stuck. it was later freed by a tow truck. turn to weather now. your thursday forecast, flurries around the great lakes before january thaw warms up the middle of the country and eventually the northeast. heavy rain pounds the pacific northwest. showers along the gulf coast as well with. 70s phoenix and los angeles. seattle, atlanta, kansas city 30s. in minneapolis and new york, 20s in detroit and chicago. a shoutout from the president. president obama tweeted his congratulations to the two climbers, who are the first ever to free climb the 3,000 foot sheer rock face of el capitan in yosemite national park known as the dawn wall. the president saying their incredible 19-day accomplishment reminds us that anything is possible. abc s ted rowlands with the details. reporter: an emotional end to
and smoke 5,000 feet in the air. the ash could pollute the air for miles around. there s been an increase in activity in the volcano since last november. while we re talking about mountains, history is expected to be made by this evening in yosemite national park. today is the 18th day of climbing for kevin jorgeson and tommy caldwell. if everything goes as planned, they will get to the top of el capitan s wall tonight. they would be the first people to ever-free climb the 3,000 foot sheer rock face without using climbing aids. it s an incredible accomplishment. many climbing experts never thought this would happen. it is not just about the heights but that is a sheer rock and they have little to hold on to. small razor-sharp edges, using nothing but their hands and their feet. i mean, these guys have been going at it. i love this story. it is just granite is what it is made of. the last person sorry, the