Breaking news tonight, the monster winter storm turning deadly as it slams the eastern half of the country.

The massive storm system unleashing a tornado outbreak along the Gulf Coast, homes ripped apart water rescues in the southeast where at least three

are dead. Blizzard conditions in the Midwest, semis crashing and rolling over on the highway hundreds of thousands without power and now the

flooding fears as it pushes into the northeast.

Al Roker is here to time it out for us.

Also tonight the cause of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's secret

hospitalization finally revealed his battle with prostate cancer and new

questions after the White House said it wasn't told about his diagnosis

until today. Former President Trump in a federal appeals court arguing he's

immune from prosecution or his attempts to cling to power after the 2020 election.

What the judges appeared to signal.

Our one-on-one with Secretary of State Anthony Blinking in Israel,

is there still hope for another hostage deal?

What he told us.

The shocking moment on live TV, armed men taking over the studio in Ecuador.

The growing questions about the panel that blew off at Boeing 737 Max-9 were the bolts meant to secure it installed.

And from flying cars to AI bartenders, the future is here at the world's biggest tech show.

This is NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt. Good evening and welcome everyone.

A large and deadly storm is hammering the eastern third of the nation right now, bringing

an arsenal of heavy rain, heavy snow, powerful winds, severe thunderstorms, and tornadoes.

Twisters leaving a trail of destruction in parts of the southeast.

Tornado watches extending into the evening from Florida to Virginia and

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