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CNN Sunday Morning
Snow, Bad Weather Affecting Travelers; Americans Killed in Egypt Bus Wrecks
Aired December 26, 2010 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Good Sunday morning.
We are about to have a problem. Southern states just now cleaning up from a rare white Christmas, but now, the East Coast is bracing for a blizzard, just as millions of you are trying to get back home. New York, Connecticut, Boston, D.C., Jersey, facing feet of snow, in some cases.
Hundreds of flights, as you can imagine, already cancelled, and cities are loading up the salt trucks because a lot of people hitting the roads as well. No matter if you are flying or driving back home today, you need to hear about this travel forecast. We will tell you when and exactly where this extreme weather is going to hit.
From the CNN Center, this is your CNN SUNDAY MORNING. Hope you all had a good day yesterday, many of you with your families. But thank you for being here this morning, 6:00 A.M. here in Atlanta, 2:00 P.M. in Baghdad. Wherever you may be, glad you're right here.
I'm T.J. Holmes. As always, want to welcome our troops watching on the Armed Forces Network, serving for us in Iraq and Afghanistan and all around the world. Thank you for what you do.
Let's get started.
It's about to be a doozy of a couple of days now. Blizzard warnings are up from Washington to New York to Maine. We're talking here - this isn't snow you're seeing. This is actually salt. This is going to be one of the best weapons right now that a lot of cities and places have to try to battle all the snow and ice that's going to be on the road. These are the trucks being loaded in New York City.
Meteorologists say the Boston area as well could get up to 20 inches of snow. Strong winds going to reduce visibility to near zero at times.
Now, the snow first made its way up through a lot of portions of the south. You're seeing this here. A lot of this in Chattanooga. Of course, you've got some kids out there, having a good time, but the kids don't have to drive. The drivers are struggling with this stuff.
The south, we do not get a white Christmas that often. Some people did appreciate it. But, the snow extend into neighboring North Carolina as well, where it caused problems, temperatures at or below freezing. Icing made some of those roads treacherous, as you see there.
Also, a little bit of history in Atlanta, if you will. The first significant snowfall on Christmas Day since 1882. I believe I have that right, Reynolds. Metro Atlanta saw between a half to an inch of snow, but still quite beautiful. A little treacherous this morning in some places with the road, but, for the most part, didn't cause huge problems.
More snow in the northern parts of Georgia. Snow, ice made the - the State Department of Transportation post travel advisories.
Now, speaking of travel, look at this. Look at what this is doing now to airline travel. American Airlines says it will cancel up to half of its flights in and out of key airports in the path of this storm. Continental has cancelled about 200 domestic flights.
It all started on Christmas Day. Of course, you'll remember, Delta, just preemptively, they cancelled some 500 flights to get ready for this predicted storm, which certainly did come. About 300 of those flights they cancelled were into and out of Atlanta, which, of course, is the nation's busiest airport. It predicts some more cancellations today.
Also, take a look at this. The Orbitz website, a lot of people use this to try to track activity out there. You see all these flags they have up at different airports around the country. The only red flag they have right now is on Atlanta, and that means there are delays incoming and outgoing flights right now. We do expect to have not just green flags, but more of those red flags, probably, throughout the day up and down the East Coast.
Now, let's get to the guy you need to be hearing from, Reynolds Wolf standing by here. This storm is a-coming, and it - you know, these happen, you know?
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Absolutely.
HOLMES: That's the timing of it right now, when millions are trying to get back home.
WOLF: Well, that's the key thing. You know, you're a perspective guy. You love perspective, and folks, I have to tell you that - that these storms have happened before. We've had more potent storms (INAUDIBLE) affected the eastern seaboard before. So, in terms of the sheer strength, this storm is - is not as bad as others have been.
But the key element that we have with this is the sheer timing of it. In some ways, it's good, other ways, it's bad. The way that it happens to be good, a lot of people today don't happen to be traveling. A lot of people, though, later on this afternoon and into tomorrow are going to be trying to get out and about, and they're going to have a very tough time, that tough time caused by this storm system.
It is not a classic nor'easter just yet, but it is beginning to ramp up, and it's ramping up by bringing some heavy snowfall to parts of the Carolinas. Driving now along parts of 85, an impossibility. Right along the coast, heavy rain. Some showers and thunderstorms. In Nags Head, you're talking about some heavy thunderstorms, back, out to the west, it is all snowfall, and more is on the way.
In terms of what you can anticipate, we already have watches and warnings that are decorating the - the eastern seaboard, in fact, from Charlotte back over to Richmond, even in Virginia Beach we have winter storm warnings that currently affect even the nation's capital. We've got the possibility of having some snowfall, anywhere from six to 10 inches of snowfall.
Farther up the chain we go, over into Philadelphia. You may see some of the same, about six to 10. Some of the suburbs may get a - get a bit more, but we're now seeing (ph) the maps going from purple to pink to red. Where you happen to have red, those are your blizzard warnings where we're going to have not only some heavy snow, Avenue of the Americas could get up to a foot of snow on the streets today.
And then when you have winds really (INAUDIBLE) intensify, you could have some winds gust topping 55 miles an hour. So whiteout condition's a possibility in places where you have tree-lined streets back on Long Island, you get really no obstruction for the wind, some of the trees could topple. Widespread power outages are going to be an issue.
Farther north we go, we're talking about the possibility of getting a foot of snowfall in New York. In Boston, our friends in Boston may see anywhere from 16 to 20 inches of snowfall. Back over towards the Berkshires, T.J., we could see even more.
Let's talk about tower cams, so let's show you what we can see out there. We've been talking about what you have been seeing here on the maps. You take a look at this particular shot, that shot happens to be Boston. All is dark for the time being. Later on today, people may be heading out to Boston Common, going to the Frog Pond, it may be frozen over, and you might be seeing the snow come down.
Philadelphia, the same thing. In the South City you could be seeing the snow coming down quite a bit also by the naval yard. Some of the snow could be coming down in sheets. The most intense time for Philadelphia, possibly late afternoon into the evening. For Boston, I would say it's going to be tomorrow morning through noon where they could really get pummeled.
And, T.J., as I just mentioned, it's not just going to be in terms of snow. The wind is going to be a huge issue. And along the coast, we could see some very big waves. I mean, Nags Head and Nantucket, it could be a very, very tough time, to a lot of beach erosion there.
That's the latest, T.J. Full plate weather-wise on a weekend. No surprise. Let's get back to you.
HOLMES: Yes. And again, we just talked about the timing here. A lot of folks - we're talking about how many people are always focusing on the flights, but we've got 85.5 million folks - that's the estimate - who are going to be traveling at least 50 miles up from home over the holidays. So, for the most part, a lot of you are out there driving.
The roads are going to be treacherous as well, but we will be focusing on roads, also focusing on air travel. And we're going to be checking in with Reynolds every 15 minutes this morning. It is going to be an ever-changing weather situation, like he just started up telling you there. He continues to update his maps and the forecast. So, again, we're going to be checking with him every 15 minutes.
This morning you will have the very latest on the storm's path, the flight delays, everything you need to know with so many of you trying to get back home. And also, your loved ones trying to get back home as well, concerned about them. So please, stay with us this morning.
Well, it's seven minutes past the hour now. News coming to us out of Egypt that at least eight Americans have been killed, eight American tourists in an accident. We'll have those details coming up. A live report is next.
Stay with us on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LANCE CPL. CHRIS CONTRERAS, U.S. MARINE CORPS: Hello. This is Lance Corporal Chris Contreras out of Kabul, Afghanistan. I just want to wish all my friends and family in Ulysses, Kansas a happy holidays.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, at nine minutes past the hour now.
I want to tell you about this breaking story we're getting out of Egypt this morning. Eight Americans dead, another 19 hurt after their tour bus crashed.
It's a popular tourist spot along the Nile River where they were this morning, and our CNN producer Christine Theodorou on the phone with us now.
Christine, if you can, describe for our viewers exactly where this is and how this happened.
CHRISTINE THEODOROU, CNN PRODUCER: Hello, T.J.
Yes, a very tragic incident in Southern Egypt today, eight U.S. citizens killed in a - in a bus crash, as - as you mentioned, six of those women, two are men. This occurred in Aswan, Egypt, 620 miles south of Cairo, a very scenic destination known for its Nubian past, sometimes described as the gateway to Africa.
The Nile River, as you mentioned, cuts through the area, and there are boulders of granite that stud portions of the river. A very tropical feel to it, and the riverside, known as the Cornice (ph), now has many hotels and restaurants, which attract many American tourists to the area.
HOLMES: Now, how many Americans were traveling together? And, again, how did the bus exactly crash? Describe the terrain.
Oftentimes, we see, unfortunately, this happens every once in a while. We hear about tour bus crashes, with some pretty treacherous terrain it's trying to get around. Just how did this happen?
THEODOROU: All together, there were 116 Americans, part of the three-bus tour. Now, it was the middle bus carrying 37 people that crashed into a parked truck loaded with sand, and that's all the information that we have regarding the accident. We don't know exactly what caused the bus to veer off the road and crash into this parked truck. And all of this information is coming from Egypt's Interior Ministry.
Now, the embassy of the United States - the U.S. embassy in Cairo just released a statement saying that they're deeply saddened by the traffic accident. They've confirmed that the injured are being moved by military transport to Cairo. They've mobilized staff to identify and to assist those Americans involved.
They don't have specific information to release at this time regarding any individual that may have been involved in the accident, but they have provided a phone number on their website and on their Facebook page for people that may have questions or concerns, to put them in touch with embassy staff to help them.
HOLMES: All right. We need to get our hands on that number. I know a lot of our viewers might be curious about this right now and might have loved ones traveling in the area. So we'll definitely, to our viewers, get that up.
And, again, it sounds like, Christine, you said not releasing any individual names or anything. So we - we really, at this point, don't know where this group might have been from in the states.
THEODOROU: No. We - we don't know at this point.
All we know about Egypt right now is that it has its share of bad roads. There's speeding incidents, there's low traffic enforcement, and of course there's been a marked increase in the number of tourists killed in car and bus related accidents in Egypt in the past few years.
The last published statistics that we can get our hands on are from the WHO, and they placed the yearly - the annual death toll from traffic related incidents at 16,000 people killed in Egypt.
HOLMES: Wow.
THEODOROU: That's - those are high numbers.
HOLMES: All right. Christine Theodorou, our CNN producer, on the line with us.
Again, eight Americans killed in a tour bus crash in Egypt. Again, Aswan is the area, tourist area. But trying to get more details.
Christine, we appreciate you this morning. Thanks so much.
We will continue to follow up. And also to our viewers, we're going to try to get that number for you as well, for Americans who are concerned, possibly, here, a number that the State Department, she said, has set up if you have any questions.
Only 13 minutes past the hour now. We'll continue to follow what is a developing weather situation.
You have a nor'easter that - nor'easter that is making its way right now that is going to be causing problems. New York, New England, we are talking about over a foot of snow in some places, zero visibility. That's going to be causing fits for millions of people who are trying to make their way back home after the holiday.
Stick around.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Welcome back. We are about a quarter past the hour here on this day after Christmas.
And it is going to be a doozy of a day for millions of people trying to travel, trying to get back home after the holiday, a blizzard warning in effect for New York City, for the whole metro area there. The city's Sanitation Department standing at the ready right now with tons of salt to put on the roads. They have all the snow plows ready. A foot or more of snow in the forecast between now and sometime over the next 24 to 48 hours.
Reynolds Wolf, we told you he is going to be with us. He's going to be checking in with you every 15 minutes. It's that critical, that important. A lot of people getting up, turn the TV on, worried about their loved ones or themselves.
WOLF: Absolutely.
HOLMES: Worried if they need to eat and go to the airport.
WOLF: Yes, I know. It's going to be one of those days you're going to be pique your poise. I mean, you're either stuck at home or you go to the airport and stuck there.
HOLMES: Stuck there.
WOLF: I'm just telling (ph) you, it's very minimal movement. Good side to this is a lot of people who are celebrating the holiday happen to be home, and you have a lot of leftovers. Thanks heaven because you're not going to be going out and about.
HOLMES: Wow.
WOLF: If you don't have to get out, by all means, don't even bother. And we're talking about, you know, roads, trying to get to your - any train tracks. A lot of the trains, T.J., where the center rail happens to be, covered by snow, which certainly a possibility. With over a foot of snow expected for parts of northeast, those trains are going to be inoperable. The ones that are underground should be picture perfect. Many of those in the D.C. area should be fine. But still, it's not just the snow either. It's also going to be some crosswinds.
Let's walk over and show you one of the big issues. T.J., are you surprised? Check out the expected delay. For all your airports in New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and, of course, the cumulative effect you're going to have in Atlanta. Delays expected today in excess of an hour. Some flights altogether cancelled. It is going to be a huge mess, and there's really no one to blame except for Mother Nature.
We're going to be seeing this area of low pressure really begin to ramp up. Right now, we've got some heavy snowfall in places like I-85, right along parts of the Outer Banks. It's mainly a rain action for the time being. But as the cold air filters in right behind it, we see that snow really begin to pile up in places like Virginia Beach. Eventually in Washington, D.C., maybe six to 10 inches of snowfall; in Philadelphia, same deal; but New York, possibly over a foot. And then in terms of your snowfall totals in Boston by tomorrow afternoon and evening, T.J., we're looking at the possibility of 16 to 20 inches of snowfall on Boston Commons all the way out to the Berkshires.
Back to you.
HOLMES: And very important, I'm glad you did it, Reynolds. We often talk about people driving and also people flying, but a lot of people hopping on those trains as well.
WOLF: Absolutely.
HOLMES: A lot of people. All right. Reynolds, we appreciate you. And, again, folks, need to let you know we are not going to be too far away from Reynolds at any point this morning. We're checking in with him every 15 minutes. This is a developing weather situation. He'll continue to give you the updates whether it's about your flights, your trains, those roads, whatever it may be. So stay here with us.
It's 17 minutes past the hour on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: About 20 minutes past the hour now on the CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
A bunch of teachers decided to put on a show for their students. The results - well, you'll see them now. Josh Levs has them for us. JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes.
HOLMES: This one went viral along with some other things.
LEVS: This is great. I mean, shout out to some teachers who just showed an incredible level of coolness here. Let's go right to this video.
There are some teachers who always wanted to be in a flash mob. And this is at a Timberline High school in Lacey, Washington. So when they have this (INAUDIBLE) like right before the break, a couple of teachers got out. They started dancing to Journey's "Don't Stop Believing." Then all of these other teachers - basically the entire faculty came out and joined them.
Let's skip to the next section of the video now. We're going to watch it.
The kids were screaming so loud, you could barely even hear the music there. But these teachers got some moves. They worked on it secretly. Now, millions of people are watching it online. Good for them.
Let me show you a few more holiday oriented videos you guys are going to love. This is probably the best Christmas lights display in the world set to music. This is out of Perth in Australia. Listen in. Good for them - 65,000 lights synced up to Christmas songs there. There's one way people celebrate.
Here's another way, with alcohol. Take a look at this new way to get beer in a cup. It's called bottoms up. You stick it on there, the beer fills from the bottom. It involves this Food and Drug approved magnet that goes in there from GrinOn Industries. People go wild over this online. Very impressive.
And, finally, I'm checking my mail. What do I have but a DVD from the folks at JibJab? So thanks, folks at JibJab. Take a look here. Here's us. The holiday rock. I'm in there. Fredricka Whitfield, Reynolds Wolf, T.J.'s in there playing on the guitar. And, of course, you can always make your own JibJab. Just go to JibJab.com, stick in a few faces. You're all set. Looking very cool.
As always, all the links are posted for you at my Facebook page, Facebook.com/JoshLevsCNN.
And, T.J., I'll be back a little later in the show with websites to help people who might need to travel today, whether by road, train, bus, plane, we're going to show you some tools to get through your morning.
HOLMES: Well, the Lord knows they are going to need it today of all times. Josh, we appreciate you.
LEVS: Yes.
HOLMES: We'll talk to you again shortly. LEVS: Sure.
HOLMES: Well, a lot of people still getting over Christmas yesterday. But you need to be thinking about something else right around the corner - taxes. The tax deadline is coming up. Still some months away, but still there are some big changes at the IRS, going to affect a whole lot of people and could be good news for some of you procrastinators actually.
Twenty-two minutes past the hour on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Twenty-four minutes past the hour.
Reminder, we're checking in with our meteorologist Reynolds Wolf every 15 minutes here, so he's coming up in just a few minutes giving you an update about a huge nor'easter that is going to cause a travel headache for you. If you're trying to take a plane, a train or an automobile back home after the holidays, just the timing of this storm couldn't be worse for a lot of folks. So we'll check in with him again in just a minute.
Meanwhile, so it's been an already tough year for millions of folks. Millions of Americans now are going to have to wait even longer for their tax refunds that they may have been looking forward to. The problem here, the people who itemize on their federal tax returns going to have to wait until at least mid-February to file. That will, of course, cause a delay if you need your refund.
The Tax Compromise Bill the president signed last week, because of that, the IRS now says it needs time to reprogram its systems to accommodate late changes in the tax law.
Meanwhile, stockholders look like they got what they wanted for Christmas. The market ended on a high note before the holiday break, but New Year means good-bye to the old way of receiving social security.
CNN business correspondent Alison Kosik, Stephanie Elam and Poppy Harlow have much more. We start in New York with Alison.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, T.J.
The stock market was closed Friday for the Christmas weekend but did reach the highest levels in more than two years. Investors were encouraged by a report showing the economy grew at a 2.6 percent pace in the third quarter. That compares to the 1.7 percent pace in the second quarter. And analysts expect the growth rate to improve this quarter and through next year. But two new housing reports were a stark reminder that challenges remain, both existing and new home sales are down at least 20 percent from last year.
The U.S. government slapped Toyota with $32 million in fines this week for mishandling a series of high profile recalls this year. That's the maximum allowed by law. But it's a drop in the bucket for a multi-billion dollar company like Toyota - Stephanie.
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Alison.
Also making headlines this week, big changes to social security. The traditional paper checks, they're being phased out. So if you apply for benefits after May 1st next year, the money will be deposited directly into your account. And if you're a current social security recipient, your deadline is March 1, 2013. That's the cutoff for setting up direct deposit.
But if you're over 90, don't worry about it. You're exempt. The move is expected to save $1 billion over the next 10 years.
And finally, one in seven Americans are now relying on food stamps to get by. That means 43 million people are receiving the benefit, up 16 percent from last year. Analysts blame the high unemployment rate - Poppy.
POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: Thanks so much, Steph.
Investors will be closing the books on 2010 this coming week with plenty to celebrate. The major averages all on track to post double digit gains for the year. But before the final numbers are tallied, we'll get readings on both home prices and on the job market, two of the weakest parts of our economy.
And finally, holiday shopping may be over, but the rush to the mall certainly is not. Crowds will still be at peak levels as many of us return unwanted gifts and start to buy stuff with the gift cards that we get on Christmas. Stores like Target and JCPenney are opening their doors at 7:00 A.M. on December 26.
Back to you, T.J.
HOLMES: All right. Thanks to Poppy, Alison, and Stephanie this morning.
Coming up on the bottom of the hour, we've been telling you about this big storm system that is making its way north. It already dumped several inches of snow in some places in Tennessee and as far south as Atlanta. But today is one of those days, tomorrow will be as well, that so many people are trying to get back home after the holidays. That is going to prove treacherous and doggone near impossible for a lot of folks.
Stick around. Reynolds coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Bottom of the hour here now. Welcome back to this CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm T.J. Holmes. Reynolds Wolf is standing by. We'll check with him in just a matter of seconds about this weather situation.
We're talking about blizzard warnings are up from Washington to New York City to Maine. What you're seeing in this picture here, that's not snow piled up. The snow is coming. That is salt. They're going to be used to fight all this snow.
It's being loaded up onto trucks in New York in anticipation of in some places really -- we're talking about a foot or more of snow. Boston in particular, we're talking about 20 inches possibly of snow there. Strong winds will come along with this, which, of course, will reduce visibility to near zero even at times.
So air travel, a lot of people have concerns, this is what we're dealing with right now and this situation is going to change and most likely going to get worse. American Airlines says it will cancel up to half of its flights in and out of key airports in the path of this storm.
Continental and its partner United, they've already cancelled about 250 domestic flights. This all started on Christmas Day. Delta was looking ahead. They pre-emptively dropped 500 flights trying to get ready for this storm.
And 300 of those were into and out of Atlanta, the busiest airport in this country. Now they're predicting some more cancellations today. Check in now.
Reynolds, where are we? You described this earlier perfectly to me, a bowling ball effect.
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It is a bowling ball effect and the first of the pins we're going to be hitting will be really the Washington, D.C. area. One thing we're going to be seeing with this is not just the snow, but it's going to be widespread power outages.
To our friends who are tuning in there, if you lose power and you're able to tune us in through satellite radio, we're going to be there for you. So for more information, we'll be helping you guide through the storm.
The situation as this thing is rolling its way up the eastern seaboard. It's going to interact with more cold air. It's going to have plenty of moisture from the Atlantic. So it's all going to be coming together to give us a potent nor'easter.
Now, is it the strongest one we've seen in history? Absolutely not, the timing of this storm is just ridiculous with many people trying to get home, especially today and tomorrow, and of course, some people on Tuesday, it's going to be tough.
The thing we're seeing right now along the coast, scattered showers and storms from Charleston to the Citadel northward all the way to Nagshead. We've scattered showers and storms. So when you get to the mountains, take a look at that. Even on parts of the coastal plains, we've got some snow coming down in the Carolinas.
Many of these places could see 4 to 8 inches of snowfall and the farther north we go, we're going to see more of those watches and warnings. Notice for the while here, you're noticing some pinks and some purples. Those are your warnings and advisories. Then as we head up, we're going to see those colors extending in a few places, but then all of a sudden. Watch this, we're seeing red up there. What does that red stand for? That red is where we have blizzard warnings that are going to be in effect.
When it comes to a blizzard, you don't need a single bit of snowfall. A blizzard is primarily a wind event, but in this situation we're going to have plenty of snow on the ground. Some spots could get up to 16 inches of snowfall, especially in exposed areas of Long Island, back in New York where the winds could be very strong, especially as they pass through those buildings in those downtown areas.
You could have wind gusts topping 60, 70 miles an hour. Driving is going to be next to impossible along 459. Just trying to get to the airport is going to be a mess. Don't even bother going to some of airports because we're going to have those widespread delays.
And then as we make our way towards Boston, this where the areas where we could have some of the heaviest snow anywhere from 16 to 20 inches, maybe even heavier amounts back towards the Berkshires. If you're making that drive on the turn pike, it could be just a nightmare for you.
Our friends in Maine, same situation. So as we have this out towards the east, out towards the west, we've got the right hook coming in or I guess you could say the left hook. We've got the scattered showers along the coast, but in the high coastal plains, get into the high coastal range as we could see some snowfall and back into portions of the Sierra Nevada and back into the central Rockies even.
Looks like it's going to be picking up there through a good part of Sunday so both coasts being affected, but right now, T.J., it is all east coast getting the brunt of it. Looks like it's going to continue at least through the late afternoon, maybe even the early evening on Monday, but then again, the clean-up issues, that could last through a good part of the week. Back to you.
HOLMES: Like you said, and again, always perspective. We see these. These happen every winter almost. You get a couple of these even, but the timing right now when everybody is trying to get home is tricky. Reynolds, we appreciate you and to let you know Reynolds is not going to be too far at any point.
We're checking in with him every 15 minutes this morning for the very latest. This gives you an idea, as we look down at Centennial Olympic Park, just across the way from where we are at CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta. You see that snow on the ground?
It's made some neighborhoods at least a little treacherous to try to navigate. Most of the main roads are OK, but still we saw at Christmas here some measure snow in Atlanta for the first time and having a White Christmas for the first time really since back in 1882.
We go from that picture here in Atlanta here in the south to a much different picture in Hawaii, of course. The first family, they are there for the holidays. Inside here, of course, the weather is nice as well. But this is a bit of a tradition for the Obamas as they visit a Marine Corps base in Hawaii. We'll check in with the first family on their Christmas vacation. It's 35 minutes past the hour.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LANCE CPL. TREVOR SONNIER, U.S. MARINE CORPS: I'm Lance Corporal Trevor Sonnier here in Afghanistan. I'm from Lafayette, Louisiana. Wish everybody at home a happy holidays.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES (voice-over): It's 38 minutes past the hour. Happy holidays from the commander in chief to the troops. That's President Obama there. Also with the first lady Michelle Obama, they made an unscheduled, but not totally unexpected stop at the Marine Corps base in Hawaii yesterday. First couple extended holiday wishes to the military families who are there.
Kind of a tradition for the first family. The first couple to do this, they stopped by to visit troops during the previous two Christmas vacations.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: A lot of injured soldiers leaving the military have a pretty tough fight on their hands when they get back home. That battle, the transition back to civilian life can be pretty tough, especially during the holidays for those families. One organization doing everything they can to try to lighten this load.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIM KNOTTS, CEO, OPERATION HOMEFRONT: "Operation Homefront" is a military support nonprofit. What we do is we provide emergency financial and other assistance to the families of our service members and our wounded warriors.
Today is a really special day for us. We're actually opening a new location for what we call our "Operation Homefront Village," which really is a mini military community of wounded warriors and their families.
What we're trying to do is catch the service members who are about six months before they leave the military due to their injuries up to about two years. We provide basically cost-free living for them for that period to help them prepare financially and then make that transition successfully.
SPEC. RICHARD NEW, U.S. ARMY: Wow. I mean, I am -- sorry. I feel that this is such a big deal. I feel that I know that I'm worth it and know that she's worth it and know that our baby's worth it. It's just nice to actually find out that somebody else thinks we're worth it too. We've been staying in our RV for the last two months, and it's been really cold.
SUSAN NEW, WIFE: Where we are now, it's so small. We don't really have very many Christmas decorations up, and our little girl to have somewhere she can run around, have a Christmas tree, and just to see the outpouring of support for us, it was really overwhelming. It's just wonderful to see people caring and really helping us out.
NEW: Especially during the holidays.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: All right, 41 minutes past the hour now.
Again, we told you we're going to keep an eye on this weather situation. Reynolds Wolf, we're checking in with our meteorologist every 15 minutes. A very serious storm moving up the east coast right now, a nor'easter that is going to be causing fits for millions and millions of people trying to get back home. It's 41 minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Welcome back, 43 minutes past the hour now. We're going to be talking about New York today. We're going to be talking about New York for the next couple of days.
We know that millions and millions of people are trying to make their way back home right now after the holidays. Well, a lot of people are going to have a tough time doing it. It's going to be a frustrating time because New York is one place. We are talking about a foot or more. Am I hearing this right?
WOLF: Absolutely.
HOLMES: Of snow possibly in New York City.
WOLF: In New York City. I mean, right now that's exactly what it looks is going to be the situation. New York City is going to get pummeled. Philadelphia, not so much. Farther south you go, the less snow you're going to see, but place that's really going to get hammered hard -- we don't have it up there, but it should be there. Boston, maybe 16 to 20 inches of snowfall.
HOLMES: This here is very important. A lot of people is going to be keeping a close eye on this and we're talking already we're just getting started this morning.
WOLF: We don't have the delays yet. This is what we'll really anticipate. I mean, you know, as we forecast the weather, this is what we can expect. You brought up a great point earlier this morning when you're talking about what Delta did in terms of the widespread delays. Long before the weather even came to Atlanta, before (inaudible) have already hit, they had in excess of say three hundred delays. We're already going to see the potential of that in other parts of the world. Obviously, there is the northeast, especially New York, Boston, and into Philadelphia.
Now New York is going to get hammered, but of course, right now in the Carolinas, our friends in the Tar Heel state, they're certainly seeing the snow come down along parts of 85. People making that lonely trek are going to have really a tough road in many spots.
From Virginia Beach, same story, it's all switching over to snow. You can almost see a little bit of a line separating the pink with the white. That's your freezing line. One side, you got temperatures above freezing. The other side, you got temperatures right at or below the freezing point. That precipitation is going to be all snow. Farther north you go, colder air, and with that you've got the possibility of more that come again, 4 to 8 for much of the Carolinas into Virginia.
Farther north you go, the more snow. Washington, D.C., could see anywhere from 6 to 10. Don't be surprised someone saying Georgetown about a foot of snow, certainly a possibility. We're going to see in excess of that in New York and then back into Boston, Long Island.
Parts over to Brentwood could get up to 16 inches of snowfall. With the wind, trees damaging power lines and could be without power possibly up to a week. It could be a rough time to say the least for the next couple of days, maybe even into next weekend.
HOLMES: Reynolds, again, we appreciate you. Reynolds is on it this morning. We're checking in with him every 15 minutes because this is a developing weather situation that millions of you have a stake in right now trying to get back home at some point.
So, again, every 15 minutes you're going to be hearing from Reynolds on the weather situation. Here we are, about a quarter to the hour now. It has been quite a year for us on CNN SATURDAY and SUNDAY MORNING as we started to think back some of the moments we enjoyed this year. Decided we'd like to share those with you. Those coming up in just a moment. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right, about 11 minutes to the top of the hour, Unibrows, real life Quidditch, what do all of these have in common? Well, they all made our list. These were the fun moments we had here on CNN SATURDAY and SUNDAY MORNING this year. As we wrap up this year, we thought we put a little - few of them together to share them with you now. Remember some of these?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I feel like you're really getting into this interview. Kind of making me feel good that you're feeling me right now. You know, really, he's not even looking at the note. T.J. a pro.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We were just making fun of T.J. and talking about how he came in all ready. I'm trying to make sure I got my stuff ready. Hey, today, I'm T.J. Take it away.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get a couple blood pressures on it.
HOLMES: Time for the dreaded stress test. The electrodes on my chest, hips, and legs monitor my heart rate looking for any warning signs. Radio host Tom Joyner is still at my side, and he's still got jokes.
TOM JOYNER, RADIO HOST: It's a treadmill. You're not going to be running. You're going to be walking. The problem is you're going to be walking. The problem is you're going to be like Lionel Richie, walking on the ceiling. After a while, this thing is going to raise so high.
HOLMES: This is one that has a lot of people's attention. Some spices in the cabinets, not just for cooking.
NADIA BILCHIK: Not just for cooking. In Zanzibar, an island off the west coast of Africa, what they do is take the erotic spice, the magic spice, Viagra for women, which is have a smell first. Tell me if it has any effect. That is nutmeg.
HOLMES: Wendell, am I selling this the wrong way? Should I not be saying drink as much beer as you can to help the troops? I shouldn't pitch it that way.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, man, the thing is you know fourth of July, you're going to be drinking anyway. With the high life, you can take that and give back to something very important.
HOLMES: On that last point there, you said what's necessary. The carry-on bag is necessary. I do not have a carry-on bag that will fit under the seat.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What can't you fit in here, T.J.? What can't you fit in here that you have to have on the airplane with you for two or three hours?
HOLMES: You take an overnight trip, a two-night trip, a couple pair of jeans, t-shirts, maybe a jacket. You can't fit that under and then you're asking people to fly for hours without stretching their legs out at all. That's necessary, Ben.
JOSH LEVS: As the Harry Potter movie is reaching theaters, more and more young people, thousands of them all over the country, are actually playing Quidditch.
You know you're supposed to fly around on one of these. You remember from the movies, the snitch is the golden ball that flies around with wings on it. Take a look at this. This is Alex. This is the snitch they have to capture. BILCHIK: Unibrow, yes, the extended brow across the face, is considered a thing of great beauty, so much so, T.J., because it's seen as virginity. It is seen as something youthful because, think about it, the older you get, the thinner your eyebrows get.
So thick bushy eyebrows are equated with youth. If you don't have a unibrow, you can get a plant called usma, they will grind the leaves and make a paste and paint on the unibrow.
HOLMES: They will paint it on?
BILCHIK: They will paint it on.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What are you doing? OK, OK.
HOLMES: It's nothing new to see rappers moonlighting as actors, but for Queen Latifah and Common, it seems like it's the other way around.
HOLMES: It's almost like I forgot you all are rappers. Is that still fair to say? Are you all still -- you all are rappers, right?
QUEEN LATIFAH: He's definitely a rapper.
COMMON: I'm definitely a rapper.
QUEEN LATIFAH: That's Common. Come on.
COMMON: Obviously, Queen Latifah is not just a rapper.
HOLMES: Some people may forget you started out as a rapper.
QUEEN LATIFAH: You all must have forgot.
HOLMES: Some are saying this is too hot for TV. Certainly not CNN SATURDAY MORNING TV, but in the U.K. is what we're talking about. Now, has anyone figured out yet what she is selling in this ad?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't even care.
BILCHIK: Now, for viewers, they can only see the two of you, but I can actually feel the heat.
HOLMES: Can you feel the energy?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's called the snow melter, what I'm seeing right there. That's a special thing, you know. What she's trying to sell, obviously, is --
BILCHIK: Sex.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. In a word, that's what she's trying to sell and I think the best way to do that is by showing what we just showed. Boy, wasn't that fun?
(END VIDEOTAPE) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We do get to have a lot of fun on this show. I like that.
HOLMES: Yes, we do. Some serious stuff always going on as well, but it's been a heck of a year. Heck of a few years for all of us here. The Quidditch moment there. Something I still have yet to understand.
UNIDENTIFEID MALE: Hey, it's catching on. What can I say? People can't get enough Harry Potter.
HOLMES: All right and we were supposed to have Reynolds with us. But again, he has been a very busy guy this morning and for good reason. You know the storm system is going on up and down the east coast.
Millions of you who trying to travel today, it's going to be doggone near impossible for many of you. We're six minutes to the top of the hour. Reynolds is coming up in just a moment. Stick with us here on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right, here with Nadia Bilchik, as always, giving us a little interesting that we didn't know about, usually from around the world. And once again, we're doing so, but we know how we celebrate Christmas here. What about elsewhere?
BILCHIK: Let's go to Japan.
HOLMES: Japan, all right.
BILCHICK: KFC, Kentucky Fried Chicken had done such a good job in Japan that Christmas in Japan is synonymous with Kentucky. In fact, they call it Korisasimowa (ph), Kentucky. You have lines of people on Christmas Day to get that Kentucky because you don't get turkey.
Now remember most of the Japanese are either Buddhist or Shinto, so there's not going to be a huge Christian population in Japan, but Christmas is synonymous with Kentucky and people will actually order their Kentucky Fried Chicken and yes, they'll even book a table in Kentucky.
HOLMES: That's nuts. We are used to whipping through and getting a three-piece on a Tuesday afternoon but Christmas?
BILCHIK: Christmas and Kentucky Fried Chicken. Isn't that's great marketing. This has happened since the '70s. Now, I'll take you South Africa.
HOLMES: OK, near and dear to you.
BILCHIK: So much. So what's going to be happening in South Africa on Christmas Day is people are not going to be having a barbecue. We call it a bry flase. Bry means cook, flase is meat. We will cook the meat.
It will be a very festive occasion. Remember, it's very warm. So people at the beach will be at the beach and otherwise, people will be having a kind of sausage and a maze meal, somewhat like grits. They will be eating these delicious foods and having a Christmas celebration in the sun.
HOLMES: You say cook the meat, how many meats? You mentioned the sausage there, but a variety of things.
BILCHIK: People may even slaughter a lamb and drink homemade beer.
HOLMES: Slaughter a lamb. You can't just cook the lamb, you have to slaughter it?
BILCHIK: Now in the Czech Republic, women will do something interesting. They'll throw a shoe towards the door. If the heel faces the door that means they're not necessarily going to meet a husband that year. Single women will do this and if the toe points towards the door then it's good luck, you're going to meet your husband during the year.
HOLMES: OK, do they do it on Christmas?
BILCHIK: They do this more on Christmas New Year. It's just a tradition and then in Italy, some people have traditional Christmas trees, but other people have wooden blocks where they put fruit and all kinds of ornate things around the tree.
HOLMES: A wooden block?
BILCHIK: A wooden block.
HOLMES: OK, do a lot of places though do what we do?
BILCHIK: What will be different are the ornaments so different ornaments depending on the different cultures.
HOLMES: OK, I want to get back to the shoe for a second. Where did that come from with the heel in the door and the toe?
BILCHIK: It's some kind of superstition. There's a belief in the Czech Republic that if you take an apple and cut it in half, if it's a perfect star, it's going to be a good year. Unfortunately, if a worm is there, it looks rotten, not a good omen.
HOLMES: OK, well, I've got to get you some apples and some shoes.
BILCHIK: But you know, what I say to our viewers, Merry Chrismahanukwanzakah.
HOLMES: All right, Nadia Bilchik, also interesting. Merry Christmas to everybody out there or whatever she just said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
1st LT. ELIZABETH BLOOMFIELD, U.S. ARMY: My name is 1ST Lt. Elizabeth Bloomfield. I'm stationed in Bagram Air Field. I want to wish my family and friends in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, happy holidays.
(END VIDEO CLIP0
HOLMES: Good Sunday morning. The northeast is holding on right now. Blizzard conditions are on the way. A huge winter storm is closing in. Flights delayed, cancelled, grounded, however you want to put it. Roads, icy, treacherous, however you want to describe it.
Travel plans are shot for so many people today. It's marching up the east coast right now. Whether you are driving, whether you are flying, whether your loved one is driving or flying, you need to hear what's happening. You might even be getting on a train. You could be affected as well.
Reynolds Wolf is standing by. We'll check in with him in just seconds. You'll have the very latest also the sad news I'm telling you about this morning about eight American tourists killed in a bus crash in Egypt. We'll tell you what happened here and also what's being done for 19 Americans also injured in that same crash.
Hello to you all. From the CNN Center, this is your CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
Thank you for being here. It's 7:00 a.m. where I stand in Atlanta; 7:00 a.m. in New York as well. It's going to be under the gun today. Also, 2:00 p.m. in Cairo. Wherever you may be -- glad you're right here. I'm T.J. Holmes.
Let's get you up to date on the severe weather.
Blizzard warnings are up from Washington to New York City to Maine. What you're seeing here, that is not snow piled up. This is what's going to be used to combat all the snow that's on the way. That's all the salt that's stacked up right now. It's being loaded onto trucks in New York City.
Meteorologists there say the Boston area as well could get up to 20 inches of snow. Also, strong winds are going to be accompanying this storm. That's going to reduce visibility to near zero at times.
Now, the snow first made its way up through much of the South. A lot of this was going on in a lot of places in the South. This is Chattanooga we're showing you. You saw the drivers weren't having a good time pushing their vehicle out of the snow.
Kids, as we know, they enjoy this stuff. But, hey, kids don't have to drive.
The South, we don't get a lot of white Christmases down here. But that wasn't the case. Yesterday, snow extended into neighboring North Carolina as well. Temperatures were at or below freezing. Icing made the roads impossible to drive on as well. And we talked about a white Christmas in the South -- something we haven't seen here in a minute in Atlanta, the first significant snowfall on a Christmas Day since 1882. Metro Atlanta got up to an inch of snow. Heavier amounts fell in the northern part of Georgia. Snow, some ice led the state transportation -- the state Department of Transportation, I should say, to post several travel advisories, excuse me.
Now, let's talk about this air travel. It's going to be a bit of a mess. It has been a bit of a mess for the past couple of days. But American Airlines now saying it will cancel up to half of its flights in and out of key airports in the path of this storm. Continental and its partner United, they have cancelled about 250 domestic flights.
This all started Christmas Day when Delta preemptively dropped some 500 flights trying to get ready for the predicted storm. More than half of those flights, about 300, right here in Atlanta, the nation's busiest airport. More cancellations on the way today.
Let's take a look at another little tool a lot of people use on Orbitz, their Web site. They have this tracker, tracks airport activity. See a lot of green flags right there right now. That would look to be good.
You see the one red flag there -- that is on Atlanta. The red flag means the delays are on incoming or outgoing flights.
Now, we are expecting some of those green flags on the East Coast to possibly change to red throughout the day as this storm gets going.
Bringing Reynolds Wolf now.
Again, that bowling ball is getting started where, as you describe?
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It is getting started in the Southeast. It is a bowling ball that is hundreds of miles wide. It's a big bowling ball. It's a big lane. And some of the pins are going to be Washington, D.C. --
HOLMES: Yes.
WOLF: -- Philadelphia, New York, and back into Boston.
You know, one thing T.J. mentioned is the timing of this is the thing that's really the kicker. We've had worse storms. In fact, last February, you know, less than a year ago, we had two of these major blizzards that pulled their way up the Eastern Seaboard in less than 10 days, separating the two different events.
So, this is certainly a big thing. Not necessarily the most historic. It's certainly not the strongest. But still, it's going to cause all kinds of issues for many holiday travelers. Anyone traveling today, if you're thinking about heading out on 85, you might want to give that a second thought. Same story in Virginia Beach -- Virginia Beach is lovely, especially this time of year. Why not just stay there for a few extra days and make it easy on you?
In Washington, D.C., we don't see a whole lot of activity as of yet, but what's going to happen is all of this is going to be pulling up to the North, where you have plenty of cold air in Washington, D.C., you've got plenty of it in New York, too. And with that, you're going to have anywhere from four to eight inches of snowfall, especially for the Carolinas back up into D.C., you could see anywhere from six to 10 inches of snowfall.
Some of the suburbs, you might pile up and get more, especially across the river into northern Virginia, that could be a big problem for you. From Philadelphia northward to New York, you'll notice the color codes going from purples to pinks, even some blues in there. But now, all of a sudden, we're seeing red.
What in the world is that? That is where we have blizzard warnings that are now in effect, where we're going to have the possibility of not only having snowfall, maybe in the range of 11 to 16 inches of snow, but that's going to be coupled with some very powerful winds. How strong? Maybe in excess of 55 miles per hour.
So, with snow on the ground, the winds really picking up, visibility is going to be limited. Really hampered visibility is going to be tough for many of you drivers. Now, keep in mind with the strong winds too, you're going to have some tree damage. The tree damage could have some power outages, and not just in New York, but farther up in places like Boston, it's going to be rough.
In higher elevations, say, back into the Berkshires, you're going to have the wind, you're going to have the driving conditions that are going to be just brutal, especially along parts of the turnpike, keep that in mind. In Boston Common, by later tomorrow afternoon, you could have several feet of snow on the ground in drifts -- total accumulation maybe between 16 to 20. And that doesn't even factor in the heavy waves you're going to see along the coast in spots like Nags Head, you're going to have a very rough time as we make our way down to, say, Martha's Vineyard, that could be certainly some rough conditions for you. Again, it's all due to this area of low pressure.
Back out into the Central Plains, you got high pressure, no issues. But then back on the West Coast, an area that's been ravaged by some strong winter storms, you get another system that's coming in. It won't be as strong as what we've seen the last couple of days, and certainly cannot be really compared what we're seeing out to the east.
T.J., one little interesting factoid: this area of low pressure, if you were to follow the history of this system, this actually was on the other side of the continent, back over in California, and yes, brought some heavy rain, some mudslides, and some strong winter snow. Some impressive winter snows in parts of the Sierra Nevada. (INAUDIBLE)
HOLMES: That pesky thing? WOLF: That same center of rotation, same area of low pressure.
HOLMES: It's made its way. It's almost out of here, will be the next couple of days. But not before giving a lot of people fits.
Reynolds, thank you so much.
And again, reminder to our viewers, we're checking in with Reynolds every 15 minutes. This is a constantly developing weather situation. We know you need the updates. A lot of you are trying to travel today or tomorrow. We're checking in with him as often as we can this morning.
Also, lots of talk about New York and could get up to a foot of snow in some places, we're talking about the New York metro area.
I want to check in now with Steve Coleman. He is the port authority spokesman there in New York.
Steve, we appreciate you hopping on the line for us. Exactly what are you guys getting ready for, and how do you get ready for it?
STEVE COLEMAN, SPOKESMAN, NY PORT AUTHORITY (via telephone): Well, I think we're getting ready for a powerful storm that's coming up. And we've got about 200 pieces of snow equipment out here to try to keep the runways and taxiways clear. But, obviously, the winds are going to play a big factor in this whole thing. And if the winds exceed 40 or 50 miles an hour, it's going to be very tough.
HOLMES: So, is that your bigger problem? It sounds like you all certainly have experience with winter weather up there and you know how to get the snow off the runways and try to keep things up and running, but there's nothing you can do about the wind.
COLEMAN: There's not much we can do about the wind. And, obviously, wind affects air travel. That's going to be a problem as well. We're going to do the best we can. We've got 1,000 people on stand by to get out and try to keep the airports open to the best of our ability.
But the biggest word we're trying to pass out there right now is to have people call ahead, the majority of flights, I would bet, later today and tomorrow will be cancelled. So, we want to make sure that people don't get stranded at the airport, they call in advance, and that they make sure their flight is taking of before they head to the airport.
HOLMES: And tell us folks -- give us an idea. A lot of people don't necessarily live in one of those population centers like a New York, a lot of major cities like that. You know, a lot of people live in the South, more rural areas and whatnot.
But what kind of unique headaches does it cause when you get a foot of snow in New York metro area? I'm not talking about the airport necessarily, just people trying to get around New York. COLEMAN: Well, obviously, you know, it's a very urban area up here. So, it's difficult not only at the airport but to get to the airport. So, people not only have to navigate the airport property, which we do our best to keep clear, but they've got to, you know, navigate the urban roads to get there. So, that's difficult.
Obviously, there's mass transit systems up here that can get you to the airport. And hopefully, those will be able to stay up and running as best as possible. But, you know, obviously, when you're dealing with a very urban area like New York, it's -- you know, it's difficult.
HOLMES: Last thing here, Mr. Coleman. What are you all anticipating the window of time where you're going to be under the gun?
COLEMAN: I think later tonight and tomorrow morning, we'll probably be the most under the gun. Obviously, if the storm cranks up late tonight, early tomorrow morning, and the winds are blowing snow around, our crews are going to be working all night. But it's going to be difficult to try to keep the runways and taxiways open with those winds persist at 30, 40, 50 miles an hour.
HOLMES: All right. Well, Steve Coleman, again, spokesperson for the New York City Port Authority -- sir, we appreciate you taking some time out. We know you've got a big task ahead. Good luck to you guys, all right? But thank you for giving us some time this morning and updating our viewers.
COLEMAN: Thank you.
HOLMES: All right. I want to turn now to Josh Levs standing by. Some more information -- excuse me for the cough here, folks -- but some information, Josh, you had, people could certainly use today, some useful Web sites.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right, exactly. Look, throughout this morning, I want you all to know what we're going to be doing here. I'm following Web sites that can help you find out about the conditions on the roads and the conditions at the airports as well. I'm going to keep updating them for you, and I'm going to show you in a minute a place online where you can find all of them yourself. So, it should help you a lot.
Let's start out zooming in here. You're getting great weather reports here from Reynolds. And what we have at CNN.com/weather is a breakdown of the weather wherever you are. So, if you go to CNN.com/weather at any time, you can see what's going on exactly where you are and what's expected throughout the day.
Now, at CNN.com/travel -- and again, you don't need to write this down, I'll show you all these links -- what we have here is a section about airport delays right here. And we are going to keep updating this continually all day long. In fact, what it brings you to is a whole list of all the major airports in the country, and it shows you where things stand. Right now, we're not getting these major delays reported at most airports because what's happening is we're expecting to get them later today.
We also link you to the FAA, which will have its own Web site updated throughout the day, giving you a lot of information there.
Before I go, want to show you one more thing. Earlier in the show, we were talking about this. Orbitz has a Web site. Let's zoom in here. Orbitz keeps updating its Web site. And right now, the one red as you were seeing is Atlanta. And when you click on that, you'll see why it has a little pop-up there talking about the airport status and potential delays of some flights as well.
What you might not know is it has a section called "traffic" as well. When you click on that, it can bring you to information about traffic in that city or traffic in any city, wherever you want to check out. Say you're going to be going to Boston, just click on traffic. It can tell you some bridges that might be closed, some incidents that there are.
All these Web sites that I'm showing you right now, I'm linking up for you at my Facebook and Twitter pages. And you have my page right there. I'm at JoshLevsCNN. Go ahead and take a look at my pages. You'll see the links I'll show you everything I'm talking about.
And if you have helpful Web sites and apps that are helping you determine your travel today, post them there, and we will be back with those.
T.J., throughout this morning, we'll be staying all over that and make sure people have all the tools they need to figure out their travel today.
HOLMES: All right. Josh, we do appreciate that this morning.
We'll check in with him again. Also, a reminder, we'll continue to check in with our Reynolds Wolf, our meteorologist, he is all over this. We're checking in with him every 15 minutes.
Again, a developing weather situation -- and again, this is not some historic storm. We see nor'easters. We see them every year -- sometimes see a couple a year.
Problem being it comes at the worst time for so many people -- literally millions are hopping in their cars, they're hopping on trains, and they're trying to get to the airports as well and fly out of somewhere. And that is just going to be an impossibility in some cases unfortunately.
So, we are all over it for you this morning.
We saw another story, sad story. A breaking and developing story out of Egypt this morning where eight Americans are dead; 19 others hurt after their tour bus crashed. This was in Aswan, a popular tourist city on the Nile River. There were three buses actually that were carrying more than 100 tourists at the time. Egypt's interior ministry says the middle bus crashed into a parked dump truck. U.S. embassy in Egypt says a military transport is moving the injured Americans to Cairo.
Embassy is work to go identify the victims. It's given a number for you if you have questions or concerns. An international number for you here, we have it up here on the screen for you. I'll say it to you -- 011, and then, 202-2797-3300. Again, an international here: 011+202-2797-3300. Again, eight Americans killed, a developing story. We'll pass along more information as we get it.
We're at 12 minutes past the hour here now.
A lot of Americans dealing with this economy and the high unemployment rate -- but shoppers didn't seem to be bothered by a lot of that. It looks like it could have been a good season for retailers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COMMAND SGT. MAJ. JONATHAN J. HUNT, U.S. ARMY: Hello and greetings from southern Iraq. This is the regimental command sergeant major for the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, Command Sergeant Major Jonathan Hunt. I'd like to wish my family and friends back in St. Louis a safe and happy holiday season. I'd also wish to thousands of family members, community members and loved ones of 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment a safe and happy holiday season and we can't wait to see you. Brave Rifles.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, it's 16 minutes past the hour. Take a look at what so many people have been dealing with and will be dealing with in the near future. This is in Chesapeake, Virginia, in particular, where they -- as you can see -- got a decent amount of snow, just like so many other places along the south. That storm that gave many people in the south a white Christmas, a rare white Christmas that storm system now is making its way up the East Coast, heading up to the Northeast now and it's going to give people up there not a white Christmas, it's going to give them fits as they try to get home in these busy couple of travel days after the Christmas season.
We want to head down to I-95 now, to Lumberton, North Carolina. Want to see how travel is shaping up for them right now.
I want to turn over to Marla Branson. She's a meteorologist with our affiliate WMBF.
Marla, good morning to you. And we can kind of get an idea of how it's going. But please, set the scene.
MARLA BRANSON, WMBF METEOROLOGIST: Yes. Good morning and the snow is not letting up, started in the overnight hours. Now, right along I-95, and at the main thoroughfare all the way from Florence, South Carolina and up through Petersburg, Virginia, and there have been an unusually large amount of cars on the interstate considering the conditions. People are taking it easy.
Honestly, I don't suggest getting out. In fact, we did see a Department of Transportation plow actually slide off the road on I-95 on our way here. So, it is dicey out there. The snow is not letting up. We are expecting it to end by noon at least.
So -- but we are, you know, continuing to pile up on the roadways. The Department of Transportation is trying to do their best to keep them clear. But right now, with the snow not letting up, it's very hard to travel, especially if you have to get off of the interstates. Those roads are completely covered, hard to tell if you're even on the road at all. We had a tough time actually getting here this morning.
So, we are patiently waiting for the snow to finally let up. So far, picked up almost three inches. And I imagine we're going to add a little bit to the yardstick before this is all said and done with.
So, live along I-95 in Lumberton, I'm meteorologist Marla Branson.
HOLMES: All right. Marla, we appreciate you braving it for us and giving us an idea of what you're dealing with there. Thank you so much this morning.
Again, like she said there, they think they will add to that yardstick, as they described -- about three inches so far. And we talked so much about the travel and certainly focused on the airlines a lot and the delays and people stuck in airports. But for the most part, most people are driving somewhere. They drove to grandma's house or wherever it was for Christmas. So, they're going to be driving back. Some of those roads are going to be impossible.
So, if you've got this blizzard that's going to be hitting the Northeast, notwithstanding that, a lot of people heading back to the malls in this post-Christmas bargain hunting period. Retailers are offering steep discounts as they try to clear out some of that holiday inventory.
Our Allan Chernoff reporting for us now, that may not be too difficult after a surprisingly merry holiday season.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the face of depressing headlines, persistently high unemployment, and trepidation about employment prospects, shoppers tossed aside their malaise and put credit cards to work this holiday season.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There are so many sales now. So, I might as well just go for it.
CHERNOFF: Economists say spending was far higher than anticipated with apparel purchases particularly strong.
How did retailers get consumers to spend so freely?
The gloomy news was no match for the deep discounts retailers offer right from the start of the holiday season.
(on camera): It seems nearly every retailer has had a sale sign in the store since Thanksgiving. It's not so much that they're desperate to move merchandise, but they know that's the way to bring customers into the store.
MADISON RILEY, KURT SALMON ASSOCIATES: Retailers have been very quick to respond and to understand that the only way to get consumers to open their wallets, to get back into the stores to shop is to tell a very strong value story.
CHERNOFF (voice-over): They've been telling that story everywhere, not just in traditional ads, but online -- via e-mails and text messages.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Charlotte Rouse.
CHERNOFF (on camera): Right, sale there.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Amazon, Hollister.
CHERNOFF: All today?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
CHERNOFF: All received today?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All received today.
CHERNOFF (voice-over): And the messages are targeted, based on a shopper's prior purchases.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Five to $25. They have a lot of sales.
CHERNOFF: Digital messages connect, especially with younger consumers.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A lot of stores e-mailed me and gave me discounts. So, it was worth it.
CHERNOFF: A merry holiday shopping season means retailers should have relatively lean inventories for their after Christmas sales -- meaning the bargains will last only so long.
Allan Chernoff, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: And at 21 minutes past the hour. Quick break.
You see my man Reynolds Wolf getting prepared back here behind me. We told you we'd be checking in with him every few minutes here this morning because of a serious weather situation. It's going to cause people fits as they get back home after the holidays.
Quick break. Reynolds is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right. I want to get right back to Reynolds Wolf. Keeping a close eye on this weather situation again. Major storm, but it's complicating things because we got this major travel days right now.
WOLF: It really is. And, you know, we've been talking about issues that people are going to have in the roadways. You hear all things about the airport, but in terms of the roads, we do have one bit of good news in parts of the Carolinas. That happens to be in any of places in the Tar Heel State, as well as the Palmetto State, you've got snow in both areas.
But keep in mind, a couple of days ago, you had temperatures that were in the 50s and 60s. So, the ground is still relatively warm in a few places. So, in terms of widespread icing on the roadways, it's probably not going to happen.
However, where you happen to have overpasses, where air is able to get underneath and above the road surface, that's where you could have ice. That's where you could have some serious issues. And if you happen to be in a hurry on these roadways, ice or not, slick conditions just from snow alone might cause some problems. So please be careful, especially along I-95, and even the I-40, notice the transformation as you look in a little bit closer. I-40, part of -- towards the coast, it's all rain. But when you head back to the higher elevations, into the central Carolinas, all of that switches over into snowfall.
You know, right now, if you'll notice, from Charleston northward to about -- let's see -- Washington, D.C., you see a lot of that precipitation. We've been talking about what's coming for New York and Boston.
If you're tuning in New York and you're on West 57th Street and you're outside, you're looking up at the sky, you might see some clouds. But in terms of snow, there's nothing significant. Trust me, it's coming.
This area of low pressure that we have that is right along the Eastern Seaboard is going to kick up its heels, move a bit more to the north, and when it does so, what is going to happen is it's going to do two things. One, it's going to bring in some very cold air right behind it. And at the same time, it's going to bring in that over running moisture, kind of like a mixing bowl, if you will. That mixing bowl effect is going to bring in the snowfall.
Already, the National Weather Service has posted watches, warnings up and down the Eastern Seaboard. That's indicated by the pinks, even a few places where you see the purples. But you're also noticing a different color. That color would be some of the red areas that we have for New York, back into Boston, even up towards Maine. Those are spots we have blizzard warnings where you're going to have not only the potential of snow in excess of a foot but wind gusts topping 55 miles an hour, more than enough to cause widespread major delays at any of your major airports, roadways are going to be an issue.
T.J., even walking for people is going to be a bit of a nightmare for a lot of folks.
HOLMES: That's a good point to bring up as well. Reynolds, we appreciate you this morning.
And we want to let you know, folks, Reynolds is on this weather situation for you this morning. We're going to hand this over to "SANJAY GUPTA, M.D." after a quick break.
But we'll be back at the top of the hour with more live news -- again, constantly monitoring this weather situation that is developing as we take this live look at JFK, one place where, unfortunately, folks, you're going to be stuck there for a while. If your flight's not cancelled, good chance it's going to be delayed as well because of this weather. We are on top of it for you.
