director at the "National Journal" and Larry Sabato, director at the center for politics at the University of Virginia.

So Larry, to you, do you believe that this president seems more confident in trying to allow diplomacy to have a chance, given the fact that he is winning greater support particularly in the manner region.

LARRY SABATO, DIRECTOR AT THE CENTER FOR POLITICS, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA: Well, he has some high cards. I think it's not just what's happening in the Middle East and his policies there, it's also that Israelis domestically are going up. And he understands the power o f this veto.

You know, the truth is I doubt the Republicans will be able to get anything regarding Iran's sanctions through the Senate. The Republicans have a majority, 54 seats, but on serious issues, they need 60 seats. There are enough Democrats to stop that for passing.

So the president knows he has the high cards. What's really significant here, Fredericka, is that this is just one of the early skirmishes in what is going to be a long twilight struggle between a democratic president and an all Republican Congress over the next two years. WHITFIELD: And help to underscore that perhaps, Ron, with House

Speaker Boehner extending an invitation to Israel's Netanyahu, Netanyahu saying yes I'm going to do it. This is in March. That this meeting to Congress will take place. And again, it will be Netanyahu who will continue to encourage Congress to say yes, time for greater sanctions against Iran.

BROWNSTEIN: Yes. I mean, first of all, as I talked about in my column this week, the level of personal intervention of American politics by Prime Minister Netanyahu is almost unprecedented for a foreign leader. I mean you compare, for example, the (INAUDIBLE) the critical debates in 1940 and 1941 and the Congress our intervention in World War II. And (INAUDIBLE), he bit his tongue and stayed out. And in fact talked about that in a letter to Franklin Roosevelt.

So this really is an extraordinary level of personal intervention. And the evidence is that it's somewhat backfiring in that. It makes it easier for Democrats to stand with the president.

I disagree with Larry a little bit on the nuances. I think there may be enough votes in the at Senate to get pass 60 at some point to pass Iranian sanctions, almost certainly not enough to overcome a veto at two-thirds. And we also saw a group of Democrats last week, again, showing how Netanyahu visit may backfire saying they would in fact give diplomacy more time and would not vote for sanctions before March 20th and March 24th deadline.

WHITFIELD: And I wonder if it's backfiring in another way too, because you had a leading Republican, who was on "Face The Nation" today. James Baker who said, this does defy protocol that the speaker would reach out to Netanyahu without involving the White House. This is what he said, in fact.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is that a significant breach of protocol?

JAMES BAKER, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: Yes, it is.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How significant is it.

BAKER: Well, I don't -- I can't remember an incident in which it has been done. Now, let me say this. The speaker of the house has every right in the world to invite whoever he wants to the house. It is co- equal branch of government. But it is best on, our foreign policy is best conducted when there is at least cooperation between the legislative and the executive branch is.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: So Larry, would there be a winner in this deal between Boehner and Netanyahu by doing this?

SABATO: Well, obviously they hope they're both going to look good in different ways. Netanyahu has elections coming up. But what I found interesting about Jim Baker's comment there, he of course is a Republican, what I said was really more supportive of a democratic president. But let's remember, he was secretary of state under the first George W. Bush and George H. W. Bush had a democratic congress, house and Senate for all four of his years. And so Baker knows what it's like for Congress of the other party to try and interfere with foreign policy, which after all is usually considered more in the preserve of the president than the Congress.

WHITFIELD: And Ron, does this have the makings of kind of a lose-lose deal?

BROWNSTEIN: Well, you know, as Larry said, Netanyahu has his own election on March 17th. And Israeli politics is very complex geometry. It could help him consolidate support on the right. It is also given a lot of ammunition, the critics in Israeli, including his former handpicked ambassador to the U.S., Michael Orren who accused the prime minister of endangering the vital American relation. I think it is on domestic side clearly it has, I think, it has backfired in the sense of making it easier for Democrats to ultimately stand with Obama.

Look, you even have Bob Curter (ph), the senator who, you know, is the new chairman of senate foreign relations committee saying that it may be acceptable to allow the interim agreement with Iran which the president was talking about to continue past the March 24th. I mean, that is the reality here. Even if we don't reach a final agreement, it may be better for both sides to allow the interim agreement, which has basically slowed their progress on the nuclear talk without requiring us to reach a complete solution. It may be better for both sides to allow that to continue and in a strange way that Netanyahu visit may provide more momentum for that kind of third way outcome in between a complete solution and a complete breakdown of the talks.

WHITFIELD: All right, all very fascinating. Ron Brownstein and Larry Sabato, thanks to both of you. Appreciate it.

BROWNSTEIN: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: All right, we have got much more straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A storm this size is already having an impact on air travel. Let's take a look at how big it is, stretching from a good portion of the Midwest all the way to the northeast. And guess what? That also means a lot of flights have been cancelled. Take a look right there.

Sarah Ganim is actually at LaGuardia airport at New York where flights have necessarily been, you know, cancelled in and out of New York. But it is all those flights coming from Chicago right Sarah, that you are mentioning earlier? Lots of cancellations and a lot of business travelers not so happy about that.

SARAH GANIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Fred. These cancellations and delays are certainly starting to trickle in here because this storm is getting closer. We're seeing those cancellations. And you take a look at the board here, the red is the flights going to Chicago -- going to Chicago and from Chicago and then presumably those headed onward, which is why you see some of those cancellations going to Boston, Fred. You can see from the numbers, 2,200 cancellations across the country, 1700 delays, most of them in the Chicago airports, O'Hare and Midway, also the third most cancel cancellations are coming from Detroit. So you can see the cancellations are coming with the storm and that means they will eventually end up here because this is where the storm is headed as well.

Now, let's talk a little bit about the road commutes, because it's not just road travel that's going to be effective here. Starting around this evening hour. So around the time that the super bowl is ending, the winter weather advisory here in the northeast begins. So those roads are going to be beginning to be very slushy and messy, and that's really what you're going to see Monday morning for the commute as well in the New York area.

Now, the interesting is that while it will be a little bit warmer during the morning commute, and you'll see vacillating between snow and rain and freezing rain, those temperatures are then going to drop in the evening, the afternoon and evening here in New York, down to about 25 degrees, which means ice, the potential for a lot of ice.

New York is preparing for that. They do expect to keep schools open at this point. The mayor just spoke and he warned us two things. He said there's potential for dangerous roads, so be careful on your commute. And he says, specifically tonight as people are leaving super bowl parties, but he also said they don't have a very specific weather forecast until you wake up tomorrow morning so be checking for school cancellations, be checking about our morning commute, because there is that potential for ice and people need to use common sense when the roads get that dangerous -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: They do indeed.

All right, Sarah Ganim, thank you so much. We will check back with you.

All right, so it is going to be pretty ugly and all a lot of place. So let's check in with our Tom Sater.

So we heard the mayor of New York talking about well, we're going to have snow in a 24-hour period. OK, that 's terrible accumulation between three and seven inches, even worse is what could happen Monday night below-freezing temperatures? My God.

SATER: There are places carefully in New York, a pretty good reason have their last week's storm, you know. You only had to go by 20, 30 miles to New York's long island to get into the snow.

But this is going to be interesting because they're going to get to the snow, got a couple of inches in New York city, but by morning rush, they're going to get an icy mix. And that's a going to because problems to say the least. But then as later in the afternoon, the afternoon rush, we are getting hit with a little batch of snowfall. If there is a variety of weather going, this is not the nor'easter we

had last week. This actually originated back in Arizona, pre-game, you know for super bowl, a lot of rainfall, a couple of inches, thick fog this morning, but it cleared up nicely, Fred, for the game.

All right, to the north, a lot of snow, to the south, it's a cold rain, in between that, where you have a warm front, we're finding this warm air riding up over the cold air. So it is going to mix. So you are just seeing a snow change to rain of mix rain, go to rain, and then maybe a back edge of snowfall. So it's a variety of this the wrap around cold air comes out. That's another whole different story.

Frigid back behind us tomorrow morning in to Tuesday. And another batch of cold air for next week. So, if we look at the radar picture, it really depends on where you live. There are warnings, blizzard warnings, for the nine-and-a-half billion in Chicago, easily a foot. If you get 14 inches in Chicago you'll crack the top ten biggest snowstorms.

The warnings, where you see the pink, easily eight to 12 inches, maybe even more. Fifteen to 18 on isolated spots. And if you get into New England, which was hit hard by two to three feet, tack on another foot.

It gets interesting in Boston. I think you're going to be cold enough in Boston that it stays as snow, but it goes to range in Cape Cod and Nantucket (ph) had all the problems in the last storm. Here the totals, again, when you look at the thickness here in the deep colors of red, 12 to 18 inches, hundreds, in fact no, thousands of schools, parents listen up, will closed tomorrow on ground hog today. So you got to make your plans now.

St. Louis got lucky. Indianapolis you've been fluctuating right around that freezing mark. You will go to some rainfall. Chicago, you stay all snow, easily a foot of snow across from Toledo Cleveland, eight to ten. Louisville, your rain. Cincinnati, all rain. It changes to rain from Columbus, changes to range in Pittsburgh, but then you'll get hit with a little backlash of some snow on the edge. When you get into D.C., that is all rain. Philadelphia a little mix going to range. However, New York is that morning ice mess, hit with an average batch of some snow. That's after snowfall tonight. And of course, we are to talk about Boston.

So just a variety of cold air that are coming back behind us. It is not going to know.

(CROSSTALK)

SATER: Yes, it does.

WHITFIELD: That's cold temperatures.

All right, thanks so much, Tom. We'll check what with you.

All right now, of course, we are going to continue to watch the weather conditions where you are. You take a look right here. This is Indianapolis where, yes, just like we saw in Detroit earlier, seemed like whiteout conditions, a real icy, snowy mess.

We will be right back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, we'll have more on the big winter storm in a moment. But now another big story we're following,

Japan is mourning the apparent killing of a second Japanese citizen by ISIS. A video released Saturday appeared to show the beheading of journalist Kenji Goto. Prime minister Shinzo Abe promises never to forgive or yield to intimidation. One Japanese official is now offering to expands support for any refugees displaced by ISIS.

Meanwhile, the fate of the Jordanian pilot held by the terror group is unknown. Jordan's government vows to keep working for Moaz al- Kasasbeh's release. But its proof of life request has gone unanswered. ISIS is demanding that Jordan release a convicted female terrorist in exchange for sparing the pilot's life.

Kenji Goto's apparent beheading, the uncertain fate of the Jordanian pilot and ISIS' assault of the oil rich city of Kirkuk are all disturbing development in the global fight against terrorism. So for now, I'm joined by CNN global affairs analyst Kimberly Dozier.

All right, so Kimberly, you know, does it seem that ISIS continues to have the upper hand here? It doesn't appear to be there are any signs of defeating this organization?

KIMBERLY DOZIER, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: Well the amazing thing is we have been so focused on the spectacle of the tragedy of the hostages apparently being killed that we have not paid any attention to the news media, the lost of Kobani for ISIS. ISIS actually admitted on its own news media that it has to pull out of Kobani which is that strategic town visible from the Turkish border just inside Syria. And they're not, instead, they are getting to capitalize on images of the hostages as a recruiting tool and also to make it seem like they have the coalition on the back foot.

WHITFIELD: OK. So competing messages here. You're saying by Kobani -- by ISIS losing its grip on Kobani, shows that it has weakened, yet the very public image is yet another beheading by the hands of ISIS makes it appear it is emboldened, it is growing. So which message do we believe?

DOZIER: Well, it actually said about that the border barrage and the barrage from the coalition airstrikes was too intense and it's going to try to go after that city for another day. But overall, what is does is focus on the hostages that if you're a journalist or aid worker considering going into Syria you'll reconsider your plans. That means more and more pockets of Syrians inside the country are going to be cut off from international aid. They're stories aren't going to be told. Initially that will be good for ISIS. They will be able to use that as part of their recruiting tool that they are more in charge. But in the long run, you this happens years ago in Iraq when the Al-Qaeda there started to kidnapping more and more people. They had to start taking care of the territory that they controlled. And in the long run, they have to worry about getting supplies to people, good governance.

It is hard to do. What happened there is they started dealing with unrest with local population and cracking down harshly. The local population in the end started chaffing under that. So that is what the coalition is hoping for in the long run. But in the short term you can imagine that there are more people saying I want to be part of that fight which is bad for anyone trying to help Syrian people on the ground.

WHITFIELD: Interesting. Alright, Kimberly Dozier, thank you so much. Appreciate it. It's a very complex situation. But it sounds to me that you're saying that maybe the Intel community or at least members of the coalition, maybe Saudi Arabia and an air force or U.S. air force need to somewhat comforted that their mission of airstrikes at least in Kobani seem to be working. I hope we can get a chance to talk more on this.

All right, thanks so much, Kimberly. Appreciate it.

All right, still ahead, back in the states here, lots of people very excited about this day -- Super bowl Sunday. The kickoff from Glendale, Arizona just three hours or so away.

Rachel Nichols is there in the nix.

RACHEL NICHOLS, CNN HOST, UNGUARDED: It is absolutely beautiful here. Everyone is ready for a football game. And there's one very important player who has told me he is going to make it. I'll have all the details after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Fans are geared up, players are warming up, Katy Perry tuning up and we are assuming that all the footballs are pumped up to the correct pressure and it is finally here. Super Bowl Sunday, Seahawks versus the Patriots. And CNN sports anchor Rachel Nichols is ready for kickoff. But I understand, Rachel, you got a special text about a player who is on another kind of watch.

NICHOLS: Yes, absolutely. We've had a ton of discussion this week about the corner back Richard Sherman. His girlfriend Ashley is nine months pregnant with their first child, a son. And the question was what would happen if she went into labor today.

Now, Richard has told reporters all week, hey, the baby is still due for another week. But we know babies, they do not pay attention to calendars or schedule. So he had Ashley here in Phoenix just in case she went into labor early. Had great medical care around her. But he texted me this morning and he said she's not experiencing any labor pains right now. She's good to go. He will be playing in the game. Does not have to be faced with the decision of where to be today, hospital, stadium. The decision made for him, stadium. And as he noted this week, he wanted his son to do him a solid by staying in there and he and I texted this morning that his son is obedient already. He said, yes. The little boy is listening to pop.

WHITFIELD: Sure. It was just like that. All right, that was a lot of pressure, wasn't it? I'm feeling more relieved myself.

Alright, so let's talk about pressure now on the stadium and maybe the NFL because there are some fans who are hot under the collar. They bought tickets apparently and what? They don't have seats now?

NICHOLS: Yes, this is really a shame. You got a lot of people who bought tickets from ticket brokers which is legal. But unfortunately, there's a high number of ticket brokers this year who are engaged in practice called short selling. It's kind of like what happens sometimes with the stock market which means they sell the tickets at a particular price even if they don't have them in hand yet with the promise they have to deliver them right before the game. Unfortunately, the expectation of the ticket brokers is the price will go down in between the time they sold them and the time they deliver them and they can make a profit that way. That didn't happen this year. The price went up.

There's a lot of ticket broker business that overpromised so much they just couldn't afford to buy all the tickets they had promised would be delivered. So you have fans who thought that they bought tickets, spent money traveling down here to Phoenix, who spent money on hotels, whose kids are excited to see the games. And then they found out they do have tickets into the stadium. There's some angry people. The ticket brokers have offered refunds, but I don't think a lot of those people will be happy just a refund on their ticket.

WHITFIELD: No. That is not us fine enough. My goodness, there are going to be a lot of upset fans. Well, hopefully though, I don't know, still find a way to enjoy the atmosphere if anything.

NICHOLS: Yes.

WHITFIELD: All right. Rachel Nichols, thank you so much. Appreciate that.

All right, we got so much more straight in the NEWSROOM and it all starts right now.