time of year. new york city only looking for 21. the latest update now, 26% of the state of california in the highest category for drought conditions. so, keep in mind, that makes the soil like concrete. it can t absorb the water. then you have this big massive low currently bringing rain into the area. this is a two-system series here making its way through, expected to cause heavy rain there, a slight risk for severe weather. and this is key no matter where you live, because notice, it could mean heavy snow through the weekend. sunday into monday, there are two models in there. depending where this goes, who gets the snow. something we ll be watching. indra, people in my town are saying 6 inches to a foot on monday if it goes the right way? i mean, that s exactly the thing. we notice one of the models brings a big chunk to d.c., the other headed farther north. currently, it s affecting california. it s got a long way to go, so we ll watch it? and the news in california, watch o
the global icon wrapping up a couple of hours ago in johannesburg. watch. absolutely beautiful as you see there, the atmosphere inside. this is the fnb stadium. a huge celebration despite the heavy rain there, presidents, prime ministers, royalty, regular folks, all of them coming together with the mandela family to pay tribute to a man described as one of the greatest peacemakers ever. a man who united a bitterly segregated country even after its oppressive white rulers imprisoned him for nearly 27 years. president obama describing mr. mandela as a giant of history. it took a man like madiba to free not just the prisoner but the jailer, as well. to show that you must trust others so that they may trust
low good news, offshore for the northeast. southeast, a couple scattered showers. the big story as that low continues to make itself further eastward and look for heavy rain there. the best news of all there is going to be this area of high pressure still kind of moving in through the great lakes area. all that even though it s high pressure is bringing in cold air down from canada. so look at this. i mean very abnormally low temperatures looking from 5 to 10 below average and keep this mind how hot it was a week ago. feeling good. pittsburgh looking for 78, new york city, 80s and chicago they re talking about 70s, that cool air moving our way. only bad side is once you get cooler air you know a cold front is coming and rain. we blame canada for everything. i agree. i have nothing. i have nothing. thanks, indra. support for anthony weiner keeps eroding following the latest revelations about his online sex chats and calls for him to drop out continue.
we have to show you some simply crazy video out of chicago, which is right now under a flash flood watch. there s this 40-foot-wide sinkhole and it s simply swallows two cars and it s not done yet. it swallows a third. a driver of one of those cars was injured. the sink hole was probably triggered by this heavy rain there. seven inches have fallen on chicago in the past 24 hours. these floods have caused closed several expressways in the area and some 400 flights in chicago already cancelled. i want to bring in meteorologist chad myers and jim spellman. this flooding, widespread there.
over and out. the u.s. military lowers the flag in baghdad. the final u.s. troops leaving iraq with pride. and putting a fragile nation in the rear view mirror. breaking news for your paycheck. big compromise on capitol hill that could put $1,000 or more back into your paycheck next year. occupy gingrich. newt gets heckled by wall street protesters. they get it back on this american morning. good morning, everyone. it is thursday, december 15. welcome to american morning. good morning, carol. good morning, christine. good morning to all of you. it s over. minutes ago u.s. forces lowered the flag at baghdad and retired the colors to mark the end of the nearly nine-year iraq war. final few thousand u.s. troops are leaving iraq ahead of the new year s eve deadline to get out. it is a war that started with shocking and awe. today the departing soldiers are remembering more than 4,000 who did not come home alive. the long journey home. let s get to barbara starr. s