I did just check in with the offings as well. 5 05. Expect days there on the burlington bristol. The betsy ross is clear. The blizzard of 2016 ranks as the fourth worst snowstorm to hit the northeast since 1950. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration made that announcement yesterday. The agency classified the storm as a category 4 which means it had a crippling impact. Nearly 24 Million People saw at least 20. S of snow. Right now were still feeling the effects of the blizzard of 2016. Nbc 10s Deanna Durante is live this morning in logan circle to tell us more about this winter blood shortage. Deanna, this is a critical time for them. It is. Theyre using the term emergency and making a plea for anyone who can donate to please donate blood. The blizzard took its toll on the american red cross. The families and those in need, especially at times during disasters, they tell us they responded to a number of fires in the area, nine fires during the blizzard alone, helping out more than 16 families who were displaced by those fires. And they tell us that because of the winter storm and the extreme cold weather that we felt nationwide, they are down blood supplies. They say in 20 states, the weather affected blood donations centers and blood drives and they say when the weather is bad, no one is going to come out and donate. c winter weather, snow, all of those things prohibit people from donating and it also causes blood drives that are already scheduled to become canceled. People dont want to host a blood drive if they dont think anyone is going to come. Take a look at a picture sent to us by the american red cross. Those are volunteers and workers assisting people in our area during the blizzard of 2016. You can see how much snow is on the ground there as theyre trying to unload that vehicle. And we were told that more than 30 blood drives in our area just during the blizzard were canceled and that the red cross needs several gallons several poonts of blood a day and that hundreds of pints are down in this area. Well break down the numbers coming up today at 6 00. Live in logan circle, Deanna Durante, nbc 10 news. 5 03 and 31 degrees in philadelphia. This morning, military Officials Say fighter jet tests caused that sonic boom that caused concern for people up and down the eastern shoreline. Residents from new jersey to long island reported hearing loud booms and feeling the ground and buildings shake. People as far away as connecticut heard the booms. A Navy Spokesperson says its the result of supersonic testing off the coast that involved two fighter jets. We talked with a woman in Atlantic City who was left guessing about the situation. Oh, my god, what was that . We done the know if it was a bomb, a plane. People were running off the beach. The jets can travel faster than the speed of sound which causes the thunderlike rumble that startled so many. We now have new information about this fouralarm fire at an Apartment Building in Center City Philadelphia last week. The acting fire commissioner has ruled out arson but investigators are still looking for a cause. Derrick sawyer told concerned residents that the fire started on the first floor of that nk one majo interrupted the investigation. Fire happened on tuesday, wednesday, secure the structure, thursday we began the investigation, friday the snowstorm. Many people thanked the Fire Department for keeping everyone safe but others say they are getting mixed messages about whether theyll be able to recover any of their property. Meantime, engineers have to decide what is next for that building. Today philadelphia mayor jim kenney will kick off an outreach effort to help qualified City Residents apply for the earned income tax credit. Its called the you earned it campaign. According to the irs, the earned income tax credit can reduce taxes for working people with low or moderate incomes but you have to apply for it. And the city estimates 40,000 philly residents are eligible but they dont apply. To see if you qualify, you can tap the nbc 10 app. Five minutes past 5 00 right now. Were just three days away from the 2016 Iowa Caucuses and the republican president ial nominees held their final debate before the event without the frontrunner. Nbc 10s matt delucia is live in the Digital Operations Center with a breakdown of the debate. Donald trump made good on his word not to attend last nights debate. Instead he held a rally to raise money for veterans. Trump skipped the debate because of the dispute with fox news. They did poll his and they could not have been but once this started, it was for our vets, there was nothing i could do. I dont know, is it for me personally a good thing, a bad thing, will i get more votes, less votes . Nobody knows. That was donald trump right there. He raised about 6 million for veterans at his rally. Meanwhile, the remaining candidates were left to turn on each other, especially over immigration. Trumps absence was noted at the beginning of the debate. Some candidates made brief, often joking references to trump but they moved on quickly. It was a night highlighted by bitter and personal exchanges between senatorses ted cruz and marco rubio. Each accused the other of changing their positions on the status of undocumented immigrants. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie also took a moment to talk about terrorism and isis. This is about the bigger, broader war against isis. We need to bring together our european and sunni arab allies and develop a strategy together to take on isis every place that it is around the world so that together, all of us, can take isis out, destroy it and then move on to come back to our country, protect our Homeland Security and make sure that the American People are safe. Also marco rubio had something to say about philadelphia in particular, about the ambush of officer jesse hartnett. Ill grab that moment for you again coming up at 5 3. For now, im live in the Digital Operations Center, matt delucia, nbc 10 news. A student in bucks county faces charges for allegedly posting threats against her school on social media. Police arrested the 17yearold bensalem girl after she threatened to, quote, shoot up the center for Student LearningCharter School in levittown. Police say the girl confessed and is being charged as a juvenile. Earlier this week, police in chester, Delaware County arrested a 17yearold girl who they say wrote a threatening post on social media. Her threat called for shooting africanamerican students at schools in that area. The District Attorney says she confessed she acted on a dare she got through social media wednesday. Police charged David Millbourne with posting threats online about killing chester police. Investigators say he made his threats because of the arrest of the 17yearold. And new this morning, police in new castle county, dl dell are investigating a suspicious death. Police say someone called for a welfare check around 10 00. When Police Showed up to this home, they found a person dead incin detectives are still investigating but say there are circumstances at the scene that made the death suspicious. Now your nbc 10 first alert weather with meteorologist bill henley. Eight minutes after 5 00. It is cold once again. We are below freezing. A cold start but we will see warmer temperatures this afternoon. But we can also see a few isolated showers. Some areas will get snow showers. Others just rain. Either way, the temperatures will be above freezing, shouldnt be an issue during the day. Over the weekend, a warming process that will have us in the record warmth territory early next week. Right now, 28 degrees. Clouds have already arrived in the pocono mountains. Northeast philadelphia and Atlantic City are cold, dry and mainly clear right now. Back to snow making in the mountains with temperatures in the 20s this morning. But Mother Nature may bring a few snowflakes of her own. It is dry right now. The radar shows showers are in western and central pennsylvania. Theyll be blowing into the area. First with clouds this morning. Wont see them this morning during the morning commute. This is 9 whiching this morning. But as we go through the later morning and early afternoon hours, thats when we could see scattered snow showers develop. Lunch time, allentown, into northern new jersey getting some showers. And a few rain drops in the new jersey, south jersey, Central New Jersey but by 7 00 in the evening, well be clearing out quickly and drying out and staying dry for the weekend. Cold start, yes, but this afternoon, 40 for allentown. A breezy day in quakertown and reading. The wind will be blowing, too, for doylestown, trenton and mt. Holly. At the shore, warm enough that any showers that pop up will be rain drops falling. Vineland 41 degrees this afternoon. A slight chance of a shower in philadelphia, drexel hill and wilmington. Low 40s today but much warmer air is ahead. Ive got the sevenday forecast when i come back in ten minutes. All right. Thanks so much, bill. Lets get a check of the roads. I t i think there might be something on the boulevard. Lets check. Jessica . Smooth sailing so far, roadways particularly dry, it is around broad street, no problems north or southbound if youre heading to the schuylkill expressway, even under this underpass, no frozen and slippery spots. That doesnt mean were not dealing with slippery spots anywhere else. The 2600 block of potter street, reports of an accident where a car crashed into a pole and turning over on to its side after hitting a slippery patch. Police on the scene. Watch out for slippery spots in the neighborhood. Another accident in montgomery county, hatboro on york road and westmoreland avenue. And the pa turnpike, a slowmoving maintenance vehicle going on the northeast extension between lansdale and midcounty toll plaza. The actual pac turnpike havingo problems with the drive times, westbound, eastbound route 1 to valley forge, a 23minute trip. Nbc 10 news spoke with president obama about gun violence in an exclusive oneonone interview. Tell our viewers, mr. President , what you can do in your final months in office to make the streets of philadelphia, camden, wilmington, safer. Hear about the obama administrations efforts to save lives in our area. Plus, a new report says philadelphias Drinking Water inspection methods could be worse than those in flint, michigan. Well tell you how the city council is now taking action. A Brand New Development is bringing new life to a philadelphia neighborhood. This new shopping and Residential Development in Chestnut Hill just opened this week. It has been five years in the making. The 30 million project includes a Grocery Store on germantown avenue along with luxury condos upstairs. The fresh market store offers organic fruits along with meats and seafood and free parking. It is huge to have new construction on the avenue. And to be able to share the amenities of the village of Chestnut Hill is just incredible for this community. Construction of the condos continues and Officials Say that already a quarter of them have been sold. Developers expect the Grocery Store alone to raise Property Values in that neighborhood by around 10 . Also today a new class of Philadelphia Police recruits will join the ranks. Mayor jim kenney will join the Police Commissioner at Temple University for the graduation. 30 recruits will graduate. 5 15. Michigan lawmakers have approved 28 million in additional funding to solve flints water problem. Some of the cash will go toward unpaid bills and a study of flints water system. Governor rick snyder said, quote, we will fix this crisis. Meantime, Philadelphia City council will investigate how the city tests its Drinking Water, thats after reports suggested that the citys procedures are worse than in flint. The council will hold hearings on the issue. An expert told the british newspaper the guardian that the Water Sampling methods that philadelphia uses could hide the same sort of problems that flint is experiencing. Happening today, septa will cut the ribbon on a 19 million Improvement Project at the 69th Street Transportation Center in upper darby. The west terminal has been restored and modernize. The improvements will enhance bus and Trolley Service along with safety. Two of Atlantic Citys top casinos have announced major renovations. The tropicana will redo its hotel rooms along with other projects to the tune of 25 million. The borgata introduced a new nightclub and conference space. The auto show shifts into full gear at the convention center. More than 700 rides and dozens of differenten brads will be on display. Tickets forc adults are 14. Seniors, kids and active military members get a discount there. 5 17. Lets check the roads. Jessica has been following that. What are you seeing there . A jackknifed tractortrailer on new jersey turnpike out in hamilton township. Weve seen a trend of a lot of jackknifed tractortrailers this entire week. Thats because of slippery conditions. No word yet as to what caused this scene but im going to go with my gut and say that thats what part of the problem is. On the new jersey turnpike southbound right around 195, at exit 7a and the right lane is blocked. You can see on the new jersey turnpike were still in the green. Traffic still moving along there nicely with no problem. Well stay in new jersey on the 42 freeway around route 41 in deptford. No problems headed northbound into the philadelphia area. A 5minute drive time northbound. Scheduled openings this morning. We had a few already, one with the tacony palmyra. Now were watching the burlington bristol. That was a scheduled opening ten minutes ago at 5 05. More of your drive times when i come back in the next ten. Now your nbc 10 first alert weather with meteorologist bill henley. 18 minutes after 5 00. You know the routine, warm days, cold nights. Were back below freezing and we are dry but we could see scattered snow showers or rain showers at times during the day. Really depends on where you are. 28 degrees right now in philadelphia. Cold enough for snow but its completely dry. And the wind is very calm right now. But that will also change during the day. Look back to snow making in the pocono mountains, the view from Blue Mountain this morning. A great day for skiing yesterday with lots of sunshine. Today more challenging. The winds are already starting to increase in the pocono mountains. The stronger wins will eventually work their way to the philadelphia area. With those winds will come clouds and a chance of a shower. This morning, were completely dry, even at the shore where the clouds are a bit thicker, rain is way offshore. Its whats behind the clouds in western and central pennsylvania that could give us activity during the day today. Scattered snow showers, a little steadier in central pennsylvania. Not here yet but possible during the day. Snow showers most likely to the north, rain showers most likely to the east over new jersey. It will be above freezing so even if we do get a few snowflakes theyre not going to be sticking today. Over the weekend, some of the snow will be disappearing after a cold start on saturday, a nice warmup saturday afternoon. Sunshine 45 degrees. Less windy on saturday. And look at sunday into the low 50s. Its a warming trend that is climbing on monday. A bit of fog in the morning monday and then 57 degrees with partly sunny skies. Hold on to your thermometer because we could be challenging record temperatures on tuesday and wednesday. The record is 61. Tuesday wellc be up to 60 degrees. The record is 62 on wednesday which is where well be as showers move into the area. Behind the showers, a bit chillier for thursday. I love when bill has good news. Thank you, bill. 5 20 right now. People are cleaning up tornado damage in southeast fld this morning. A turn touched down in delray beach. The winds damaged a church roof. Fortunately no one was hurt. Overdose antidote. Police in Delaware County will be the first in the world to use a new version of the heroin antidote narcan. Well tell you about this new technology that should make it easier to save lives. No card needed. Some of the countrys biggest banks are changing the way you bank at the atm. Find out how, coming up next. Hey gus good to see you again the usual . Veggie burger with the works. See ya. Sounds good matt thanks gus, the second most famous groundhog in pennsylvania thats me. And this is for you gus bucks the new instant game from the Pennsylvania Lottery with top prizes of a hundred grand. Its the best game yet. cause youre on it . Well. Keep on scratchin that was Jefferson Airplane at wood stock. Today the music world is mourning the loss of its cofounder, paul kantner. He suffered a heart attack and died yesterday. He was 74. The socalled affluenza teenager is waking up on u. S. Soil this morning. He was sentenced to probation for killing four people while driving drunk in 2