Its the calm before the storm outside this morning. Nice warm temperatures right now. But we are in for a nasty day. Yeah. Youll want to be very cautious out lets turn things over meteorologist 33 we want to give you a quick traffic update as you head out and about this morning. Good news. There are no trouble spots to repopo in or around the capital city. But we will continue to keep our eyes on the road and update you if anything changes for your morning commute. Abc columbia wants to help you jump start your day. We have a quick rundown of your top morning headlines. So, lets get started. Severe weather is sweeping the deep south. The National Weather service has confirmed reports of tornadoes in louisiana, mississippi, alabama and florida. At least three people have been killed. This is the system that meteorologist Jonathan Kennedy will be tracking throughout the morning. Stay with a bc columbia for the latest and any Severe Weather updates. Turning our attention to vote 2016. Donald trump. Is taking home another win. He is the projected winner of the republican president ial caucuses in nevada. Preliminary entrance polls taken of republican caucusgoers show that nearly the way the government is working. And seven in 10 say they want a candidate who is an outsider. Over one with political experience. With a third win under his belt. The billionaire businessman has a wide lead over the other republican candidates in the delegate votes stand so far. With about 94percent of the votes accountetefor in nevada. Trump takes 45percent of the vote. Rubio and cruz come in at 23 and 21percent. Leaving ben carson and john kasich trailing far behind. With less than fivepercent each. On the other side of the political fence. Hillary clinton has been busy hosting a series of townhall style meetings at churches across the palmetto state. Ahead of saturdays primary. Shell be attending one of those breaking down barriers forums today in sumter. Thats at the garrickboykin Human Development center at Morris College. Today at 5 15. Doors open at 3 45. Clinton will also be the speaking at the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority state wide today. Clinton and her competition. Bernie sanders. Have been busy trying to gain those last minute votes here in the capital city. Cnn hosted a town hall with the two president ial hopefuls last night at the usc school of law. During it. The president ial hopefuls spoke about supporting president Barack Obamas effort to close the Detention Center at Guantanamo Bay. Clinton says moving prisoners to charleston is still up for negotiation. The 33 the president s plan to close Guantanamo Bay is congress. The plan calls for transferring the remaining detainees to the united states. And, it seeks nearly 500 million in construction costs. The proposal faces opposition in the gop led congress and right here in South Carolina. 33 South Carolina republicans in congress say theyre bracing for a fight on Gitmo Detainee relocation plans. And on the democratic side. In a Conference Call with our abc affiliate in charleston. Representative jim clyburn says he doesnt have a position on obamass gitmtmplan. Lexington county solicitor donnie myers told troopers investigating driver ran him off the road and he only had one drink. In an incident report from the Highway Patrol. Troopers say they could smell alcohol in myers car when they found it empty around 8 oclock monday night. After it crashed. Into a utility pole. The report says a trooper went to myers home and he told them he had not had a drink since hed been there. But add that myers failed sobriety tests. The report says myers also left a gun behind in the drivers side floorboard of his wrecked car. Back in 2005. The 70yearold pleaded guilty to drunken driving following an arrest near asheville, north carolina. He served one year of probation. Then in 2012. Myers paid a fine after being charged with having an open container of alcohol in his car. Still to come. Our coverage of vote 2016 continues. Its another heading into super tuesday. 33 heres a quick look at stories that are making headlines across the country. With nevada in the rear view mirror. Its full steam ahead to super tuesday. Latest on vote 2016. 33 theres a lot on the line at Colonial Life arena tonight. Eric, what us . Carolina basketball can take another step towards 2nd place in the sec with a win at home tonight. Tim hill has more in this mornings sports to 33 come. The show must go on. Its a grand reopening for one ballet studio. Following octobers hisisric flooding. From main and gervais. During the storm. Pavlovichs is a dance studio and school. Located along the gills creek watershed. The studio was submerged. Everything inside. Destroyed. But after months of working with the Insurance Companies and fema. Theyre finally seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. The studio is now preparing for the schools 13th. And its almost time for the the big saint pats celebration in five points. The Event Features a number of popular bands. And you have the chance to vote for your Favorite Local band to take the big stage. All you have to do is go to the saint pats website to pick which band youd like to see. Voting starts today. And ends at midnight on march third. The lucky march fourth. 33 were 33 checking out what will be making headlines later today. Heres eric with your look ahead. Roads continue to be a hot topic at the state house. Yesterday, senators once again debated sending more money to state roads. They say it could be some time before theres Actual Movement on any proposals. Senator tom davis of beaufort blocked action on the bill last week. Hes seeking to change the board that oversees the department its been nearly half a year since the Confederate Flag was removed from the statehouse grounds. The flag has since been placed at the confederate relic room and Military Museum here in columbia. But proposals to change its location to a museum in charleston are advancing. Yesterday, the house ways and Means Committee unanimously advanced a proposal requiring an analysis of Available Museum space. And a cost estimate for moving the flag. 33 still to come. Were getting red carpet ready and taking a look at a best picture nomimie before this weekends oscars. Stay with and gervais. Its the calm before the storm outside this morning. Nice warm temperatures right now. But we are in for a nasty day. Yeah. Youll want to be very cautious out there today. Lets turn things over to meteorologist Jonathan Kennedy for more on what we can expect weather warning. 33 we want to give you a quick traffic update as you head out and about this morning. Good news. There are no trouble spots to report in or around the capital city. But we will continue to keep our eyes on the road and update you if anything changes for your morningommute. Abc columbia wants to help you jump start your day. We have a quick your top morning headlines. So, lets get started. Severe weather is sweeping the deep south. The National Weather service has confirmed reports of tornadoes in louisiana, mississippi, alabama and florida. At least three people have been killed. This is the system that meteorologist Jonathan Kennedy will be tracking throughout the morning. Stay with a bc columbia for the latest and any Severe Weather updates. Turning our attention to vote 2016. Donald trump. Is taking home another win. He is the projected winner of the republican president ial preliminary entrance polls taken of republican caucusgoers show that nearly six in 10 voters are angry at the way the government is working. And seven in 10 say they want a candidate who is an outsider. Over one with political experience. With a third win under his belt. The billionaire businessman has a wide lead over the other republican candidates in the delegate count. Heres how the votes stand so far with about 96percent of the votes accounted for in nevada. Trump takes 45percent of the vote. Rubio and cruz come in at 23 and 21percent. Leaving ben carson and john kasich trailing far behind. With less than fivepercent each. The republicans have now moved on to super tuesday, but the democrats still have the first in the south primary to worry about. Cnn hosted a town hall with the two president ial hopefuls last night at the usc school of law. It was a chance for undecided voters to ask Hillary Clinton and bernie show clinton up an average of 24 points over sanders here in the state. With 59 delegates up for grabs in saturdays vote. Its the largest amount at stake thus far. Leading up to saturdays vote. Abc columbia is bringing you profiles of each of the candidates vying to be the next president of the united states. Our jennifer ready has more on frontrunner Hillary Clinton and her coming off a 33 still to come. Were keeping a close eye on some south. Were takina closer look at the damage left by the storm system heading this way. Severe hey, there. Good morning. Good news about housing. Home prices were up 5. 5 in december. Thats the fastest pace in a year and half. Supply is so low. Audi tops the Consumer Reports annual rankings of the best phew cars. Followed by subaru, lexus. The top ranking domestic brand is buick. They consider performance and reliability. Some notable new figures in legos new city set. Mom is holding a bobole but dresed for the office. A bearded dad is pushing a stroller the. On the right, a boy in a wheelchair. Lego calls it an attempt to stay in tune with the world around us. Well done. As theyve always done. Have a great day. 33 weather warnings in place for most of the southeast. And in florida theyre already taking the brunt of the storm. Yeah. In pensacola. Storms are spawning tornadoes. Leaving several people injured. Yesterday, utility poles were brought down and cars were flipped over. These conditions are spreading. As weather officials are forecasting at least 20Million People across the southeast could face the risk of sever storms and tornadoes today. Were now going to turn our attention to your health. Rochelle dean has a look at what is making headlines in the medical community. Have you wondering how safe the water is from your own faucet at home. In todays health minute, seth kovar has some tips on how you lead free. 33 still to come. The battle for justice between apple and the fbi continues. How the conflict is now hitting the streets nationwide. From main and gervais. Creating an intense battle between apple ceo tim cook. And fbi director, james comey. Cook believes the Data Security of hundres of millions of law abiding citizens are at stake. But comey claims the fbi only wants encryption for the one i phone. And not to set a master key loose on the land back here at home. Richland one is beginning a new Online Student registration process. Families seeking to enroll their children in richland ones 2016. 2017. Pre to apply online. A li will be placed on the districts website at richland one dot org when enrollment opens on march first. But parents must first attend an information meeting to provide documentation and to schedule a screening for your child. The last meeting to attend is today at Ac Flora High School at six pm. The american chocolate maker mars is announcing a recall in 55 countries. The recall includes millions of mars, snickers and milky way chocolate bars produced in the netherlands. The company says. Mars, snickers and milky way bars with best before dates between june and october 2016 should not be eaten. Celebration and variety candy packs are also being recalled. Now lets turn things over to eric for a look at whats making headlines in hollywood. Reporter erin andrews is civil filing a lawsuit that is expected to take two weeks. The 75milliondollar suit is against the nashville 2008. Michael David Barrett booked a room next to andrews in the hotel and recorded her through a room door peephole. Andrews is now suing the hotel and its managers who she claims gave her room number to barrett and let him book a room next to her. The suit claims invasion of privacy and infliction of emotional distress. The Raleigh Police union is not boycotting beyonces upcoming concert. After her super bowl halftime act and new video. Some unions are saying they contain anti police messages. But multiple Media Outlets report that the Raleigh Police protective association took a unanimous vote not to boycott the concert in a meeting last night. Beyonce is scheduled to perform in raleigh on may third. And a house of cards portrait is going on display at the Smithsonian National portrait gallery. The new portrait features Actor Kevin Spacey in his role as president Frank Underwood in the television series. House of cards is a popular netflix drama dealing with the dark side of politics in washington dc. The image will hang in the still to come. Were spreading the act of kindness for your hump day. And giving you a reason to put others before yourself. Next in your day in history. From main and gervais. 33 lets check out the day in history. Marbury vs. Madison establishes judicial review in help in 1836president Andrew Johnson is impeached in 1868 today is. National tortilla chip day. And 33 inconvenience yourself day33 thats all the time that we have for the first hour of good morning columbia. But were coming right back. So be sure to stay with us. Gervais. Good morning columbia. Today is wednesday, february 24. We may be in store for more than wet roads for that morning commute. Were tracking the threat of Severe Weather. Plus its another win for donald trump. Were taking a look at the results from the nevada caucus as the gop president ial hopefuls turn their attention to super tuesday. And the democratic president ial hopefuls a a throwing their support behind the president. Bay. Good morning, columbia starts right now. Captioning provided by caption associates, llc www. Captionassociates. Com. Eric were glad you are starting your wednesday withs. Good morning, columbia. Im eric weisfeld. Rochelle and im rochelle dean. Were live from main and gervais. The times now 6 00. Eric you want to pay attention, it could be a rocky day in the world of weather. Rochelle we have nasty weather coming at us. As i came in, the roads were dry. Thing are going to get worse before they are better. Lets turn things over to meteorologist Jonathan Kennedy on the weather he has been tracking. Jonathan we do have some pretty strong storms to our south at the moment. We are seeing rain spread over the localized area as well. Lets look at the satellite and radar, we are seeing more rain notice how impressive it is, it is slightly slowing down as it comes closer to home in the columbia metro which is good news. We were looking at heavy rain, we saw a nice cell to our south and southwest into edgewood county, that cell right there, that will be what we will be watching over the next little bit. It has a lot of strong, heavy winds within that system there. Looking at the current radar, zooming in on that area, there is a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for aiken and edgeville county just to the south of it, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning until 6 30 or aiken and no immediate problem. Warm air pushes in from the south, that will fuel more of the storms, that is what makes more, quote, unquote, impressive storms. As the warm front pushes through that will give us a better chance of seeing strong storms and possibly severe storms at that. Looking at the rain encompassing the entire map, whether you are out toward tennessee, georgia, alabama, it is slowing down but there is a cold front, that ills the primary of concern, several tornado watches, pretty much along the line but only in georgia. No tornado threat for us as of right now. No watches or warnings out, but a lot of it will stay to the south, the system does have a strong tornadic history, considering we saw 3 dozen last night. Carolina, myrtle beach, towards the p. D. , some stormy conditions for us as well. Dont let your guard down at any point. We will see temperatures cool down significantly tomorrow, well be in the upper 50s, much calmer and sunnier forecast after a very unsettled week that will come to a climax. Eric we will need calm conditions. Rochelle thanks, jonathan. Eric we are looking for calm conditions. Rochelle still good news, no trouble spots to report in and around the capital city. We are keeping our eyes on the road, if anything changes we will pass it along to you. Rochelle abc columbia wants to help you jump start your day. Eric we have a quick rundown of your top morning headlines. Severe weather is sweeping the deep south. The National Weather service has confirmed reports of tornadoes in louisiana, mississippi, alabama and florida. 8rochelle at least seven hit southeat louisiana and southwest people have been killed. This is the system that meteorologist Jonathan Kennedy has been tracking throughout the morning. Stay with abc columbia for the latest and any Severe Weather updates. Rochelle turning our attention to vote 2016, donald trump is taking home an