all of this moisture, this is a lot of tropical moisture, will be running into the cold air that will be here in place, during the day tomorrow night and saturday. and because of that, national weather everybody's is has already issued for tomorrow, into saturday, winter storm warnings for the entire region. along the coast, we'll get very strong winds winds and several inches of snow as well. they've got a blizzard warning which will go in effect late saturday morning. reduced visibilities, blowing, drifting snow. tim is in the outback with a look at when we expect it to arrive. and how much to expect. but this storm is very reminiscent to our december storm. >> what we want to set the stage here for, we expect that if you have to go to work. hat and most people do on a friday. you will be driving in on mostly cloudy conditions. and conditions will start to deteriorate after tomorrow morning. by midmorning, we're talking after your drive in, right around, well, before lunchtime. right around midmorning, we'll start to see the conditions really start to take a turn. by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow, it will be on our doorstep. west virginia, the northern edge of virginia. by 1:00 p.m., it's moving across the central portions of maryland. we're talking about heavy snow picking up. potentially 1 to 2 inches an hour at times. it will be heavy at times. by 7:00 p.m. tomorrow, if you have to drive home in this, we'll be seeing snow across the region. as bob said, we're talking about a pretty substantial snowfall. we're talking about one reminiscent to december. area wide, we're looking at starting this whole conversation at about a foot of snow. and your localized conditions will dictate what you get. 12 to 18 inches of snow is what we're forecasting for much of central maryland. all the way out to allegheny county. and on the edge there. and down towards the lower eastern shore. 3 to 6. and starting to mix as you get from salisbury to cambridge and ocean city. and mostly a rain event. but the winds will be a factor for all of the beaches along the delmarva. it's going to be a real northeastern event. we'll have more details on this storm and we'll certainly keep you posted on how it plays out as it gets here in your complete updated first warning forecast. back inside. >> first warning weather coverage continues. weijia jiang has more on how emergency crews are preparing. >> all day long, transportation departments across the entire state have been scrambling to get crews in place and haul in the salt. meanwhile, local governments are scrambling to find the funding to pay for it all. >> reporter: less than 24 hours before another winter storm is predicted to hit maryland. any signs of calm are difficult to find as crews get in place to dump hundreds of tons of salt on the roads. >> no matter what comes, we have to be prepared for anything. so our crews have obviously gone back and checked the trucks. and mechanics are working on anything that needs to be repaired. they've loaded up, gassed up. >> of course like any other winter storm. >> reporter: meetings across the state may make this one, in baltimore county, where agency little briefed top leaders on what to expect. >> it is public safety that is our main priority. >> reporter: but all the work takes cash. and every local government is either in the red or scraping the bottom of the snow budget barrel, even before this round of cleanup. baltimore city only has 400,000, out of $3.5 million left. carolyn and harford counties. better shape than baltimore, which is already $2 million over. and howard, dealing with a $1.3 million gap. as for the state budget, essentially 100% over. >> very important. because i have to travel a long distance to get to work. and it's like an inconvenience if i can't get there. because i have to get the money to put food in my refrigerator also. >> reporter: here at the airport, winter crews are already tracking the storm, which they anticipate will delay and cancel several flights, even before any snow falls. southwest has already canceled hundreds. >> we certainly encourage customers customers to check with the airlines to get the most up-to-date flight status information. >> reporter: and authorities are also urging everyone at home to prepare tonight, before it snows, to stock up and to have travel plans in place if you do have to drive anywhere tomorrow. for now, we are live in baltimore county, weijia jiang, wjz eyewitness news. >> all right, thank you, weijia. and ahead of this storm, anne arundel county cool -- schools are closing two hours early friday. carroll county schools are closing two hours and 45 minutes early. you can get more information at the bottom of the screen tomorrow as we get them. stay tuned for information on closings and delays, log onto wjz daw. -- wjz.com. baltimore has a new mayor tonight. and the transition of power at city hall is complete. sheila dixon has stepped down. and stephanie rawlings-blake has become the next mayor of baltimore. wjz stays on this story with complete coverage. mike hellgren and mary bubala are following their transition of power downtown. we begin with mary, live outside of city hall. >> reporter: hi, kai. mayor rawlings-blake is wrapping up a cabinet meeting. she is still inside city hall. that meeting lasted about an hour and a half. it has been a busy first day for our new mayor. >> mayor, you have been dual sworn. may i be the first to congratulate you. >> reporter: at 12:15 this afternoon, stephanie rawlings- blake, officially became the 49th mayor of baltimore city. with her husband, daughter, mother, and a roomful of supporters looking on, she signed her name under disgraced mayor sheila dixon's, and then took the reigns of city government. >> none of us asked for this moment. but all of us must except the challenges and hard work that come with it. >> reporter: moments later, the transfer of power could be felt and seen inside city hall. the official city seal with dixon's name is taken down, replaced with one bearing our new mayor's name. rawlings-blake acknowledges the office she's filling needs to restore the public's faith in officials. >> trust and dialogue will guide us. >> reporter: after tending to her aunt, who had fainted during the ceremony, she got right to work. >> i wanted to see the progress. i wanted to see how were using technology to assist learning. it's an important first stop. >> reporter: has it sunk in yet? maybe if i call you mayor rawlings-blake? how does that feel? >> it sunk in. i was telling someone earlier, when you have to sign that big book, that's when it all becomes real. >> reporter: mayor rawlings- blake called all agency heads to the table, including police commissioner fred bealefeld. >> the wheels of this city keep turning. and the way they are turning now portends well for us. i think people are focused on the job at hand. >> reporter: now, at the top of the agenda of that first cabinet meeting, really the first crisis for this administration, this massive snowstorm that could pound baltimore. but stephanie rawlings-blake also knows she has other things on her plate, like a massive budget deficit to the tune of $twenty one 20 mill -- $120 million. this new mayor knows she has different days ahead. my colleague, mike mike hellgren is live outside the courthouse with more on her resignation. mike? >> reporter: mary, at this point, it was perhaps the judge who had the final words. and they were harsh words for mayor sheila dixon. he called this petty and tawdry corruption. she left out through the back elevator, without addressing any of it. >> reporter: sheila dixon walked confidently into court as mayor. she left through a garage in the back, without her job and what the judge called total disgrace. >> as far as i'm concerned, this ugly chapter of baltimore history is behind us now. >> reporter: do you think she's trying to rewrite history, you know, with her speeches and editorial? >> i'm going to let you guys decide that. >> reporter: a jury found her guilty. and as part of her plea, she will give back gifts she bought. the judge hopes this scandal has taught city leaders a lesson in ethics. >> she's no longer the mayor. and that's getting it. >> it was an agreement that in our view was a fair compromise. it's an agreement that results in their being no criminal conviction. >> reporter: that's why she'll get to keep her generous $83,000 a year pension for life. and some members of her staff will lose their jobs. >> it's a sad day for the mayor. but everything will go forward. and like i said, she's onto the next chapter in her life. >> what about you? >> same thing. onto the next chapter in my life. >> reporter: the judge believed the case against dixon was strong. saying that she was unfairly prosecuted on flimsy evidence. however, that view simply does not stack up with the facts. once lauded as the first african american female mayor of baltimore, she'll have plenty of time to think about that. >> i'm sure she'll find something useful to do, given her history of devotion to the city. >> reporter: the mayor's attorneys had been critical of the jurors, saying they acted inappropriately, but the judge praised the jury today. and there is still one more chapter in this corruption case. city councilwoman helen holton is still facing charges. it is unclear whether former mayor dixon will testify in her case. reporting live at courthouse east, mike hellgren, wjz eyewitness news. >> mike, thank you. wjz has complete coverage of the transition at city hall. for background on this story, and more information about baltimore's new mayor, log onto wjz.com. coming up at 5:00, or 5:30, actually, the family of mayor rawlings-blake, reacts to today's swearing-in ceremony. 20 people are homeless after a fire erupts. in the 2200 block of church lane. crews were able to put out the fire in about 20 minutes. 16 adults, five children were displayed. a two-week investigation by howard county police has resulted in charges being filed against a fifth grade teacher. as mike schuh reports, she is charged with what she is alleged to have done to a student inside her classroom. >> on january 13th, something happened inside mrs. tracy clay's fifth grade class, at the jeffers-hill elementary school in columbia that could ruin her cree. -- career. >> reporter: the girl reported that after a verbal altercation, the teacher physical physically pushed her. >> the principal wasn't told. she only found out when police came to investigate. >> they went to the home and found a red mark on her back. >> reporter: investigators interviewed students in the class. >> we have to take into account not only any physical evidence of marks on their body. but also remarks from other people who were there at the time. and once all of that was taken into consideration, the second- degree assault was deemed to be accurate. >> when we have an accusation like, this the teacher is placed on administrative leave. and today, a letter went home to that effect, to explain the situation to parents. >> reporter: a letter declares to -- declines to go into further detail. >> this is not something that happens frequently in howard county schools. it is of concern to us. >> reporter: the teacher has been placed on paid administrative leave. if convicted, the county will initiate proceedings to fire her. in columbia, mike schuh, wjz eyewitness news. >> no court date has been set in this matter. a tough day on wall street, as the dow, nasdaq, and s&p 500, dropped significantly. the dow jones industrial average slides closer to dropping below 10,000. dow is down more than 260 points. now just 2 points above the 10,000 mark. nasdaq dropped close to 66 points. some analysts say the drop is related to worry about the global economy. and we're getting snow. >> that might be high on the list, too. still ahead at 5:00. hollywood tragedy. new details. zeroing in on toyota. the prius, now the focus of a government investigation. i'm kellye lynn at mercy medical center. it's a common problem for women who have been treated for breast cancer. lymph, demma -- edema. find out how weight training can help better manage the condition. winter pounding. maryland prepares for a powerful storm. the updated first warning weather forecast with bob is coming up. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, well, the problems keep mounting for toyota. now, drivers of a prius complain of a lag time when they hit rough roads. so far, the company has not made a decision about another recall. >> reporter: u.s. investigators want to get under the hood of the popular toyota prius, to examine new concerns about faulty brakes. the japanese automakers said prius hybrids sold since late january are fine. but the brakes in 2010 models, purchased before then, have a design problem. >> the weird sensation. it's like you're driving. and when you hit a pothole or some kind of bump, all of a know, it's just like, swoop. >> reporter: more than 120 have filed complaints. including four reports of crashes. the u.s. transportation department launching its own investigation. while toyota is still deciding whether a recall is necessary. >> i'm going to be calling my dealership about the problem because it's a brand-new car. >> toyota is already reeling from the recall of more than 2 million u.s. vehicles because of sticky gas pedals. and another 5 million with floor mats that can jam under the accelerator. >> reporter: while repairs at some dealerships are now under way, consumer groups question whether toyota has the right fix. >> when there's no floor mats in the car, and the accelerator pedal isn't sticking, then what do you blame it on? really only needs one thing. and that's the electronic controls. >> reporter: toyota is taking a $2 billion hit for the gas pedal recall alone. and now, insurance companies may add to the bill. they're reviewing past accident claims, trying to decide whether toyota is at fault. in new york, alexis christoforous, wjz eyewitness news. >> and toyota is now checking other hybrid models in its lineup to see if they have the same braking system as the 2010 model. currently, no other models are involved. if you're waiting for someone to get home from work, let's check on the roads with sharon gibala. >> reporter: pretty big setbacks, especially on the beltway this afternoon. we also have an accident on the beltway. that one on the outer loop. reported between providence and delaney valley road. that one on reisterstown road and franklin boulevard. boston at eastern. or east 33rd at bark lay. south mlk. and west pratt. we're also looking at delays on 95 northbound, slow from 32 to 175. northbound lanes slow again, between pulaski highway and the beltway. there's a look at your drive times and the speeds. the slowest spot right now, between 795. there's a looka that delay on 95. running from pulaski. and the west side at wilkens avenue. this terrific report is brought to you by the cochran firm. call 1-800-the firm. or visit cochran firm.com for a free consultation. gather ye rosebuds while ye may. >> that shot we-traffic will be a lot different by this time tomorrow. >> oh, yeah. >> a lot slower. and a lot of snow falling down. west winds 6. barometer is rising. but it will be falling later tonight. we'll come back and look at the snow and how much we can ,,,,,,, all right. so we're just waiting for the snow to get here, bob. or the >> who would have known? remember december. because this is going to be veries very reminiscent of our december storm. where we got, 20, 21 inches. not sure we'll see that much. not all that cold for the time being. but the dew point is low. that means once precip starts, the temperatures will start to fall. 30 in oakland. 40 in d.c. 37 around the baltimore region. mid- to upper 30s. so it's not super, super cold. inin fact, this storm is going to be a little warmer. how much do we expect? from the baltimore area, up to about cecil county, maybe wilmington, south of philly, a general of 12 to 18 inches of snow. that's a lot of snow. some areas could see up to 24 inches. particularly in some of the hills to the west of us, as we're getting our lifting action of that moisture. it squeezes out more moisture. some folks could see two feet of snow. south of us, a little mixture of sleet. six to 12. still over there, major issues. 3 to 6. and along the beaches. maybe just a mix. a few inches are possible down there. take a look at the rest of the forecast. this is going to be a major storm. down to the south, there's just tons of moisture, coming out of the gulf of mexico. this is one of those classic, winter snowstorms. it's got all of the factors involved. just enough cold air at all levels. in other words, to get snow, doesn't have to be below freezing down here. but all the way up to 20,000, 30 you,000 feet, where the snow is made. in the cloud layer. if you get sleet, it knocks down the accumulations. that's why down to the south, we'll probably see some of that. this system is moving off to the east and low east. low will be moving off the coast of the carolinas. and in that spot, it will have the winds coming back off the ocean. we'll start seeing rough surf. blizzard warnings. for us, the winds go back to the north/northwest. once the storm gets out here. and the temperatures start to drop. and the winds pick up. we'll have near whiteout conditions expected here by tomorrow night. the way this is moving, i think it's going to be hoo in here, sooner than we have been talking about. i already see some snow up here in southwest virginia. some of it is not reaching the ground. but to me, i think we'll see this in here by morning. maybe as early as 8:00, 9:00, 10:00. the thing is, looks like it will be through the region sometime around noon or maybe earlier on saturday. we'll update this for you. looks like it will move quickly. 25 to 35 miles an hour. we're looking for heavy snow. the worst of it will be friday evening. late friday night, into saturday morning. and a gale warning late tomorrow. tonight, then, increasing clouds, down to 24. certainly cold and upper snow. and tomorrow, it will get a little milder for a little while. and the temperatures drop. late friday night into saturday, we could see near whiteout conditions. near blizzard conditions with temps. very difficult driving tomorrow night and early on saturday. >> okay. well, i have to get home, so i'm just going to -- to have to deal with it. still ahead. they trusted him as their motivational speaker. now he's charged with causing their death. an heiress, found dead. and now a coroner report explains how casey johnson died. an american classic comes to stage. celebrating the 75th anniversary. coming up, which local university choir is teaming up with the bso. i'm gigi barnett. that story is just ahead. ,,,,,, "e.t." it is 5:28. 37 degrees outside. and mostly cloudy. good evening, everyone. i'm mary bubala. thank you for staying with eyewitness news. i'm reporting live from city hall tonight. it has been a momentous day for the entire city of baltimore. disgraced mayor sheila dixon resigned. and hours later, at 12:15, stephanie rawlings-blake once city council president became the new mayor of baltimore. she is the 49th mayor of baltimore. she went right to work. it has been a busy first day for our new mayor. after she was sworn in, she toured a school and came back here to city hall for her first cabinet meeting. adam may is here with us at city hall. and you witnessed it, it is a busy first day. the mayor has a lot on her plate. >> she certainly does. a lot going on. the city facing a $120 million budget deficit for the year coming in. and there is also a lot of scandal involving the outgoing mayor dixon. >> i, stephanie rawlings-blake. >> stephanie rawlings-blake replaces sheila dixon who res