Picture water droplets on the camera all morning, not raining per se out there and there are so few cars on the road as long as everyone takes their time and moves along, [ inaudible ] this morning, good news and worrisome news along the creek that divides palo alto and east palo alto. Good news is the water level has dropped significantly from yesterdays peak this is a live look at the creek from the palo alto side. Last night, that creek was much higher as it drained storm runoff from the San Mateo County highlands to the San Francisco bay. The worrisome news is the swift water may have caused damage to the left vies along to the levees along its banks. Last night the creek topped over its banks and flowed on to highway 101, water made its way into east. Afters garden subdivision flooding some garages. Evacuations were order, hundreds of residents headed for Higher Ground to be safe. Evacuations were lifted overnight. Napa river has crested below flood stage and receding this morning after a Flood Warning yesterday that prompted closure of Downtown Riverfront promenade as a precaution. Workers scrambled to move mobile cottages to Higher Ground. Locals were confident the river would not flood and they are right. Today it is predicted to crest at 16 1 2 feet, 16 inches below flood stage. In santa cruz county, water rose so far, 40 families in the community of felton grove had to leave their homes. The San Lorenzo River reached four feet over flood stage, a tree fell on power lines knocking out electricity to nearby tees, getting in and out of town was a challenge after heavy rains closed low sure of southbound highway 9 into Paradise Drive from felton the highway is once again open in both directs. Weekend rain leading to voluntary woodburning ban in Christmas Eve. The management district is asking people not to burn wood today saying the break in the rain will cause pollution to build up today and tomorrow, Officials Say reducing pollution levels today will avoid the need for a spare the air alert tomorrow on christmas day. Mike will have the full forecast in just a few minutes. You can check live doppler 7 hd any time on abc7news. Com. Also we would like to you share your video or pictures send them to ureport, kgotv. Com or on our Facebook Page facebook. Com abc7news also on twitter. 6 04. Happening now, last minute toy drive underway in San Francisco to make sure every child has a merry mass tomorrow. Amy hollyfield [ inaudible ] reporter theres a lot of festive noise here at lefty odouls we have a childrens choir singing Christmas Carols great motivation for to you come down. Look [ inaudible ] you can see the giants world series trophy, theres a catch they want you to donate a toy they are hopeing to to get 15,000 toys by the end of the day. Their barrels are a little empty, theyve got a long way to go, some toys, a long way to go before 15,000. Joining me is lee with lefty odouls. I havent seen a rush of toys in the last hour. Im very worried. There are 15,000 what we call forgotten kids that my friends in the Police Department and the Fire Department were out on the streets, people that den get a chance to get their kids to the that dont get a chance to get their kids to the Firefighter Program [ inaudible ] reporter we will be here monitoring these bins to see if they get fill up in time for christmas, firefighters and will be delivering the toys. Come down to lefty odouls, it is a lot of fun here. Amy hollyfield, abc7 news. They are set up so you can just driveby and drop off a toy at lefty odouls, location is 333 geary near powell. Volunteers will be out until 1 in the morning tuesday morning, one tomorrow morning you have plenty of time. Traffic and weather together, next. Lets take a live look outside, San Francisco bull embarcadero and bay bridge, beautiful embarcadero and bay bridge, mike will have the full forecast, also quick check of the morning commute. Dire new prediction one d. C. Lawmaker one week from the fiscal cliff. Welcome back. Lets take a look at live doppler and satellite, a few radar returns over the ocean, a few clouds dry everywhere this morning. Clouds getting thick in the form of fog around napa. Getting a break our next system the screen to our west that means today is about it as far as dry weather. Low to mid 40s through the morning, low to mid 50s from noon to 4 00, partly cloudy, babble in the low to mid 40s by 7 00 under a partly cloudy sky. Keeping an eye on the commute this morning, skardzly a commute to speak of. Very few cars but still problems. This westbound 80 at University Avenue in the berkeley area, there is an accident reported there it has been moved to the median or it is in the median and maybe causing delays there. Another look 120 within between 116 and 37 in the north bay flooding there and we are told 121 is closed in that area start thinking about alternate routes. Also 101 heading into San Francisco from marin county, live shot, headlights heading towards us, guess what folks . Not a problem. Narry an issue here. 6 11, ahead, optimism vs. Pessimism. Key factor likely to determine whether you are looking for to the upcoming new year. One week until we reach the fiscal cliff what president obama says hes willing to do to make sure a deal gets pushed through. Welcome back. Without cloud cover three degrees cooler San Francisco, fremont, 15 napa, 13 santa rosa, 12 livermore, 40 now 37 in napa and also santa rosa heading out to oakland, 43, 48 San Francisco and 44 Mountain View and san jose this afternoon partly cloudy, mid 50s breezy along the coast upper 40s to low 50s. Next three days we have rain tomorrow afternoon into the evening scattered showers wednesday and a stray shower mainly dry thursday, in the mid 50s. 6 15. An afghan policewoman is in custody after Officials Say she shot and killed an american adviser outside Police Headquarters afghanistans capital. Kabuls governor says the woman entered a strategic and highly secure come upon in the heart of the capital and shot the adviser as he came out of a shop. A Police Official says the woman was able to enter the compound armed because she is a police officer. The adviser who was killed was a contractor whose identity has not yet been released. U. S. Senator free on bond after being arrested on drunk driving charges near washington, d. C. Police in virginia say they stopped the idaho republican crapo early sunday morning after he ran a red light, he failed a sobriety test and booked. He was released and he will be back in Court January 4th. Just released poll finds americans are generally optimistic about what is ahead in 2013. The poll finds 53 of americans are more hopeful than fearful about what 2013 will bring personally. However, political allegiances favor heavily into americans outlook 75 democrats operate mystic only 25 optimistic only 25 republicans say they are optimistic. Fiscal cliff a week away for the first time some lawmakers say we could go over. First time it is more likely we will go over the cliff than not if we allow that it will be the most colossal consequential act of congressional irresponsibility in a long time. President obama remains in hawaii for christmas, says he will cut his vacation short to try and hammer out a deal. Negotiations returned to square one last week after boehner failed to get support for his own plan. Some say it is likely last minute negotiations will force them to stay on capitol hill on new years eve. 6 17. Lets find out what the weather going to be looking like. Today dry for sure. One whole day, maybe half a day tomorrow. Thank you. Thats a giving spirit, isnt it . Clear look from sutro tower towards the east bay hills, doppler still spinning waiting for that next storm to come from the wet tomorrow, right now it is quiet and that is good except for the fog forming. Russian river still have a flood watch for this at guerneville, going to peak at 5 oclock tonight, a little over 30 feet, flood stage flood stage 32, good news in napa the river has ed peaked last night now starting to to fall and will continue to fall still in yellow where theres concern through the early evening hours today many once we get past that our next system has such little rain the forecast is calling for okay conditions for all of our streams, creeks, rivers. Partly cloudy, dry today, wet and breezy christmas especially in the afternoon and evening mainly dry thursday through sunday. Heres last night that system has pulled away, High Pressure obvious top of us now. In the same picture frame, you [ unintelligible ] partly cloudy day high clouds tonight fog will be less of an issue if you have to head out tomorrow morning. 7 00 in the morning not much mostly cloudy noon steady rain moves into the north bay by 3 00, steadier rain even moderate rain yellows up and down 80 from San Francisco up to fairfield, by 5 00, more moderate rain in the south bay, by 7 00, back to showers and will remain showers overnight through wednesday morning showers taper Late Wednesday afternoon into the evening best rainfall amounts or highest i should say up to inch and a half mountains up to 3 4 north bay, up to half inch east bay and south bay, 3 4 of an inch on the peninsula, rain means more snow in the sierra. Rain likely tomorrow and into showery conditions wednesday thursday and sunday chance of showers for sure dry days will be friday and saturday. Looking at traffic, in berkeley there is trouble, highway 80 an accident at university now reportedly a multivehicle accident at leave the number two lane blocked. Possibly more. We are waiting for more updates. The chp is running a traffic break at this point. These are your mass transit, you need to know, no delays for bart or cal train, muni saturday service and ace train closed. Live out to 80 in berkeley, you can see now a lot more cars on the road and some of that backup, multivehicle accident there the number two lane closed possibly more, we are keeping an eye on it. Ahead, the last shopping day before christmas what to expect if you are heading out to bay Area Shopping Centers this Christmas Eve. First, is a vacuum on your Holiday Shopping list . Michael finney with the models coming out on top in a new. Welcome back. Monday morning Christmas Eve, partly cloudy this afternoon, breezy along the coast upper 40s to near 50 most of the rain in Southern California now where going to stay mid 60s there sierra will die the rain and snow, snow tapering now low 40s there 51 sacramento, 59 fresno, 47 near chico. Heres the Winter Weather advisory tomorrow 4 00, to wednesday 4 00, 10 15 inches of snow above 7,000 feet. If you are getting ready to buy a new vacuum there are lots of choices. Michael finney shows us which models clean best in a new Consumer Reports at the time. Reporter good morning. No one likes to call have you thought about how many miles youve vacuumed in your life . Probably not. The Consumer Reports has. In its latest test, testifiers vacuumed 16 miles of testers vacuumed 16 miles. Vacuums are these days are stylish and sleek these are some of the 73 uprights Consumer Reports put through tough tests. From 80 to more than 1,000. Reporter the most important test how well a vacuum cleans carpet, a mix of sand and powder into a carpet, then testers use a weighted roller to push the dirt in then time to vacuum. Some make big claims like this eureka suction seal. Sharper clean. Beats dyson. Half the price. Reporter this eureka does only cost 160 compared to the 600 dyson d. C. 41. But. Both are mediocre at cleaning carpets, neither made our recollection denned recommended list. Reporter testers measured how much force you need to push and pull. Consumer reports sizes up how easy ims for use by evaluating how difficult they are to carry and empty. For bagged uprights kenmore progressive 170. Bagless uprights eureka air speed, 120 another best buy. Both do a good job. Consumer reports says canisters are easier to use on stairs and cleaning unfurniture, 300 kenmore progressive a best buy. Model 21614. Im michael finney, 7 on your side. Still ahead, developing news, why police say a man willingly jumped into a north bay creek and the search underway. Procrastination nation. The large number of americans who still havent finished shopping and the deals they are expected to find today. Are you dreaming of a White Christmas . Head to the sierra. Well tell you how much skiers and snow borders will find. Reporter im Terry Mcsweeney in palo alto, still concerns about flooding even though the rain has stopped, even though the creek has receded. Ill explain in a live report. Good morning it is monday december 24th, thank you for start you are your day with us, especially on this holiday morning. Live from our sutro camera. You can see clear skies also cloud cover thats why it is a bit warmer than it was this time last week. Lets check in with mike. Thank you. Live doppler 7 hd showing you can put away the wet weather gear today, you can shop in ease, travel in ease as it is dry this morning. Main concern fog, up in the north bay valleys now. Mainly clear around the bay, mid to upper 40s through 7 00, near 50, a few clouds at 4 00, dry with low to mid 50s at 4 00, grab that coat cooler during the evening, low to mid 40s. Inland neighborhoods foggy north bay, brighter this afternoon in the low to mid 50s. Low to mid 40s by the time 7 00 rolls around. Partly cloudy coast through 7 00, mid to upper 40s for you, top out around 50 from noon through 3 00, back in the low to mid 40s by 7 00, no rain here but in tomorrows forecast i am first the news. Keeping an eye on traffic, good news little bit of trouble there was this morning has cleared up. Live to 80 in berkeley, a little congestion still you can see this is the most traffic weve seen on the freeway there, there was a multicar accident which closed several lanes, only momentarily. A little bit of a backup but the cars are moving again. Live to the Golden Gate Bridge, we can got get rid of moisture on the but it is not currently raining there are so few cars on the bridge so they are easley cruising to their destinations. Developing news from the north bay, police in ross and search and rescue teams have put search for a dui suspect on hold after he jumped into a frigid creek this morning he bolted from his car midnight officers were chasing him on along a trail near the college of marin an officer saw him jump into the creek. Officers followed along until a Swift Water Rescue Team from the southern marin Fire Department arrived, the suspect either got away or drowned. They will resume the search at sunrise. On the peninsula, emergency officials keeping a close eye on the levees that tfplt m is live in palo alto. Reporter good news and not so good news. Good news, the creek is really gone down quite a bit we do here a little before 4 30, weve been doing reports all morning. It is going down dramatically. But, the problem is not over. Last night the creek was overflowing and causing hundreds to be evacuated in the garden subdivision in east palo alto. Again, no rain now, hasnt rained for many hours. Creek going down. But, there is concern that the levee 600 feet worth of it, may have been damaged as a result of this strongly flowing water, last night the overflowing caused some to be evacuated heres what they were saying after. Looked out the window i seen lights flashing im like whats going on . I looked and it was flooded. We started getting ready. Reporter 00 feet of levee going to be 600 feet of levee is going to be inspected today, significant damage done the kind of thing that will keep some out of their homes or what measure might be needed we dont know until it can be inspected later today this area is not a stranger to flooding. In 1998 serious flooding down here and theres state and federal money coming this way to try to solve that problem in the long term. Terry mcsweeney, abc7 news. The weather is bringing lots of snow to the sierra heres a view from highway 80 at donner lake yesterday two tow trucks were the only vehicles on the road for a time this morning chains are mandatory on almost all mountain highways that means 50 and 80, the snow making skiers and resorts happy, several feet of fresh powder, the view is from heavenly mountain, this will be one of the snowiest christmases for the tahoe area in years. Stay with abc7 news for continuing storm watch coverage, mike will have the full forecast in a few minutes. Check live doppler 7 hd any time on abc7news. Com. If you still have gifts to buy, you may be in luck. Deep as wait last minute shoppers on this Christmas Eve. Kira klapper joins us with details. Reporter can you believe one in 10 people still have shopping to do . They might have a hard time finding parking today, but they will find some fantastic deals, retailers ready to slash prices with across the board discounts on clothing, toys and appliances. For clothing it is 40 off everything at American Eagle and banana republic. Kmart offering 50 off pajamas and robes. For the home, sears giving 90 off most popular tool sets. Lowes has 20 off vacuums and small appliances. Electronics, toys r us has a buy one get one 30 off for video s. Target a nook for 119, 20 target gift card in return. Walmart selling ipad 3, 399, 30 gift card. Phone 5, walmart offering 75 off.