A growing list of U.S. automakers are making investments in the electric vehicle market, but Tesla's stiffest competition is charging from China.

General Motors recently announced it is transitioning to producing an all-electric fleet by 2030, and other American, European and Japanese car makers have made similar commitments to join Tesla in the EV market.

But they could be late to the EV party given China's ramped-up efforts to dominate the industry. There are currently five Chinese automakers cranking out EVs at an increasingly rapid rate with plans to convert their own country to electric-powered transportation, but also the entire world.

We take a look at Chinese automakers BYD, Nio, Xpeng, Li Auto and Evergrande that are also “firing on all cylinders” to mass produce EVs. They pose a particularly strong threat to Tesla, which has been granted permission to produce and sell its Model Y in China. The competition could prove a lot stiffer than Tesla CEO Elon Musk expected in China.

SEE THE IMPACT CHINESE EV MAKERS COULD HAVE ON TESLA

If you are anywhere in the continental U.S. right now, odds are you are dealing with cold, snow, ice and wind ... or all of the above. That's due to several major storm systems have left the vast majority of the nation coping with severe weather -- and it appears that more is on the way.

With major snowfalls on both the East and West Coast and a massive polar vortex sending a chill down the middle of the country, much of the U.S. is under the firm grasp of Old Man Winter. Even traditionally warmer climes like Texas and Tennessee are feeling the frigid air and ice storms.

More than 150 million Americans (that's nearly half the country) were under winter weather advisories Monday and the worst is yet to come for some locations. The Northeast and Midwest are expecting more snow and sub-zero temperatures, so recent accumulations aren't going away soon.

The lone exception is Florida, where the aptly named Sunshine State is experiencing unseasonably warm temperatures in the 80s. But the pandemic and ongoing vaccination plans are keeping snowbirds in place.

CHECK OUT PHOTOS OF THE NATIONWIDE WINTER WONDERLAND

It's hard to let the good times roll when there are so many obstacles blocking your way. The city of New Orleans is learning that lesson the hard way as Mardi Gras culminates with a less-than-joyous Fat Tuesday.

The week-long celebration has already been a disappointment with pandemic restrictions on travel and social distancing. The parades and street parties, which end at midnight tonight when Fat Tuesday turns into Ash Wednesday, are noticeably muted, and the crowds are at record lows.

To make matters worse, a massive cold front is forecast to result in the coldest Fat Tuesday on record with temperatures reaching the low teens. It's safe to say the few revelers on hand will be drinking frozen hurricanes.

But let's not let a little thing like a global pandemic and freezing weather stop us from celebrating the occasion. We've included some recipes for your favorite Fat Tuesday cocktails and even an easy-to-bake king cake.

FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN CELEBRATE FAT TUESDAY AT HOME

The traditional Mardi Gras king cake features what unusual item baked inside, and what is the person who finds it required to do the next year?

(Monday's trivia answer: Wallis Simpson wed the Duke of Windsor, 1937)

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