carolina cld see more snow than what we do here. thetime period for ushere roads could get slick is sunday nit. that's when that storm system, the main part of it will get clos enough to us and make its way up by oean city and delaware a then race on for theward. it is really ing to be intense when it gets to neengland. i-8 i-64, could t a little sting. especial west and south. and then tomorw morning, we' see plenty of clouds across the ea but we'll tk more about this system inmounts that are expect throughout the are as well as down to the deep south. atanta. raleigh. ags head. all those areas cld get a white christmas. not us here. >> all right. we'll se you in a bit. >> speaking of the weatr in the south, delta airlines has caeled 500 flights ound the country because of the weather expected. that incdes 300 flights for tomorrow out of hartsfid airpo. delta says it will allow passengrs impacted by the snow to make one-time change whout any extra charge that includes people flngn or out of washington and baltimore on the 26th and 27th. delta ys customs shod check their flights bere they go t the airport. and air tra airwaysis cancelingself flights out of atlantic. a spokesperson says travers traveling tseveral eastcoast airports can make one-time change withou penties. that includes travelers to and from the baltimore-washington airport throu december 27th. you ca make a chan as long as your new flight completed withinhreedays of your original booking. and hundredsof fights were anceled in europe thanks a christmas eve snowstorm there. in paris' main airport, so much snow collected on the roof of a major terminal that the passengers were rshed o of the tminal in case the roof had ollapsed. 400 flightwere canceled there in ireland and dublin, more than 40,000 passgers were delayed or strand when theirflight were canled. there was a bitof good news out ondon's heath r airport. the runways are now clea a secutycare on president ama's first day of christmas vacation in hawaii. a man who was allegedly on the run from plice drove right through a secret service check point. this happenedesterday in kahlua. leon rodriguez is accused of violating the secret service safety one. the agents sprined toward his pickup truck an pointed a gun at the dver. the suspect wllegedly trying to esca polce after an unrelated incident. rodriguez w arsted. there was no teat to the first family. the transportion security agency issued new warnin about insulated beverage containers. official say there is some intelligence indicang terrorist may use the containers to concl plosis. they are warning toxpect greater scrutiny of thermoses and other insulated items. they aren't banned but they could lead to addition screening and extra tim security gets tght in rome aft mail bombs expled at the swiss and chilean embassi there. asrowds gathered at the vatican, authorities are ncerned anarchists may be tarting touris. >> reporter: tns of thousands are expected in st. peter's square throughout t day. police are extranervou after explosions in the embassies of switrland and chile. two people were injured when they open packages in the mail room. surgeons remove iron from the ct of one. italian archists cla reponsibility. what do they want? >> to create ise, to grab headlines. to s we're here and we c strike wherever and however we want. >> reporter: they are milar to bombs used in 14 attacks last month in greece after ose attacks greek militants called on other groups to step up their actions. police bamed anarchists for tuning a peaceful student prtest against univerty reform intoiolent clashes. analysts don't believe there is an inteational anarchi movent. just more violent groups feeng ff each other. in rome day, oicials say urists are safe. tonight, 50,000hristians are expected to craminto st. peter' square to hear midnight mass. a message of peace and good will hopefully hea around the world. martin fletcher,bcnews. secury is bei stepped up in bethlehem, too. here's a live loo at what's happening there. 90,000 people are gatring there for midnight mass. th patrich is among them. that is a live picture of midnight mass underway right now in bethlehe two people are dead and five others hurt in an early morning crash. policesay this happed after a machine i va hit some tire debris on the tractor-tiler. you see the man in the van got out. he was hit by another minivan. theriver of that second veicle was then hit both men were pronounced dead at the scene. half the southbound lanes were closed. the traff was not seriously impacted. >> a -year-old wan was fighting for he life after getting hit by a car in northeast waington. this happened about 9:00 in the 1200 block of brentwood roa t victim was trying to cross the street when she was hit. no word on if the driver will face anyharges. ashley linder joins us with a look at he roads. >> reporter:e've had a couple of fender bend herbsut mre it'seen tience in paing lots. he, no exception. capital beltwa headed away from us, passing 210. then into alexandria. a ve healt rate of speed. on the opposite sidef the beltway, same story. no pblems past rer road. if you travel pasthe boulevard, you'll fin things areide open. ou of virgini 95, 66, 395. pretty muc you name it. no big signs of trble. do keep in mind the hovill be headedn the southbnd direction. no prlems t rert along oute 1 as well. >> it turned out to be a prety good day foroliday travel. re's a live look at rean national airport where no major lays have bee reported. t collins spent the y with ople who traveled by plane, train and automobile toake it hom for t lidays. >> reporter: $5. ♪ i'll beome for christmas ♪ you can plan on me reporter: at that informal ong distance expre bus stop downtown, the home ward bund cross paths. i can wait to gethome to -- >>elebrate mybirthy. >> reporter: it's your bthday and it's christmas? >> yes. >> reporter:re you a christmas bab >> am. >> reporter: is tt goo or ad? >> depends. i get a loof presents. ♪ please have snow and miletoe and presents on the tre ♪ >> i can't wait to get home because we're going to go get the ugliest christmas tree we can find today. >report: and put it on. >> yeah. it will be a real charlie brown christmas. ♪ i'll be homeor christmas if only in my dream♪ >> reporter: by plane. at reagan national airport, hugs and kisses a homecomings aplenty. at is the frst thing you're goingo do when you get home? >> eat. >> reporter: what? >> my mom's coking. >> everything is cooked already. >> reporteri betou're happy to see her. >> oh,yeah. >> reporte give your m a hug. >> i alreadyid that. >> porter: lookt this light ard. on time, on time, on time, on time, on time, on time, on time, on time, onti, on time, on time. it's a christmas miracle by train. ♪ there no place like home for the holidays ♪ ♪ cause no matter how f awa ou roam ♪ >> reporter: thereere any elays or incoeniences for travers today they all seem minor. hen you're hded home, and there is familyt the finish line, all is right with the world. >> when i get home, the fit thing i'm ing to do is -- >> eat lots of italian food. >> reporter: mom is a good cook? >> a good cook. definitely. >> i'moing to give my kids a big hug and th'll be very happy for me to see them and hem to see me. ♪ for the holidays you can'tbe home sweet home ♪ >> reporte give her a kiss so here's hoping that everybody ends up wherehey're supposed o be. merry, merry, happy, happy. i'm pat collins, news4, washington. >> only pat collins can walkup to someone anday sing that, andhey doit. >> and inhat hat too. i ink it was 40 degreesout. there overesse coming up tonight, afte some massive flooding and mud slides in califora, the state could get more rain this christmas. policeant know if a body foundn arizona is linked to a former redskins cheeleader who disappeared. >> happy ristm to all and to all a good night. we'll tell you about a special ft forilitary famili who ha to spendhese holidays apart. >> what's happening in sports? a san diego state freshm running all over navy. the capitals play well but they're not into moral victories. more fom last niht's game. and kyle shanahan jump into a r of wos between the team people in southern california are trying torecover after a week ofrain. preliminary estites are in the tens o millions of dollarsnd the numbers are expecte to rise. the foding and the mudlides destroyed at least 70 homes alone in e city of highland, california. they could get moreain on christms. two actors e i a legal bale over a bp oil spillclean- deal. steen baldwin fied a federal awsuit against kevin costr in neorleans on wednesday. baldwin inveed in a company coner formed after the spill. that compa sold bp technology that sarates oil fromwater. baldwin claims he was delierately excluded fr a jun meing in whic agreed to put do an18 million dp deposi he said he sold his shares of the company, receiving just $500,000. costner has declin to comment. a gaiersburg man after being rescued from a towouse fire. broke out near north frerick road. when crews arriv, the pice officer said a neighbor believed someoneas trapped on the secd floor. the person was rescd and is in serious condition athe hospital tonight. the police officer on t scene was also tan to the hospital fo smoke inhalion. the cause of the fire is under investigation. police in las vegas are tryg to fureut if a body found by hikers yeerday could be that of former redskns cheerleader. debbie fles narvaez wento las vegas. investigators are being careful not t jumpto conclusions but this is so close to las vas has a lot of people wondering if the might be a connection a tourist spot on the state line crawling with crime scene investigators. he u.s. parkolice say visitors to lake mead und a woman's body along a dirt road alongkingman wash not far from the hoover damthursday morning. the body had been burn. th local sheriff's office had been called ino investigate but homicideetectives from las vegahave ten the lead. kingman wash isnly30 miles or so outside vegas close enough to fuel speculation that the body could be that of miing dancer debbie flores naaez. the dancer and former redskins cheerlear from maryland had been a performer in a sque burlesque shw. she went missng after leaving a rehearsal a according to her sister, going to visit her ex-boyfriend, jason iffith. she spoke toim at the doorand left. accordg to debbie's sier, he was the last person to s her alive. >> this is what she does. dancing. sh lefter career to follo her dream. and what she loves to do. >> debbie missed e show two days ter. celeste searched forer sisr shelf remainsin las vegas tonight. they are sang don't assu the discovery debbie. her friendsnd co-workers have not bn expecting a concluon. >> i am prepari for the wor. this is not her chacter. >> she is veryveryedicated to her work and she wouldn just not show up to a show, a ehearsal andot say anything to anybody. >> las vegas police saybbie's he can boyfriend son griffith ha been cooperative and has not en a suspect in the dippearce. at the same time, he is currently facing charges of assaulting her several months ago. ristmas tradition is coming to an end. the skiing santa on the potom is ready t retire. >> and the battle over who has e first christmas tree. >> sta cla made his final splash onhe potomaciver ts morning. st.nick traded in his sleigh r water skis. it is an annua evet. it dew a big crowd. >> welcome, everybody. 25 years! >> reporter: a big anversary for an id that started small. started with a party 25 yea ago. yes, there was obably too much reindeerjuice. nd what happened was basally, i got the short straw. we thoug this would be a funny idea. >> reporter: there were just a few boats on theanks of the potomac. nothing like the crowds that come to national harbor no preparation and lots of layers. the wter temperature around 33 degrees. >> i have my ho chilly, another long sleeve shirt, and then another thick swtshirt and i have this. i have put the reieer shirt on. >> what ist like in the river? >> imagine diving into a big snow le. >> reporter: why do it? >> for thefun of it and to give back to the communicate. to bring joy to the world. >> a great way to kick offhe holidays and great for the family and everyone gs tonjoy it. >> i really fe like it has been a wonderful jouey. we've had agreat time as we've developed the sw and it s evolved. it is something we alleally enjoy doing. and will say, allow, it is bitter sweet. i'm looking forward t my reirement. >> reporter: though there's one last wlk to e water with rolph and one last show despite the best efforts of a jetkiing grinc there are help in acrobatics, reindeerthe star of the show. >> i a jet skier. i usual jet ski in the suer time. really admire these guys. >> reporter: ang crowd, brian who is celebrating a birthday. >> we're having a good time. >> reporter:re youcold? >> yes. >> reporter: as fun a this is and howxhilaating it must be, santa says this is his last year doing it. after 25 years, time to hang up he skis. what's next for the mann the red suit? >> i'll be under aalm tree. >> i don'tlame you. >> sowhere much warm. >> it makes you cold watching hi do that. >> soe're kind of dodging the big onwill. >> yeah. what's interting, there will be some rare sow down south. i can't wait to see whether the video comes in. it is moving that direction. spots lying nags head, kill devilills to get snow out. arod re and even nashville, tennessee. if there was any one time perio where we would have toworry a ttleboutoads getting slick, that would be sunday night. let's tk about what's been going ontoday. folks try to get some exercise. even the four-legged guys before christmas dinner comes around. this is the trail ofalls church. great fas street. theoggers and walkers. out the where we had a little windtoday. not near as much as what we had yesterday. we started out wth sunshin me clouds have been rolling n. the high temperature today, 4 e fact is yet another day with high below the average. the average today, 45 degrees. infact, we've only h tee days this month wit a high at or ave average. only three. it has been col and wait unil you see on the seven-day forecast what will happen n years eve. 27 degrees, t windchill reading. otherocatio from mclean at 32. 34, la plata. saint marys, calvert county, too. windchil in the mid upper 20s. look at milwaukee, wisconsin. 31, the temperare. 24, thewindchill wth sow moving through. leesburg,e'reat 32 and dulles rport, 32 degrees. we'll look at airport delays as wellin a few minutes. winter storm watch forest virginia. clarksburg down toward rnoke could see betwe one and three ches of snow. there is th white stuff. mwaukee, icago, springville, illino, through louisville, kentucky. where the win storm wches and advories are up in claville on the northern side of tennessee gting se mixed precip. ain, down aund the outer banks, north carolina right here where that stormsystem is going to start to strethen. it has been going to today. hence the thunderstorms around dallas texas. there's the adviso. so rome, georgia could see litt. the outer banks and what we're going to see here is think, just the flurries coming through. theve started canceling flights in atlant st. louis could hav some problem and that's out it where there will be probms tonight forheext couple hou. 32 degrees right now in st. loui 28 degrees in icago. so there's sme cold pair will continue funnel in for our area. we'll go from som brzy conditions that we've had tday to, again, a much lighter nd. here's a look at the next 48 hours. the snow com through. we'll get a dusting to an inc by late sunday. coaal communities like ocean cit and down around rehoe both could get more th an in. travel problem 32o 37 by tomorrow morning. we'll b starng without temperatures from 20o 26 degrees. then the high temperatu tomorrow, coudyconditions, theyve to 37. so flurries mainlyest and south, i-64, i-81. a littleusting comes through on sundayo maybe an inch between 2:00 p.m. and about 1: a.m. monday morning. we're left wit a lot of wind behin the storm. and again, what wil happen on new years eve, we'll warm up a little bit. the exnded forecast ia little bit. >> plowed out from downsow? >> o yeah. they'r not expecting much. >> enough to cause oblems. coming , some b stores will rain open for those last minuteshoppes. >> some military families have the sound of their loved ones' voice with them even if they're serving abroad. >> and chstmas came early for somtroops in iraq reporter: i'm tom srwood. wonderi what to doith the relativeand friends from out of town? you have the magical place to go it is and open chrimas day. i' have the story. > coming up in sports, redskins' ofensive coordinator kyle shanahan reonds to frark donovan mcnabb's agents. the capitals played ver wel against t penguins. but the didn'seal the deal. riñ breaking news out of las vegas. police noway a woman body found yesteay in arina is not that of th former redskins cheerleader debbielores rvaez who worked as a dancer at a las vegas casin >> the eholidayhopping season is coming to a close. this season is one of the st ever. according to a rortrom mastercard. onli shopping is up 15.4% from last year. and there were six da ere shopper spent more than $1 billion. that's up fm 3 last year. they're still out there spending. >> rerter: on th christmas e, many people found themsves doing what they d t want to do shop for last-minute gifts. >> we always say wll never be re but we like the camaraderie. >> i wish ididn't have to do it but i have a lot of st-minute shopping to do. >> work. >> reporter: some are calling thantastic fiday since christmasalls on a turday this yer, many have off work today so they have timto hit the malls. are you finding things you're looking f are basically ne? >> a lot of stuff that's not the. we're looking for inspiration. it is hard find. >> what do y dobout it being outere day? >> cd. >> reporter: for retailers, it is fantastic, oo. holiday sales are expected to reach more an $450 blion. more than a 3% increase over last year. >> throwing awaymoney likewe did in the early 20 now y have to actuay wat how you spd the money and where you spend the money and get a bigger bang for your buck. >>re you spending more or differentl ny christmas eve shop hers done the bulk of their buying. they're getting stocking stuers and trinkets. >> you can get innd out. i g here eay. i'm finished d on my way out. >> pro procrainato walked away empty handed. maybe i'll come back lat. >> how bad we they? >they were about 25, 30 pele in lined. >> it's notorthit. many retailers remained open including toys are us stores. many will stay open unt 10:00 night. darcy spencer, news4. >> as darcy mentioned, if you have a couple ting you need to pick up, there are a few sources of extended urs. both walmar and target will keep their doors open until 8:00. toys "r" us and kmart are open until 10:00 for stocking stuffers. cvs and wall greens will be open until 10:00. if you're really despate, most 7-elevenocatio are open 24 hours. >> yes! american troops fighting verseas celebrated criminal a day early. at the military base, they decorat christmas trs and troops sat down for a trational christmas dinner. he big man himself, santa, even stpped by to deliver presents and ta some picturful for one soldier onhe base, being aw from her family is escially toh this year. christmas is chaenging for me personally. my father died on chrisas eve the last time i wa deplod. it is a little bit challenging for me personally but tt's why i'm gld to ad to be wi other fo. thiis one time of year you don't want to be alo. you can't be with your family, within yo family you havechen. >> all troo are scheduled to leaveraq by the end of next year. > a new program helping the tens of thousan ofservi