morning, and merry christmas to everyone out there. looking live for you right now at the iconic golden gate bridge. millions across the bay area and the golden state wake up to a christmas like never before. and we are expecting the skies to open up and bring some christmas showers to the bay area. meteorologist kari hall is tracking the time line so can you plan out your day. good friday morning and merry christmas. i'm kira klapper in for laura. >> and i'm marcus washington. meteorologist kari hall is here with christmas cheer and that forecast with some much-needed rain. yes, we are so looking

forward to seeing all the showers moving in. you can see the rain just off the coast. we'll be tracking this with storm ranger as we go into today starting out with showers starting to make it into parts of marin county and sonoma county, lighter showers there. as we get a closer look we can see it extending up through ukiah and clear lake with spotty sprinkles over to napa. we're going to see the radar filling in as we go into today. more of the showers coming in. first in the north bay and spreading elsewhere across the bay area. so it's going to be busy as we head through the next several days as we track several storm systems coming in. the next one between sunday night and monday morning, and then there's another one behind that that could bring us a chance of rain on wednesday. we'll have a look at the time line coming up. a look live outside at the bay bridge toll plaza. if you're about to head out to work it is all good. maybe you can hang out with us and sip that coffee before you

head out on this christmas day. i'll have another update coming up in a few minutes. looking forward to seeing you then, kari. thanks. it's a christmas day many of us won't soon forget as the surge in covid-19 continues. this morning more than 329,000 americans will not be celebrating with their loved ones. they are the stark reminders of the losses we have all suffered this year. and the fear of what's to come if people do gather this holiday season. "today in the bay's" cierra johnson is in san francisco. hospital workers there who are already stretched thin are racing for what may come. >> reporter: good morning, kira. that's exactly what's happened. all week we've been providing updates on people traveling across the nation and here in the bay area. we did get updated numbers from the tsa. 1 million americans have gone through tsa, millions have hit the skies and millions others

have hit the road. as you mentioned those health care providers already stretched thin, hearing that news making them more nervous because of the surge that can follow the holiday. several bay area counties are already below 15% availability with contra costa county at 12% availability for icu beds. santa clara at 6% and san mateo at 3%. some counties like marin at 19%, solano county at 21%, have less than a quarter of their icu beds available. it isn't just the bay area concerned about the spread. for the second day in a row l.a. county reported a record high number of deaths. health care providers have issued a warning to stay put but many worried the pleas have fallen on deaf ears. >> i can tell you how many patients i have watched die, watched die alone. >> reporter: and as health care providers and local leaders

worry about the number of bay area residents traveling but santa clara and sonoma are adding more testing sites to their communities. there will be several new sites in both counties, and they'll be free and will deliver test results within 72 hours. our website has listed that information with the hours and addresses. and as the united states works to contain and get our own situation under control there is still that worry about that mutated coronavirus in the united kingdom that was announced this week that united airlines will require travelers from the uk to provide a negative test that is to prevent the spread of that strain of the virus we've been told can spread as much as 70 times faster as the virus already out and about. a lot to keep in mind as you celebrate your holiday today with your family whether within the city or abroad. live in san francisco, cierra johnson for "today in the bay." >> thanks, cierra. live to washington, d.c.,

for you this morning. to capitol hill and there is nothing happening there right now, as you can imagine. lawmakers away for the holidays. in the meantime relief for struggling americans is in a struggle of its own. congress has sent their recently approved stimulus bill to president trump who is now at mar-a-lago. the president has been seen playing golf, greeting guests, but it's not clear if he will sign the bill. as reported. >> reporter: one of millions desperate for help going into the dark of winter. >> we're going to have to pay taxes in april, and it's like for what? what have they done for us? nothing. >> reporter: the president demanding congress boost direct payments from the $600 the administration had supported to $2,000 now. >> to apply only to the minority leader. >> reporter: a democratic effort to do just that blocked by house

republicans -- >> merry christmas. >> reporter: with federal unemployment insurance, rental assistance and other critical programs set to expire this week, lawmakers from both parties appealing to the vacationing president's better angels. >> this is christmas eve. surely the president of the united states, whether he's in mar-a-lago or any place else ought to empathize with the pain and suffering and apprehension and deep angst the american people are feeling this christmas eve. and sign this bill. >> i hope the president looks at this again and reaches that conclusion that the best thing to do is to sign the bill. >> reporter: the house plans to return to washington december 28th. democrats will force a full house vote on increasing direct payments to $2,000. if by the end of the day the president hasn't signed the combined covid relief and spending bill passed on monday or another extension the government shuts down.

>> that was garrett hak reporting for us. last-minute christmas shopping on christmas eve. this was santana row just before 6:00 yesterday. it was busy but not packed. safe distancing thanks in part to capacity limits including in the most recent health order. in walnut creek a similar scene there. a few people out last minute with masks on finishing their gift buying. >> i think it's better to be grateful for what we do have instead of splurging and indulging. the few times i have come out the mall has been empty except for today. i probably picked the worst day to come out. >> many stores at malls and main street are reporting a steady number of customers. an east bay family got the best christmas present, finding out grandma was coming home

after winning her battle. >> jonathan bloom has the story from walnut creek. >> reporter: sam issa said all he wanted for christmas was his 83-year-old mother safe and healthy again, back at home in concord. this christmas eve that wish came true. >> i love you, mom. >> reporter: sam issa is breathing a huge sigh of relief. >> i was miserable. my mom is the cornerstone of our family. >> reporter: it started when two of her grandkids tested positive. >> my sister got covid from work. she worked at a grocery store. >> reporter: for them it was mild. for 83-year-old miriaryam issa, was not. >> she finally went when she finally couldn't breathe. >> reporter: she waited 11 days with a fever, still haunted by the last time she saw her husband alive. >> my dad passed away. she saw him go in but he never

came out. >> this virus is scary. >> reporter: even scarier for maryam to be here alone, who doesn't speak english. >> everyone was calling every day making sure she was okay. >> i said, mom, you have to think you can beat this thing. she said, i have no doubt in my mind i can beat this thing. but she started crying because she misses us and the grandkids. >> reporter: after four days of treatment doctors said maryam's levels were back up. >> she looks good. >> reporter: and gave her the green light to go home. >> thank you. appreciate it really a lot. i'm at a lot for words how much i can thank you. >> reporter: say what you will about a christmas miracle. >> we're just glad to have her back. what's the chances an 83-year-old comes back home after they get corona? it's a beautiful christmas

already. >> reporter: in walnut creek, jonathan bloom, nbc bay area news. >> at the risk of sounding trite, that is a christmas miracle indeed. i am thrilled for maryam and her family. hopefully they have a beautiful day together today. >> that story requires a little music this morning for us. ♪ >> just a little christmas cheer. the oakland zoo may not be allowed to have any visitors but that didn't stop the zoo keeper from spreading much-needed holiday cheer. the christmas classic "jingle bells" on a baritone horn for the animals there. it looks like they're listening. >> it really does.

it is 6:10 and time to collected in with meteorologist kari hall who is not physically in the building with us. you know what i remember, kari, every christmas you and your mom make these borbon balls and bring them to the newsroom. your absence is felt. we miss you. >> oh, thank you. those borbon balls will be made today and maybe will have to mail you some. >> no pressure but i'll send you my address. let's see what's going on because we're so excited about the rain coming in to the bay area. we know we have an extreme drought and especially storm systems like this that won't cause a lot of problems. just bring rain. we're looking at widespread light rain into sonoma county. lake and mendocino seeing the late showers.

as we watch this system arrive it will bring in the heaviest showers into the north bay. as we get you out the door with a look at the commute in the tri-valley, a live look at dublin and you can count the cars there. two of them within view. mostly dry here. once again the rain arriving later on. if you're driving into san francisco, thank you for being an essential worker and working on this christmas. we'll take a look at the weather and traffic coming up in a few minutes, marcus and kira. coming up next, marcus, i'm going to put you on the spot. do you remember this interview, oprah famously at michael jackson's neverland ranch almost 30 years ago. that made the sprawling over the top mansion iconic. the late pop star's home.

you're watching "today in the bay."

it's 6:15 and serious question about a program at san francisco public utilities commission designed to give back to the community. some say the well intentioned program is vulnerable to abuse and worried people are cashing

in. >> here is what we've learned. >> reporter: from this nondescript office building dwayne jones has made quite a living on a unique program he, himself, helped create. records show jones and his consulting firm rdj enterprises partnered with the san francisco public utilities commission back in 2011 to craft this community benefits program. >> 84 contracts with social impact commits to date. >> reporter: it gives contractors and consultants extra credit to donating to schools and nonprofits. they can get up to a 5% boost in their overall bid score based on how they pledge to make donations over time. >> so far $6 million has been donated. >> this money was given out in the dark with no public input, no transparency and no oversight.

>> reporter: theresa foglio-ramirez represents many. she says while the program sounds like a good idea she worries its closed door process makes it vulnerable to abuse. >> do you have a problem with community benefits? >> not at all if it goes through what it's supposed to. >> reporter: critics question how jones could be on the payroll for both the sfpuc and the firms the agency does business with. >> you either work for this side or this side but never for both sides. >> reporter: since 2011 seven firms tapped jones to craft community benefits proposals. helping them score jobs on sfpuc projects. jones separately got $7.1 million working as a community benefits consultant on five large public projects acting as a go-between. and for much of the time jones worked directly for the sfpuc under a $900,000 consulting contract inked in 2017 and met

routinely with sfpuc upper management including former general manager harlan kelly. >> after 30 years being in this industry i see it getting from bad to worse. >> reporter: a construction management consultant who has been hired by the sfpuc over the years and is now an ardent critic. >> i see dwayne working for the contractors or the vendors and at the same time he's being paid by the city. so, to me that's also double dipping, that's also a conflict of interest. >> reporter: a nonprofit tied to jones, the southeast consortium for equitable partnership, has flourished under the programs. nearly one out of every $7 went to the consortium. records show his business partner and wife formed the consortium and is run out of jones' bayview office

distributing money to other nonprofits who add they were never paid and left the board in june. jones won't go on camera but tells us he has no financial ties to the consortium and has always been scrupulous to avoid any conflict. but gordon mar wants an investigation. >> the scandal here at city hall, it's even more important now than ever to ensure there's proper accounting. >> the program fosters strong communities in the neighborhoods we serve and say they're pledging more transparency and will cooperate with the city's audit expected next year. nbc bay area news. michael jackson's neverland ranch now has a new owner. the home located just outside of santa barbara.

a billionaire who is co-owner of the pittsburgh penguins and an investor purchased for $22 million. the ranch has a pool, seats 50 theater and a dance studio. it also has a train and train station to carry visitors across the home. not so much a white christmas but a wet christmas. >> so much more of a gift for us. we see the rain moving in. storm ranger is powered up. that's tracking the rain that's mostly off the coast. it's already starting to rain in parts of the north bay. as we get a closer look a lot of light green so light showers and

we'll get more heavy as we go into the evening. as we widen out the view you can see how much more rain moving through the bay area as we go into today and moving north to south. i want to show you the forecast in san jose as we take a look at the clouds starting to move in. clouds tloud the day and temperatures reaching into the 60s. now here the rain doesn't arrive until after sunset. temperatures cooling off. for all of the bay area the time line with the north bay covered with rain and then we start to see some yellows and oranges. into the east bay it's still going to be off and on with the showers starting this afternoon. most of it clearing out as we go into tomorrow morning and tomorrow afternoon is pretty much sunny.

the potential of decent amounts of rainfall for the north bay up to close to an inch of rain for ukiah and over to napa. less than that for areas south of the golden gate bridge. for the sierra looking good. this initial storm system bringing up to a food of snow for the upper elevations but more snow coming in through the end of the forecast and look at what happens by next week. we could see potentially close to three feed of snow. our forecast is also going to be busy here. every other day tracking storm systems. saturday is looking dry as well as tuesday. other than that we'll have some rain in the forecast. and we'll have another update coming up in just a few minutes. marcus and kira? >> thanks, kari. this christmas people urged to stay away from large gatherings and not make the trip to see their parents. >> this year a lot of people had who move back with their folks because of the struggles brought

on by the pandemic. up next a closer look at opportunities that may lie ahead for them. you are watching "today in the bay" on this christmas morning.

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6:25. with unemployment still extremely high and many industries unable to reopen thanks to coronavirus, a new trend has developed impacting millennials at a shocking rate. cnbc's diana olick has more. >> reporter: ellen goldberg hasn't lived in her childhood

home in new jersey for over a decade. when covid shut down her beloved theater industry she was suddenly unemployed and unable to pay rent. >> i know about half my friends are living with their parents or had to give up their apartments because they don't know how they'll pay rent. >> reporter: nearly 50% more renters are moving back in with they are parents compared with pre-covid. millennials are moving back most up 75% from a year ago. >> you are a complete independent adult, had a career you were really proud of and an apartment you were proud of and it's all taken away in a matter of days. >> her parents see it a little differently. >> it's a surprise we didn't know we would get. we're looking at it as a gift. >> reporter: a gift with some surprise expenses. >> we've just put some more money into the house. the most important thing was upping the wi-fi because now we

have three people and a lot of devices. >> reporter: they're not making big changes because ellen says the minute broadway opens she's got back and beleaguered new york city will likely offer her a gift, cheaper rent. >> i'm very excited that hopefully it might be a renter's game when i go back. >> reporter: there has been a shift in the housing market. builders are reporting bigger demand than ever for multigenerational floor plans. in other words this may not be temporary at all. diana olick, cnbc, washington. 6:27. up next, a popular sitcom star back in the headlines. up next the growing pains he says he's fighting against with the help from hundreds of supporters. that's next for you. you're watching "today in the bay."

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right now at 6:30, tracking the christmas showers around our region. a live look across the bay area. meteorologist kari hall is watching when the rain will hit your neighborhood. and a good morning to you and merry christmas to you all. i'm marcus washington. >> and i'm kira klapper in for laura garcia who is enjoying the morning off. we are tracking holiday rain as marcus just said. meteorologist kari hall has a busy morning looking gorgeous in red, if i might add. oh, thank you. merry christmas. all right, we're looking at a lot of green here on the radar

as we track the incoming rain with storm ranger and that's the red scan that you're seeing there around the bay area. some of the north bay is already getting in on that wet weather. our little christmas gift that comes in the form of rain along with gusty winds at times but it's a wet morning. we'll see the rain continuing to spread by late morning into early in the afternoon. parts of the south bay, though, may not see this rain until later on this evening so i'm tracking the time line. we'll talk more about how much rain to expect coming up. i wanted to get you out the door with a live look at the san mateo bridge. thank you for being an essential worker. there's a few people out on the roads so maybe you can relax for a little while longer and watch more of "today in the bay." i'll have another update coming up in a few minutes. thanks so much. at 6:31 we are following breaking news on this christmas morning out of tennessee where there has been an explosion in

downtown nashville. you can see this fire and a bomb squad has been called in because it appears a parked rv exploded causing damage to several buildings. at least one was destride. people say they felt the explosion for miles. again, this just happened within the last two hours in downtown nashville. it appears an rv exploded causing damage to buildings in and around the melting pot in downtown nashville. we will keep you posted as we learn more. to our top story here at home, a question many of us are grappling with, should i take a risk and gather with friends and family? >> despite warnings, cavalry

chapel continues to defy orders even holding a christmas eve mass. "today in the bay's" sergio quintana reports. >> reporter: during christmas eve services calvary chapel pastor remind defiant against county health orders against indoor church services. he drew a parallel to julius caeser. >> he wanted to worship but only god can be worshipped and only god is worthy of our praise. >> reporter: wore shipping with him was ted glass. >> each and every person here, not just the senior pastor but each and every single person says this is important enough to me and my fais and to go out and know, hey, i don't think there's a risk. >> reporter: glass says he wanted to show support even though glass is holding his services in a tent outside his church.

as church members come out of services tonight this is the latest hosted by the church in defiance of health orders. according to one of the assistant pastors as of last week the church racked up about $800,000 in administrative fines for defying health orders. an attorney representing cavalry chapel says churches should be considered essential businesses. >> you have churches in tier one completely banned but you have a lot of others allowed to remain open. that is discrimination. >> reporter: gathering in large groups especially indoors and without wearing masks. >> we cannot emphasize enough this is a matter of life and death. so please do not gather. celebrate with just those in

your household. >> reporter: sergio quintana, "today in the bay." >> reporter: now to los angeles where kirk cameron is getting more backlash for holding yet another christmas caroling event in southern california. the event was put on in protest because county health orders bar churches from holding indoor services. many people were singing without wearing masks and not social distancing, as you can see in the video. here is an excerpt of a passionate speech made to all carollers about covid. >> there is immunity in community. and there is devastation in isolation. >> cameron's sister, by the way, star candace cameron says she did not attend the event because she is strictly following guidelines but did add she doesn't appreciate any vile

tweets about her family. it took california nine months to hit 1 million case when is the pandemic began. but to get to 2 million cases, which we hit this week, it only took 41 days. a little more than one month. these aren't just numbers, these are people getting sick and filling up icu wards across the bay area and across the country. listen to these doctors and nurses wondering what's next. >> there's an overall feeling of anxie anxiety, fear, and uncertainty as we head into christmas and the new year. >> every day i look into the eyes of someone who is struggling to breathe. they want to be home with their families. >> hospitalizations have doubled in the last month. the number of icu beds in hospitals continue to drop. a little more than 9% of icu beds are open now in the bay area. san mateo, santa clara and

contra costa counties in the red with less than 50% available. marin and solano in the orange hovering around 20%. plans for a party that instantly put an entire county on edge have been canceled. graton casino was preparing for an indoor new year's eve party with 4,000 guests. sonoma county officials said they were powerless in this because this is on tribble land and they have no jurisdiction. leaders tell us they pulled the plug on the party. at least one sonoma county supervisor says the planned party was not as bad as it may have sounded. >> in this day and age it's never going to come across right but i think they were trying to limit the occupancy of the casino to about a quarter of what it usually is. so even though it comes across as a very large party of 4,000, that's only a quarter of what a

typical new year's eve any other year might be like at the casino. >> the party has been removed in the website. some 3,000 christmas eve meals were delivered to people in need. this is at san francisco's glide church. it's a tradition there. a lot of organizations have been working around the clock to provide food for so many in need and we here at nbc bay area and our entire "today in the bay" team have been reporting this season the need is greater than we've seen in a long time. our former colleague sam brock reports people are also stepping in to help. >> reporter: on christmas week a crush of cars in san antonio waiting. >> the need has only strengthed. >> they got emotional.

they break down in tears. >> reporter: the lone star state is not alone they help 200,000 families a week put food on the table including debbie and her three kids. >> it's not a position you want to be in. i don't want to ask for help but i have no choice at this point. >> reporter: some of these cars have been out since 3:00 in the morning and about 500 of them just in this field. not just because it's a holiday week either. this is normal. >> happy holidays. >> reporter: coast to coast a crisis deepens. feeding america estimates food insecurity at 50 million people, the equivalent of the populations of texas and florida combined. but grassroots help is pouring in. in cities like los angeles, community frijs are popping up where volunteers gather extra food from restaurants, bakeries and neighbors.

>> it's amazing. if you stop by, you drop off food and come back two hours later. it's empty again. >> reporter: these frijs are kept in homes, small businesses, some are even on the street with those unable to contribute food bringing other items. >> maybe you are food insecure but you have access to something or know someone who does and you can bring things. >> reporter: in florida jolene does that, picks up food for her kids and drops off blankets. >> everyone has to help everyone. >> reporter: that's the only way to get through this? >> yes. >> reporter: cure of warmth in a pandemic. sam brock, west palm beach. as we've been telling you our nourishing neighbors food drive is going on right now. it is christmas day today. if you are running out to get last-minute things at safeway we would appreciate if you donate $10 at the check-out. that will go to local food banks. our drive goes through december 29th. we know it's hard for everyone

right now if you can pitch in $10 it would make a huge difference. now to some bay area first responders spreading holiday cheer to a family in need. >> the fire academy adopted a family to give them special holiday. the crew pooled their money and gave the family gifts and food. >> that's beautiful. coming up for you next, dare i say this, we are taking a look back at 2020. oh, yes. the good, the bad, and the scary. >> let's not. >> we'll talk about it right after the break. 6:41.

merry christmas to you. right now at 6:43 let's take a live look outside as we're checking out the view in santana row, and it's nice and quiet this morning. i love that scenery there. so nice. all right. so if you wake up and maybe you're heading out the door, have the umbrella. we'll see some rain coming in. i'm tracking this on storm ranger. we'll talk about the time line of the rain and what else we can expect in the forecast coming up if a few minutes. we'll see you then, thanks. it is nearly impossible to state a global pandemic connected us in tragedy while forcing us to stay apart. >> many people went into the streets for action, a record number of wildfires and climate

change. in all the chaos we found ways to lift each other up and hope for a better tomorrow. >> joe rosato jr. on a year no one will ever forget. >> reporter: it's customary to ring in the new year with fireworks and cheers. >> happy new year. >> reporter: when 2020 rolled in, no one had any idea the real fireworks were to come. and a january that seems like another lifetime -- >> president trump -- >> reporter: headlines were dominated with president trump's impeachment hearings. the san francisco 49ers clawed their way into super bowl liv only to lose to the kansas city chiefs. we were thinking about the upcoming olympics, we were

soaking in the promise of a new year, a clean start. as we went about our lives heading to jobs, gathering with family and friends, a story about an emerging virus in a place called wuhan, china, began to make its way from the back pages of newspapers to the front. >> an unprecedented morning in the coronavirus crisis. >> a plan under way to get passengers and coronavirus patients off the "grand princess." >> we have never faced anything like this before. >> reporter: the covid-19 virus spread around the world slowly and quickly making its way to the u.s. >> a lot of concerns and questions. >> reporter: the unthinkable came across the country as cities began to close up, ordering people to stay home to stop the spread. >> the order, stay at home for three weeks. >> police departments are stepping up patrols. >> reporter: schools, businesses, churches emptied as hospitals filled. >> as we cope with the new reality of social distancing. >> reporter: we lined up at grocery stores to find empty

shelves. >> a surreal scene keep playing out in grocery stores. >> reporter: windows disappeared behind boards. life and learning increasingly zoomed into the virtual world. >> i cannot -- >> reporter: we learned new terms, social distancing, bending the curve, herd immunity and the newest fashion accessory, a mask. >> i never thought it would be an essential thing to do. >> reporter: amid the heartbreak and hardship we saw people rising up, pitching in to make masks, hand sanitizer, electricians delivering groceries. >> feels good to help people. >> reporter: drive-by birthday parties and graduations. with the virus spreading the number of sick rose and the number of deaths crept into the thousands. it was the single death of a much different kind that would change the country. on may 25th in minneapolis, minnesota, george floyd died

after a police officer used his knee to restrin him at the neck. >> his death energized a movement. >> reporter: statues many found offensive toppled, called to defund police became a reality in parts of the bay area and beyond. schools like uc berkeley began to rename some buildings. demonstrators united behind three words. in august lightning strikes created a ring of fire around the bay area leaving a path of devastation in their wake. >> everyone has lost hope. >> reporter: a month later the glass fire erupted destroying 1,600 buildings including more than 300 homes. >> getting to be too much to bear. >> i thought the apocalypse is here now. >> that orange, dirty smoke

that's blanketing -- >> reporter: so big and smoky we woke up to what looked like burning sky. >> reporter: soon after the smoke cleared the bay area and the nation headed to the polls. or more often to the local ballot box in an unprecedented election. we watched as the east bay's own kamala harris became the first black woman to be elected vice president in an election that drew record number of voters, even during a pandemic. >> normal it will not be. as we waited for a cure we learned to navigate covid times, dining moved outdoors. some students returned to classrooms learning behind plexiglas. >> we're in it together. >> reporter: the weeks after thanksgiving exploded with new hospitalizations with the virus and nationwide pandemic death toll passed 300,000.

as hospital icus threatened to burst at the seams hope arrived in the form of a new vaccine. the first sleeves were rolled up as vaccinations rolled out. >> it offers peace of mind in terms of safety for my family. >> reporter: a glimmer of hope that a year few will be sorry to see go but no one will ever forget. with hopes for a better new year, joe rosato jr., nbc bay area news. great story there, joe. hard to imagine all of that happened in one year. i want to switch gears quickly before we get to the forecast. we have the cdc guidelines on how to safely serve tonight's christmas dinner if you have people coming over. so some of these are interesting. first, no buffet style.

one person should prepare the entire meal and each plate individually and then serve the plate. here is a tough one. cook outside if possible. don't forget to wear a mask while cooking and serving your guests. tables should be six feet apart, wash your hands consistently, and no sharing. that is impossible to do in my house. i have two little boys and everything they eat i end up eating because it ends up on the floor and that's what i end up eating. >> you're all in the household so it makes that better. >> that's true. i think we pass the cdc guidelines. and it's just going to be the four of us. kari, what's it looking for you? >> it's just the five of us. my mother lives with me so good to have her here helping to take care of the kids and cook, soon. she'll be up soon already getting the turkey ready. it will be rainy outside making it hard for people who want to eat or cook outside today.

if you have a covered area that may be better because we're starting to see that rain moving into parts of the north bay. we'll track this with storm ranger. if you have the nbc bay area app as the rain starts to approach, it sends you a push alert. as we take a look at what's happening right now, that rain moving into the north bay a lot more off the coast as we go into today. we are looking at not only one but two, even three more storms coming our way. we have another one that will be coming in sunday night into monday morning and then another system right behind that that will be arriving wednesday into new year's eve. a look at the time line. we'll stop it here at about 1:00 this afternoon. the rain covering the north bay and the yellows and the oranges that indicates heavier rain and we'll see that mostly in the north bay but the rain spreading into the rest of the bay area this afternoon.

we'll wake up with a few lingering showers. generally it will clear as we go into tomorrow afternoon. there is the possibility of over half an inch of rain for a lot of those spots. maybe a tenth to a quarter of an inch of rain into the east bay. for the sierra the first round comes if here and brings some snow but it doesn't look like a lot, up to about a foot for kingvale. and then as we go to early next week another storm system coming in. over the course of about a week there's the potential we could get close to three feet of snow in the resorts and upper elevations in the sierra. the forecast is about to get busy. we have rain today. dry mostly tomorrow and then more rain in the forecast sunday night into monday. kira and marcus? the 49ers gearing up for

tomorrow's game in arizona against the cardinals. the niners officially out of playoff contention but still a good game to watch. you can watch it here on nbc bay area at 1:30. and we hope you do. next, a look at our top stories including all eyes on you. in a live report why your decisions today could spell out what happens in the weeks to come. you're watching "today in the bay."

welcome back. it's 6:57. we want to bring you back to our breaking news out of nashville where there has been an explosion in downtown in the area of second and commerce. a parked rv exploded. it caused damage to several buildings and caused a massive fire. the bomb squad has been called in to investigate and nashville police minutes ago said they have reason to believe this explosion was intentional. >> a quick look at the top

stories we're following this morning. >> let's begin with cierra johnson who is following anxious health care workers worried about christmas gatherings. cierra? >> reporter: good morning, we've been letting you know how many folks are traveling this holiday season and now a better ideas with tsa reporting 1 million people have traveled within the last three days. that is making health care workers nervous as we could see the surge after the holiday season. let's talk about the icu beds. several bay area counties are below that bed capacity. san mateo county is at 3%. marin, 19%. it isn't just the bay area working to contain the spread. in southern california for the second day in a row los angeles county reported a record high number of coronavirus related

deaths. and back to that travel, we did learn this week united airlines is doing a lot to help contain the mutated strain coming from the united kingdom. negative tests before they board. cierra johnson for "today in the bay." all right. let's take a live look out there. it's beautiful as the sun rises. taking a look at storm ranger that's scanning the sky around the bay area and so we're going to be tracking the rain throughout the day and, of course, all the latest updates on nbcbayarea.com. and the rain will be off and on for today. as we head over to you, marcus and kira, it's going to be a beautiful day watching the rainfall. i hope you'll have a merry

christmas. >> thanks so much and thanks to all of you for making us a part of your christmas morning. we appreciate it. a live look, santana row. merry christmas to you all. back here next week. good morning and merry christmas. a day for traditions, faith and family, more important this year than ever before as the pandemic alters the way we celebrate festivities across the country and throughout the world, taking on a much different feel, but in many ways very much the same, with a lot of love, laughs and today, christmas day, friday, december 25th, 2020. and hi, everybody, good morning, welcome to this special christmas edition of "today," we're always happy when you wake