unmanned submarine equipped with soap for a to help with the search. across america the new year is being ushered in by brutally cold weather. not even california and the southwest are escaping it. abc's john ehrlichman reports it's catching people unaware. >> reporter: chaos across california. deadly winds and choppy waters tossing these boats off catalina island. motorists in the mountains caught off guard by icy conditions, sliding off the roads. trapped in their cars. >> we're kind of stuck. that's why we got the truck here for. >> reporter: local firefighters forced to use snowcats for the rescue. in pasadena, at least four injured. winds gusting at the rose bowl. and more winds up the coast in san francisco. near 50 miles an hour. train service stalled by trees on tracks has some ferry service canceled. >> yeah, it was rocky. >> reporter: in the northern sierra, falling trees killing two. >> one tree right after another. >> reporter: and more icy road conditions like these ones in lubbock, texas, leading to more than 100 crashes. in salt lake city, a car