around parts of the bay area, let's get down to street level here. i will show you where we are, still tracking some light showers. in petaluma, bodega avenue, adobe road, as we head towards the santa cruz mountains, the summit, morgan hill, gilroy area, around highway 101, we are still seeing pockets of light to moderate rain. santa theresa boulevard. as i pull out here, what's showing up not too far off the coast? yes, some more lightning. we have to keep it in the forecast. as we take a look at the rainfall the last 24 hours, impressive. san francisco, wettest calendar day since march 14th, 2012. almost 1 1/2 inches of rain. over an inch in san jose. oakland, six tenths. when you take a look at the season to date, we have pushed above normal at sfo 114% of normal, 125% in san jose. we are making a difference with this storm and we are not done. part one pushed through.

part two is still coming and it brings with it moderate risk of urban flooding, thunderstorms, mudslides and rockslides. i will be back with a detailed look at how much more rain you can expect and how long you are going to need the umbrellas, coming up. >> it's pretty wet out there. thank you. appreciate that. a tree fell on to wires blocking highway 116 in sonoma county this morning. the westbound lane was closed for nearly half an hour about 6:30. cal trans was able to reroute traffic while crews cut down the tree and cleared the road. the highway was back to normal a couple hours later. the overnight rain helped bring down an oak tree in san rafael. the homeowners said it felt like an earthquake. they were lucky. the tree missed their house. crews at local tree service companies warn we will see more of this ahead as winter wears on. >> reporter: did you expect this to happen today? >> yeah, we were geared up ready for some mayhem. >> reporter: is it over? >> no. big one's coming tomorrow.

>> overall, there weren't that many problems. for most, just seeing the water flowing again at cascade falls in mill valley was a pleasant sight for locals. it has not flowed like this for awhile. reports say marin county reservoirs are now at 94% of average storage for this time of year. >> in san france, 15 trees or branches have fallen since the last big storm, since the storm began last night. abc 7 news reporter lyanne melendez joins us in downtown san francisco. a different kind of tree is getting all the attention. >> reporter: well, we definitely want that tree that you see behind me standing up. this is the tree lighting ceremony at 555 california street. this is happening come rain or shine, or should i say, come rain or more rain. now, unfortunately, a lot of the fallen trees that we saw in san francisco didn't look as nice as that one's going to look in a few minutes. crews from the department of public works in san francisco were clearing fallen trees all

around the city. >> sunset district, richmond, the mission, the portula, all over the city there are trees down. luckily there were no injuries but there were some cars that were damaged. >> reporter: two cars were damaged at guerrero and 23rd when a limb from this ficus tree snapped. by the time we got there, the city was about to turn this huge branch into mulch. this fallen monterey cypress was being cut down by a crew from the department of rec and park. these trees have a shallow root system, making them easier to topple in a storm. this one measured between 40 and 50 feet. another branch fell on the powell cable car line near bush street. buses and cars had to drive around it. police waited until a one-man crew came to remove it. >> these trees have been dropping branches for awhile. >> reporter: many city trees are overgrown and top-heavy, in need of pruning. >> unfortunately, we are on a cycle of about every 10 to 12 years. optimally it's three to five

years. it's really a funding issue. >> reporter: years of city budget cuts have drastically reduced the amount of funding needed to properly maintain these trees. rebecca sinclair moved here recently from michigan and was surprised by all the rain. >> we have wild weather over there, too. at least i don't have to worry about snow here. >> reporter: i'm glad it doesn't snow either here. back live at 555 california street, as the tree lighting ceremony all starts right now. it's 5:00. it will continue for several minutes after that with several celebrities all trying to stay dry. lyanne melendez, abc 7 news. >> enjoying the party there. it wasn't just rain that snarled today's commute across the golden gate bridge but a bizarre crash that landed a car right on the sidewalk. 22-year-old daniel soto of san francisco was driving southbound. he somehow managed to wedge his blue mustang into the area marked for pedestrians.

soto was not seriously injured but he created a problem that bridge workers had never seen before. >> it's good that the golden gate bridge crew likes puzzles because the driver certainly gave them a challenge this morning figuring out how to extract it but they have done that now. the crew has removed the vehicle from where it was stuck. >> here's what they did. bridge workers stopped traffic in both directions, lifted the car off of the sidewalk and over the guardrail with a crane. the crash was caught on security cameras. engineers will take a look to see what can be done to stop this from happening again. soto has been arrested for driving under the influence. chances are tomorrow's commute is going to be another mess from the east bay into san francisco. this morning was a nightmare. drivers going from walnut creek to downtown san francisco spent nearly an hour and a half in the car. some commuters making their way to the peninsula from the east bay took even longer. the problem is flooding on highway 101 southbound near paul avenue. that area of course prone to problems.

cal trans says litter is to blame and the problem is always worse at the start of the rainy season. rain wreaking havoc on east bay roadways as well. a driver in lafayette lost control on the slick road this morning and crashed into a traffic signal on mount diablo boulevard. the light toppled over knocking out power to the intersection and turning it into a four-way stop during a busy morning rush hour. the storm also -- i'm sorry. >> the storm has caused flight delays and cancellations at san francisco international airport. let's take a look at the airport from our san francisco international airport camera. 137 flights from sfo have already been canceled today. the federal aviation administration is reporting nearly three hour flight delays at sfo for inbounds flights. departing flights had about 16 to 30 minute delays. san jose canceled four departures. delays range from 15 minutes to more than three hours. oakland flights, all on schedule. you can expect a similar situation tomorrow. now to the santa cruz area.

the county was supposed to get a pretty good soaking today. abc 7 news reporter david louie live in scotts valley and joins us with more. david? >> reporter: the problem with heavy rainfall is it can make the soil super-saturated, a condition that can lead to instability as well as a problem with potential mud slides. fortunately, we did not see that today but we did see a precursor, small rock slides. no one is complaining yet about the rain. too much rain or are you welcoming it? >> no, i love it. we need it so badly. i'm so glad it's raining. >> reporter: here's a harbinger of things to come. a small rock slide along bear creek road. as the storms keep dropping more rains, the park's soil will get saturated, leading to events like this major hill slide three years ago on nelson road in scotts valley. ever since, the 33 residents on the opposite side have had to take a temporary detour. >> we have all wondered what they were going to do about the hillside that came down. once it gets real wet, it will

want to keep coming. apparently it stayed up there for many years. >> reporter: work on a $740,000 permanent bypass started only in september after it took years to find funding. most of the slide will stay in place to stabilize the hill. those are the catastrophes that big storms can create in the mountains, yet residents here say they take it all in stride. they have a certain resiliency they say city dwellers don't have. >> because the power goes out frequently, you have downed trees, you're stuck at home, you're not in the chaos of being down in the city where everybody's panicked and running into the stores. so up there you kind of go okay, we're here, hunker in, play some board games and have some fun. >> reporter: work crews and pg & e crews are standing by in the santa cruz mountains keeping an eye on the situation and ready to move in if there's any damage or problems arising. live in scotts valley, david louie, abc 7 news. >> thank you so much.

getting around on the roadways, challenging as you see. let's check in with abc 7 news morning reporter leyla gulen, who is working day and night for us. >> day and night. no rest for the weary. if everyone can sit in this, i can help you get around it. as we take a look, the afternoon crush couldn't be more evident than it is here. it's made a little more dreary by the wet, gray conditions. we still are experiencing solo spinouts and overturned vehicles. that's what we have here in dixon. if you are traveling along westbound 80 at curry road, expect to see delays there as you leave davis. as you continue through vacaville, most of the traffic is in the eastbound direction. a live look at san jose, the drive southbound side of 101 bumper to bumper traffic. it is pretty painful there. even though the rain has subsided just a little bit, expect to see more flooding for tomorrow morning's commute. cheryl, larry? >> morning and night. thanks very much. well, the weather and headaches it's bringing are changing as we speak. get the updates as they happen

and other breaking news with our abc 7 news app. we have more information at abc7news.com/apps. coming up, we go live to southern california. mud slides causing mayhem there. live report just ahead. a big decision on the future of financially troubled hospital in the east bay. that's next. plus, why a soap opera producer and bay area businessman are now facing the wrath of senator john mccain. we are keeping a close watch on live doppler 7 hd for the rain still falling here. stay with us. a hot chocolate? ho ho ho... we'll all have hot cocoa! ma'am, need a strong pot of joe. the all new keurig 2.0.

well, what started out as a trickle quickly turned into a deluge. the rains in southern california are as welcome there as they are here, but not the mud flows.

evacuations are under way in the ventura county city of camarillo. that's where reporter leo stallworth joins us tonight. >> reporter: a good dose of mud has come down from the soggy hills above this community. about a dozen homes evacuated. what officials are really concerned about are boulders coming down from those hills. for now the residents of this community remain evacuated. fearing a massive mud slide could happen at any moment, the residents have been ordered to evacuate their homes. >> we told people they need to get out. the reason why, these homes sit at the base of the hill where the springs fire burned just a little over a year ago, so not only is there mud, debris flow, but there is also the potential for rocks that are coming down the hill. some of these boulders are very large. >> reporter: crews used bulldozers to clean out clogged storm drains at the bottom of the hill and sandbagged some

areas. >> a little shocking. the fire definitely had an impact and obviously, you can see the results of that impact. >> reporter: evacuated residents are concerned about a repeat of the heavy rain around halloween, a mud slide during that storm left his yard caked with mud and more. this home was red-tagged after a catch basin overflowed. >> we got about 40 yards of debris, mud, rocks, into our yard. we are monitoring that, making sure that it doesn't repeat that. >> if it does, residents who have evacuated, i want to assure them we are working to protect their homes. >> reporter: you have been shocked at what you see? >> well, you know, i expected this so with some more rain possibly coming. there is going to be more rain coming. >> reporter: over the last couple of hours, the rain has tapered off. that is good news for residents but apparently another cell will be moving into this community.

for now, the residents will remain evacuated and they will stay evacuated until things dry out in this community. leo stallworth, abc 7 news. >> thanks so much. now to some other news in the bay area. supervisors in one east bay county approved a last ditch effort to save a troubled hospital. the contra costa county board of supervisors voted on two measures to relieve the financial pressure on doctors medical center in san pablo. they approved delaying a $3 million property tax payment owed by the hospital to the county. they also permanently waived $9 million in future repayments. police are looking over surveillance video as they try to solve what some are calling the most brutal attack they have ever seen in their entire careers. this is video of the november 23rd attack. police say three men brutally kicked a disabled elderly man who was sleeping in the financial district. another camera showed the three men before the attack. they were smoking on the steps of the crocker galleria. police say the men attacked the

victim twice and left him to die. >> this attack is extremely brutal in nature and the fact that they left, came back and resumed the attack, i think it speaks volumes about how bad it actually was. i don't know how much provocation you can give someone sleeping in a sleeping bag which is a few feet away from you. >> investigators say the three men may have attended an event in that area. the victim, a 67-year-old, was found dead the following morning by police officers. if you have any information, please call the san francisco police. we have an update now on the arrest of nearly 200 people in oakland last week for various crimes related to a series of demonstrations. only a very few have been charged with serious crimes by the alameda county district attorney's office. abc 7 news reporter laura anthony joins us from city hall with more. laura? >> reporter: i'm actually right next to city hall. so far, there have been very few serious criminal prosecutions related to damage like this from last week's demonstrations, but police say they are just

beginning. they expect to make more arrests and the city is looking at filing civil lawsuits. three nights of demonstrations in downtown oakland left tens of thousands of dollars in damage, especially to local businesses. while oakland police arrested 170 demonstrators, only four have been charged with felonies. >> the district attorney has decided not to charge most of the people. >> reporter: dan siegel represents a group of demonstrators arrested last week and kept in jail for the long holiday with no charges filed come monday. >> the d.a. knows that going to trial against people who stood up against racism and stood up against police abuse is likely not to be very popular with local juries. >> reporter: jeff represents one man charged with a felony, second degree commercial burglary of a store. >> the issue here is not some

lost bottles from a $3.2 billion corporation but why thousands of people across the country were shutting down freeways, were protesting in the streets. >> reporter: police say their investigation is just beginning. as they continue to review officer body cameras and other video sources. >> if we didn't arrest you that night, if we didn't arrest you later that week, we are certainly going to find you and arrest you. >> reporter: besides criminal action, oakland's mayor-elect says the city may file civil lawsuits against those who damaged property. laura anthony, abc 7 news. the senate has confirmed a san francisco businessman and obama fund-raiser to be ambassador to argentina. he raised more than half a million dollars for obama's re-election campaign. he has been criticized for having never been to argentina. another controversial nominee has also been approved. colleen bell is named ambassador to hungary although she admits to knowing very little about the

country. she is a former soap opera producer from southern california. she raised $800,000 for the obama campaign. senator john mccain says she is totally unqualified. senator barbara boxer disagrees. she says bell is quote, intelligent and successful and will do a good job. she knows how to make friends and she's not angry. let's go back to the weather coverage right now and more rain is on the way, perhaps some thunderstorms as well. >> meteorologist sandhya patel out in the thick of it. >> that's right, cheryl and larry. still some slick roadways behind me and still have to use the umbrella. don't ditch the umbrellas just yet. let me show you live doppler 7 hd. we have some more wet weather on the way and there is still a chance of thunder. as we take you in a little closer, our radar on mt. st. helena tracking light to moderate returns just northeast of santa rosa there, montgomery drive, calestoga road. we will continue to see scattered showers as you look from san francisco to san bruno. very light there.

down towards the south bay, morgan hill, gilroy, santa cruz mountains, scattered showers. just offshore, over 100 miles away, our radar is detecting multiple lightning strikes there so the area of low pressure associated with this system still has to come through and that's the second part of this storm that's coming in. we are still watching for some snow in the sierra nevada. it's been snowing lightly, state route 88 requiring chains. we have seen rain mixing in there. south lake tahoe currently raining. it has been snowing, though. temperatures in the 50s, 60s. here's a gloomy wet picture. a welcome sight from the kgo roof camera. waves of showers tonight and wednesday. looking at a chance of thunderstorms, unsettled pattern into next week. we still have a couple more systems coming but nowhere near the intensity of this one. cold front came through, heavy rain as you all recall. now we're waiting for that second round of waves of showers and thunderstorms coming in late tonight going into your wednesday as that trough comes

in. here's the computer animation. scattered showers at 7:00 tonight. make sure to have your rain gear rarnd. at 2:00 a.m., moderate to heavy rain. 5:00 a.m. for the commute, look out for wet roadways. we could deal with more wet roadways towards 9:00 a.m., possibly minor flooding. the rain started picking up here. 10:00 a.m., still looking at moderate pockets of rain and as we head towards the evening commute, the rain lets up a little bit but still wet roadways for the evening rush. 11:00 p.m., the showers start to wind down. by 11:00 p.m. wednesday night, we are looking at an additional half an inch to an inch and a half for most lower elevations. santa cruz mountains, north bay mountains, up to three additional inches of rain. in the sierra nevada, winter storm warning remains up until thursday at 4:00 a.m., two to three feet for the higher peaks, 12 to 18 inches at 7,000 foot elevations. chain restrictions are likely so make sure you carry your chains if you are heading up. tomorrow morning, make sure you have rain gear. temperatures start out in the

50s. you will need the raincoat and the boots for the little ones and scattered showers with a chance of thunder for tomorrow afternoon. temperatures will be in the upper 50s to mid 60s. accuweather seven day forecast, showers and thunderstorms tomorrow, lingering showers on thursday. another system comes in. it's going more to the north so we have a chance of some rain in the bay area on friday. saturday is dry. sunday, late night, north bay has a chance of rain going into monday but that system doesn't look quite as impressive either. at least we have opportunities for rain which right now is a welcome sight up here. i'm seeing a lot of rain coming down. it just picked up. make sure you have your umbrellas around right on through the end of the week. cheryl, larry? >> sandhya, thanks. still ahead, will you buy your car again? coming up, 7 on your side's partners with consumer reports to reveal the cars people love the most and the models drivers regret buying. at 6:00, santa's new helper on duty for the first time today. how he's designed to make your holiday merry and bright.

would you buy the car you have now again knowing its history? >> perhaps. consumer reports partnering exclusively with 7 on your side's michael finney to reveal the cars that drivers love and hate the most. >> exactly. i know you would buy yours again. love yours. >> i do. yeah. >> that's what they were asking people. that's what it comes down to. consumer reports surveyed 350,000 car owners. here are the most and least loved cars out of nearly 300 covered in the survey. greg loves his corvette and is buying another high performing corvette stingray to take on the track. >> when you are in that car and you hit the road, you just feel great. >> consumer reports' survey shows 95% of corvette owners say they would buy a corvette stingray again. making it the best loved sports car.

mazda also has a loyal following. 81% of mazda 6 owners said they would definitely buy it again. mazda 3 owners are also enthusiastic. >> mazda is really on the rise in terms of voter satisfaction because of great fuel economy and a sporty driving experience. >> the subaru forester is the best loved small suv and for midsized suvs, the toyota highlander v-6. the best loved car of all? the tesla model s. 98% of owners said they would definitely buy it again. then there are the least loved cars. the nissan versa is down at the bottom. only 42% of owners said they would re-up. >> it's noisy. the interior feels cheap. >> others at the bottom of the owner satisfaction list, the jeep compass at 43% and the kia ria at 46%. not much better, the nissan pathfinder, only 52% of current

owners say they would definitely buy the pathfinder again. hybrid owners are especially happy with their cars, according to consumer reports' survey. the honda accord hybrid is the most loved midsized and the toyota prius c is the best loved subcompact. >> cheryl drives like a lot of those stunt drivers. >> i'm very cautious. this was not so cautious. rappeling off the side of a tall building in the rain to raise money and awareness for kids. after the break, we take you to san jose, where dozens of brave sou

coming up on abc 7 news at 6:00, our team storm watch coverage continues. we take you live to tahoe, under a winter storm warning tonight, but it isn't all good news for ski resorts. and a look at the new face

of california's republican party and a historic first for the gop in the state. plus how much can you rely on those yelp online business reviews? 7 on your side's michael finney has a look at the implications of one wrong review. that's all coming up in half an hour on abc 7 news at 6:00. >> ama, thank you. some real life super heroes braved the rain. >> and 26 stories, to help children fight drug and alcohol addiction. >> nearly 100 people scaled down from the rooftop of the san jose marriott after a slight rain delay this afternoon for what's called the shatter-proof challenge. >> organizers hope the event will raise awareness and help bridge the gap between funding and resources for kids battling addiction. >> change the dialogue. this is a disease. it's not moral character. it's not bad choice. this is a chronic brain disease and needs to be treated as such. >> this is the second year for the challenge. it's raised $1.5 million since

last user's event. "world news tonight with david muir" is next. >> . welcome to "world news tonight." the extreme weather hitting right now. the winter weather alerts, freezing rain, dangerous driving in the east. and the huge storm hitting the west. mudslides, flash floods, families forced to evacuate. ginger zee is right here. the dramatic pictures seen for the first time. the explosion, the dangers posed by certain lithium batteries carried on passenger planes. batteries used in cell phones and laptops. what's being done? breaking news. the deadly school bus crash late today. the buses colliding. children rushed to the hospital. and the sudden blackout in a major american city. the evacuations. and tonight, what caused it? good evening. and it