We begin with Janelle Burrell live along route 17 in saddle river this morning. Janelle . Good morning to you mary. What a difference a few hours makes as we making our way along route 17. No rain the roads are clear but this area had quite a bit of flooding and a few accidents reported. Major differences compared to yesterday. Drenching down pours soaking the tristate area well into the night. Ponding turn roads in splash pools like here on raymond road. End then the winds powerful gusts snapping trees like this 50footer crashing onto a home as they ate dinner. All of a sudden it was like the sky falling. Thundering noise. The massive tree leaving a hole in his house. A construction barrier tumbled into the window of a cab smashing the glass, the driver uninjured. And crews work to clean up a smoky scene after live power lines fell onto the wet roadway. Now back live as we continue to make our way north on route 17 here in saddle river. The roads are slick but the rain has stopped. About 15,000 people here in new jersey still without power at this hour this morning. Reporting from mobile 2 in saddle river Janelle Burrell cbs 2 news. Thank you. Get back to you in a bit. Lets start things off with john. Conditions have improved dramatically. Residual problems with the power lines and outages and with some of those debris fields out there. Trust me. Crash everywhere blowing around. Mostly cloudy and 56 right now hanging onto that south wind for a while but then its going to change. A stronger west wind blows this afternoon. Theres still the risk of Severe Weather through parts of rhode island and massachusetts and to the west snow down to parts of tennessee and North Carolina. The possibility of a shower in our forecast even though the west wind should serve to keep dew points low. Numbers will be lower ton the afternoon drive thanafternoon drive than for the morning drive. Then the cold air settles in tonight, big turn around. Pace yourself and leave extra time and space. There are major headaches right alex . You are right john. Beginning in white plains the bronx River Parkway is closed between exits 21 and 22. We have lingering flooding. Hutch as an alternate. Wet roadways reported in glen head so move out to this direction. Route 25a closed. Downed power lines causing issues there. Flooding problems in new jersey. Something else thats a concern. Ill have those details coming up but for now alternate side is in effect city wide. Be safe, dont text and drive. Back to you. The brooklyn da is expecting to dismiss the charges of the teenage boys. Theres a disturbing story about what really happened. Tony is in bronxville. Local politicians outraged by the gang rape allegations. They should be more afraid of us today than of the police. Thought the alleged victim recanted. The teenagers. He can go back to normalcy in his life. Hes only 15. The trauma and embarrassment of this story breaking sounding so horrendous. Prosecutors believe the 18 yearold girl was in this car drinking with her father. There was sexual contact between the two. The da says the group of young men saw what was going on and one or more of them joined in. This young womans father and the five young men engaged in conduct that was republic hencible and wrong but because of a lack of evidence chin charges cannot be sustained. The father sought help at a deli but was denied. They angrily confronted deli workers. The anger has now subsided. We dont have a alexey of sitting back. If theres an allegation like that we sound the alarm. The young woman is troubled. Working to provide her help and support but she would not cooperate with a criminal investigation so the case is dismissed. A possible break in the investigation to the shooter of the owner in long island. Releasing i cherish my opinion and what i think. Sometimes he needs them sometimes he cones. In one area when her husband is out campaigning they talk on the phone several times. President obama may be considering republican for the supreme court. The president is vetting Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval who is a former federal judge who supports abortion rights. Hes honored his name was mentioned but he has not heard from the president. Senate republicans will not october bams pick. Up next Kennedy Michael saggal. The new suspect the lawyer is pointing ficks at. And trying to lower the drinking age in the garden state. Why the plan could cost millions. And a look at the big winners of the britt awards and a tribute to david bowie. Such a better day today but dealing with left over problems from yesterday. Some flooding out there. We are going to see a few left over showers then its going to turn chilly. Coming up. Blinds to gos cellular shades are as beautiful as they are energy efficient, insulating your home in warm weather and cold. Right now, take 25 off hundreds of styles and colors just in time for winter blinds to gos cellular shades are as beautiful as they are energy efficient, insulating your home in warm weather and cold. Right now, take 25 off hundreds of styles and colors just in time for winter blinds to go. Blinds for life. The powerful weather system moving through the northeast turned deadly in the town of waiverly when the tiny town was hit by a tornado. At least four people were killed. Tornadoes were also reported in North Carolina where heavy rain sparked Power Outages across baltimore flooding is a concern after three inches of rain made its way into the area. The rising water got high enough to swallow automobiles. And drone video shows the damage of a tornado. The storm ripped out walls and tomorrow off roofs exposing childrens toys, clothes, damaged furniture and personal items. Lets get over to john traffic and weather on the 2s. Its been a really whacky weather system nationwide. All connected as well and holding together. A lot of folks without power and mike on camera 2 walked out this morning big basketball hoop right down on the car lots of Property Damage there so the wind and the rain. Winds gusting over 60 Miles Per Hour to now 55 and mild and we beautiful from Staten Island. We appreciate that michael. Concerned about the clean up. Weve got issues to the north. Flooding off to the north and west as well. Lets justyou need something to cheer you up, bob has 55 and National Chili kay and later it will be a chili day. You see what he did there with the chili and the thing. It is going to be tomorrow. Wind chills in the teens and 20s. In the city right now not dealing with the fog or the rain. We are actually dealing with some delightful numbers well above noway. 56 and clouds over head. That light south wind at 8 Miles Per Hour keeping a tropical feel in place. 56 in the hamptons. 52 in babylon and bell mar. Greenwich at 51. The guy in sparta is almost 60. Im not talking the calendar im talking the temperature. Theres been a big daytoday change. Its almost 20 degrees warmer than this time yesterday in the city. Across the board you see that swing. Tomorrow morning you are really going to feel that chill. Left over rain. Brief heavy shower foot of the island and then we see the risk of more Severe Weather through part of massachusetts and a left over shower north and west. The problem is the damage already done so dealing with flooding concerns but look how big any system is. Youve got snow down to parts of sorry West Virginia, kentucky and tennessee. Flood rain additionally wont help that but this is more a run off issue than anything else. We are going to leave the chance of a shower in the forecast. It will breakup during the course of the day but a passing shower cant be ruled out and the cold wind starts to take over. Cold enough for snow north and west absolutely. Tomorrows high just 38. With the wind it will feel colder. Youve got a lot to deal with just getting there this morning right alex . You are right john. Lets first begin with closures due to downed power lines. You can see for yourself in plains route 22 closed westbound at park avenue due to flooding and again at king george road in green brooke township also due to flooding. And rock road closed in both directions at thompson avenue. Fallen power cables there. And Englewood Cliff power cables both directions closed as an alternate. Alternate side is in effect city wide. Be safe dont text and drive. Over to you. If you are looking at headlines today prosecutors are asking Connecticut State Supreme Court to send Michael Segal back to prison. The judge who convicted him was wrong when he concluded errors by the original lawyer costing they are blaming his brother in the 1975 beating death of his neighbor. The u. S. And china have toughens north korea punishment for the rocket launch following a white house meeting yesterday. Between susan rice and chinas form minister. The forecaster is suing a hotel for a peep hole in 2008 in her hotel room. Shes a shell of her former self. The video is posted on line. Shes seeked 75 million for personal distress and humiliation. Stock futures are lower. They recovered from early losses but the Dow Jones Industrial average gained 55 points nasdaq by 39 and s p by 8. Leaders of the Charity Event for survival is opening bell the annual event takes place march 13. They hop on stationary bikes to raise money supporting rare cancer research. The charity raised more than 20 million last year. Johnson and johnson is expected to appeal a huge jury award handed down yesterday. A jury ordered the new Jersey Based Company to pay 72 million to the family of an alabama woman who died of Ovarian Cancer that was caused by the companys baby powder and other products containing talcum. The American Cancer Society says there is a possible risk. A proposal to change the table and the drinking age in new jersey. If the idea of a law maker says 21 just doesnt make sense. Turning 18 could one day be cause for a toast in new jersey. Introduced a bill to lower the states drinking age from 21 to 18. When you are 18 years old and capable of carrying a weapon and getting married with no ones permission and buying a house or whatever the idea you are somehow incapable of determining whether to buy a sixpack is profoundly silly. Patrons expressed support. I would agree with that. Why. Drinking age was for us 18. If you can serve your country, absolutely. I personally think its a bad idea. I dont think they are mature enough honestly and dont understand the consequences. If you can always have it they dont try to get that fake id and try to sneak in and drink when they are not of age. Opponents point out a locher drinking age would cost new jersey millions in federal funding. 21 get an automatic reduction to highway funds. Thats reason enough to reject carols bill including this liquor store owner. Its good to have people drinking at 21. The maturity of a person goes at 21 so thats a better idea than moving down to 18. The next stop for assembly man carol is to committee but it could be years before this bill ever becomes law. Elyse finch cbs 2 news. Late United States senator sponsored the legislation to raise the drinking age to 21 back in 1984. Time now 4 49. The prep being made in hollywood for the big night. And the new seats in economy classic could ease the cram on longer flights. And well get you another the 2s coming up right after this. We dont decorate in one color. We dont stick to one fabric. Or one shape. So why use traditional aerosols that are onedimensional . New air wick room mist with life scents is a multilayered fragrance, just like scents in real life. Our homes are rich, varied, and pleasantly surprising. And air wick room mist is, too. Finally, a truetolife fragrance, for your lively home. Air wick. Take a look at that temperature 56 degrees at 5 52. It. Economy seats have become smaller as airlines try to squeeze more passengers on flights but this may ease the. Its more comfortable to sit in and sleep in for long stretches of time. Youve got this spine so you do this and the seat does this. I hope theres a caution on it. I would think so. The twister takes up no more space than a typical economy seat and hope to take it off within two years. They are going to put a cushion on it. I thought you were going to fly Cross Country on an adirondack chair. An airline seat after a tornado. Twister, cyclone. That is so misleading that 53 because the strong wind is going to drop the numbers. Flooding inland a major concern left over shower during the day. Feeling like the teens and 20s but the weekend is shaping up. She is shaped up and ready to go. Youve got a lot to deal with. Hi alex. Hey john. Lets first begin in white plains where the bronx River Parkway southbound between exits 21 and 22 due to flooding. Stick with the spring brooke or the much as an alternate. Also you see aspired restriction on the bridge and reported through the area. Route 22 is closed westbound due to flooding and westbound at king george road in green brooke township ponding on the roadways. Chimney rock road is closed in both directions fallen power cables reported there. Alternate side in effect city wide and be safe dont text and drive. Would you know if someone calling you or texting you was an i am poster. The term spoofing made headlines after Nassau County executive claimed he was hacked by someone using the spoofing technique so we wanted to find out what its capable of. Its difficult but not impossible to do. Its definitely doable. Lives are being destroyed because of this. From fake texts to someone changing their voice. Many people say its either happened to them or theyve used it themselves. What you need to know about digital deceit and thats tonight at 11. In our next half hour from long island to new jersey we are covering the powerful storm that ripped through our area overnight. Also this morning shes back and a lot of neighbors are not happy about it. Is doing now that has people very upset. And the touching tribute to david bowie at last nights britt music awards. Big winners. In hollywood they literally rolled out the red carpet ahead of the ceremony. The event being held at the theater the most exclusive red carpet of the year where celebrities show off heir oscar fashiontheir oscar fashion. [ music ] a tribute to david bowie london. The version of the grammys in britain. Bowie died of cancer last month. Adele was a big winner taking home four awards including best british female artist, best single and best album on both just the first of countless awards. Just missed the deadline for the award. But great for them. Still ahead here the new lawsuit being filed from the passenger on the nightmare cruise from new jersey. And how about a good work out at the gym. The latest dating trend has new couples sweating it out right from the start. And a wild night of heavy rain and winds. We have storm Team Coverage. Begins in 90 seconds. It is 5 00 and 56 degrees on thursday february 25. The rain is pushing out but it is going to be a blustery day after what has been a rough night for many in the tristate area. Good morning im chris wragge. Im mary calvi. What a night an unusual winter thunderstorm causing extensive damage across the tristate area. Electical fires were popping up from westchester to long island. Nearly 40,000 in the dark. And trees toppling over making for a scary situation on the roads and inside homes like this. Lets begin with john elliot who is in the Weather Center right notch. Truck in a few moments over turned on the gyb. John . Tell you what we are looking at a fast improving situation right now. We are we are here on chicago avenue where a tree came down overnight in front of 21 chicago avenue. We have video to show you. Luckily when this tree came down overnight no one was injured. We are told people were in the house at the time but you can just see the extent of the damage to this home. This is the worst we believe of a little bit of what the worst was here in this neighborhood. We do also have video on nearby New Hampshire road where there were no injuries but there were a couple cars that went on fire after high tension power lines fell down completely destroying the cars below. This was a chevy tahoe and a fort escape. People here on long island without power. Some of the worst areas include hemstead and oyster bay but back here live where this tree did fall onto this house overnight. So far no injuries reported. Andrea grymes cbs 2 news. All right andrea thanks so much. John my bad. Over to you. You look behind andrea and you see that police tape in a light breeze. Theres 60 Miles Per Hour winds causing all that damage last night and where you had the rain and vulnerable roots a major headache. Today clean up day. Looking to the west there will be a few more passing showers during the course of your day well to the west of flip side the cold side of this storm. Still bringing a lot of snow through the lakes and down into the ohio valley and that cold air is going to be a feature of our forecast tonight into tomorrow. Well hang onto the low to mid 50s through lunch time but by 5 00 youve retreated to the 40s feeling cooler and very chilly overnight. We talk about that change in a bit but as you can imagine there are a lot of headaches on the highway. Whats going on. A lot of major secondary roads in the area. If you are traveling in white plains the bronx River Parkway closed southbound. We have flooding there. If you go out of your way stick with the spring brooke parkway or the much as an alternate. That is all green. The other alert 45 Miles Per Hour speed restriction in place because of slick roadway roadways reported there and fallen power cables in both directions at palisade avenue so stick with that parkway as your alternate. A live look at the George Washington bridge that over turned tractor trailer yesterday has since cleared out. Alternate side in effect city wide. Be safe do