♪ winter is going out with a bang a snowstorm barrels toward the midwest after slamming the rockies and high plains. selling the stimulus plan. president biden sets off on a how the covid relegal bill will help the average american. the royal rift the buckingham palace brings in an investigators in the wake of harry and meghan's interview a high note at the historic

grammys. "early today" starts right now >> good morning, i'm frances rivera >> and i'm phillip mena. we begin with that historic storm that has hammered the rockies. more snow fell overnight in denver this blizzard was already the city's fourth largest snowstorm in history nbc's gadi schwartz jings us with the latest. good morning >> reporter: hey, phillip, take a look at this this is the denver metro area. you've got more than a foot of snow that's accumulating on the cars we understand about 14 inches or so has fallen. 6 of those thinches happening i about four hours, all up and down the streets this is what we've seen all day long. a snow hitting snowstorm showing its strength up to three feet blizzard conditions as interstates shut down in colorado and wyoming

even news crews needing a hand >> heard you guys needed a hand. >> reporter: a big shoutout to pete >> reporter: over the last few days, snow totals have been hit and miss in places like denver where the runways shut down after 20 inches of snow. >> i love it, we didn't ski because we thought it would be too dangerous to drive really enjoyed >> reporter: dad was out pulling out sleds. >> it felt precovid running out in march random things missing off the shelves. >> reporter: the snow proving lucrative to others. how's thy?mo >> good. >> it's really good. >> reporter: the snow falling, extremely heavy. let me show you how heavy it is look at this the big concern is branches falling on power lines for tens of thousands who have

lost powers, crew working overtime, at least one avalanche reported in the back country, while the weather system twisting into tornadoes, homes damaged, power lines and semis overturned, so far, no significant injuries the forecast called for more mild weather later on in the week >> philip, all of this is expected to stop later in the afternoon. denver international airport says they are planning to on having those flights resume their regular flights after tonight. back do you. >> gadi, thanks. janessa webb with more on where the storm is headed now. good morning, janessa. >> yeah, good morning. good morning, everyone 27 inches on the ground. that's the latest update from the national weather service for the denver area. what happened with the storm system, you can see the low that continues to spin. and it's stalled out for 36 hours across the high plains

now it's starting to transition into the midwest but it's really going to lose its force. right now, forecasting about an inch of snow for the chicago area but the upper midwest. we're going to watch that potential for 3 to 6 inches. there is that dividing line where it's going to collide with warmer air you could see a rain and snow mixture as it starts to make its way to the ohio valley i know the forecast throughout the weekend was concerned about the northeast. this system completely breaks apart. guys >> right, janessa, thank you for the update now, the biden administration kicks off a nationwide blitz to sell the country on the covid relief tomw president biden hits pennsylvania nbc's tracie potts tells us the president isn't taking the popularity for granted >> he's not, frances, they're

trying to explain to the people what's in it and get their buy-in this is the right solution for america and america's economy. take a look, the president, the vice president, the first lady and second gentleman will all be visiting seven stops in five days to try to sell the public on this plan even though there's still criticism on capitol hill by republicans. not one of whom voted for the american rescue plan while democrats argue the money will help families >> by the way, this bill is 90 some percent coronavirus centric. this is similar to the bill that we wrote in may. the heroes act, some of which was implemented in december. much of it now >> to call this covid relief is really false advertising only 9% of the money actually goes to defeating the virus. only 1% of the money goes for vaccines this is a nancy pelosi payoff to the liberal -- liberal left.

>> reporter: well, it's a done deal now, it's law and $422 billion is rolling out in direct payments to taxpayers, to families that money started hitting bank accounts over the weekend, frances. >> all right what a difference that will make for those families, thank you. more than 1 in 5 americans have gotten now at least one dose of the covid-19 vaccine that's according to the cdc which just reported a record-setting weekend of vaccinations but experts fear that states reopening too soon could hurt the progress they've made in the fight against covid. here's morgan chesky >> reporter: crowded scenes that feel prepandemic now playing out in realtime. >> for spring break, we're excited, going open up, have deejays, converts, everything. >> reporter: businesses cashing in on spring breakers,

st. patrick's day customer and moving on. >> i feel like it's pretty much tamed right now. >> reporter: the mixed message on state reopening confusing enough amid the warnings from top health officials >> we are going in the right direction. that's why i get so anxious when i hear pulling back completely on public health measures by say no more masks. that is a risky business when you do that. >> reporter: risk or not, reopening continues in states like texas where this weekend marched the first with 100% capacity and no mask mandate >> totally under control >> everybody as an adult needs to make their own decision i don't think it should be forced >> reporter: in california, los angeles starting their own reopening are the city able to loosen rules after hitting the target of 2 million vaccinated in hard hit areas. the u.s. vaccination rate starting to take off saturday marking an all-time record, 2.9 million americans

receiving shots in arms. in seattle, the country's largest volunteer sites up and running. able to vaccinate 22,000 every day. >> we are going to be at the end of this soon i just want to emphasize every time i say this, we are so close, but we're not there yet >> reporter: progress nationwide, and massachusetts sounded very good. cellist yo-yo ma, celebrating his second shot unlike anybody could. celebrating the pandemic end as the covid numbers do go back, built into the governor's order is an allowance for county leaders to reinstate some of those rules should covid hospitalizations rise more than 15% over seven straight days phillip. >> morgan, thanks for the update rift between britain's royal

family and two of its royal members is deeping buckingham palace is looking into the claims. joining us now is raf sanchez. can't imagine this rift being any deeper but certainly is now with this. >> reporter: frances, phillip, right, the times of london is reporting buckingham palace is bringing in outside investigators. a third party law firm to look into allegations meghan markle bullied members of the staff while stilled in the uk. buckingham palace not officially confirming that. if that's the plan, those investigators are expected to interview royal staff members to gather documents and evidence and generally look at harry and meghan's time as working royals. i should say harry and meghan strongly denied those bullying

allegations when it first came up, they said it was a calculated smear campaign run against them in the runup to the interview with oprah winfrey this is playing out while prince phillip, is still in the hospital for what the palace says is a pre-existing condition. he's been there a month now, it's a long stay for a man of his age. it's adding to the stress and worry for what is already a very difficult time for britain's royal family frances. >> with this move, let's see if we hear from harry and meghan at all. raf, thank you time for weather again let's check in with nbc meteorologist janessa webb hey, janessa >> hey, guys we're also watching the severe weather risk getting an update for wednesday afternoon. this has expanded towards the deep south to the southeast.

this is a large area where it will be under enhanced risk, we're going to see a potential for a tornado outbreak in this area it's time to think about your safe spots where you now have 26 million people with strong rockies you're back in the 50s that's a little bit of good news the northeast quite chilly we've dropped temperatures nearly 20 degrees. the march chill, it's back we'll take a look at that forecast coming up >> we can feeling it >> yeah, we can. >> thanks, janessa coming up the women take the stage on the biggest night >> and the city glows with tradition just in time for st. patrick's day. that my joint pain

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taylor swift and billie eilish are just some of musics biggest names celebrating this morning after winning big. it was hosted ed by trevor knoa filled with jokes and historic moments. >> reporter: sunday's grammy awards are not like any before it >> this is not a zoom background, right? this is real >> reporter: held with stars personally distanced in downtown los angeles. dupe d d dua lipa >> sigh wanted to encourage and lift and celebrate. >> reporter: all of the top awards went to female artists.

taylor swift's folklore album of the year billie eilish won record of the year but thought the honor should be bestowed to another nominee. you deserve it honestly. can we just cheer for megan thee stallion >> reporter: but megan took home an award of her own. >> we made it. >> reporter: including george floyd, inspiration "i can't breathe" by her. >> we are the change we wish to see. >> reporter: criticism over past slights. >> we hear the cries for diversity. >> reporter: while watching women dominated night. liz mclaughlin, nbc news and what some destinations are offering to lure back travelers. my psoriatic arthritis, made my joints stiff, swollen... painful.

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♪ in today's quick hits, gas prices continue to soar. the national average price for regular gas now sits around $2.89 a gallon that's a quarter increase in the past three weeks analysts point to higher crude oil prices and oil refinery shutdowns. avatar is back on top after being released james cameron's epic is now the highest released of all time a surprise move the chicago

river was dyed green for st. patrick's day after officials say they were cancelling the event for the street party, though, the city's annual parade does remain cancelled the tsa has seen a surge in air travel which has risen in nearly a year. travelers are heading to vacation spots in mexico and the caribbean. nbc's sam brock has more >> reporter: like a long lost friend, temporarily gonebut no forgotten, the emerald waters of cancun and white sand beaches of jamaica are beckoning to travelers. who has traveled to both locations since january. >> people are how are you doing it, i wipe my seats, wear my mask i get tested often >> reporter: beverly and her husband took advantage of precovid-19 testing offered by the booming hotels in the

mexican state that includes popular destinations cancun and t tulum which has seen 4 million visiting one offering those complementary tests is marriott international. is there an energy to get out and travel >> there's pent-up demand. one thing, testing is very easy to get to. secondly, the vaccine distribution is ramping up beautifully. >> reporter: brian king is president of the union, who acknowledges temperature checks for staff and strict social distancing matter more than everything you're saying it's not just lip service. >> in order to protect our associates who live there, we will enforce the rules >> reporter: there's been a lot of cases in mexico >> i don't think you can look at

mexico as one conglom ggconglomt varies by state. >> reporter: the same has been applied ty eied to puerto rico,d antigua. that doesn't take a 60% cap on occupancy and improved results >> the number of cases in this area is way lower than the rest of the country >> reporter: for added assurance some providers like palace resorts are offering to pay for your quarantine if you test positive onsite with u.s. flights on quintana roa are up the first leg for a return course to travel sam brock, nbc news, miami you really did me a solid with that “maya markdown” on my insurance. here's the deal maya, state farm offers everyone surprisingly great rates.

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♪ ♪ ♪♪ ♪ welcome to monday, everyone. we're still seeing that warm weather across the deep south and that's going to spark a the potential for severe weather tomorrow and wednesday afternoon. cool for the northeast i'm watching another storm system for the pacific northwest. let's look at the rest of the week we're going to see another storm system make its way from the southern plains to the high plains another dose of snow with mild air returning to the northeast and the day before the official start to spring, watching another storm headed to the northeast. guys >> back and forth. >> right janessa, thank you so much people are spring breaking like it's 2019

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for many now is the time for spring break celebrations and if you are in a state like texas, the care-free fun may also be mask-free which, of course, has helped experts on edge nbc's jay gray joins us from south padre island, way on the southern tip of texas. jay, good morning, tell us what you're seeing. >> reporter: yeah, phillip, right now, we're seeing empty d expect at this hour. the early morning waves rolling

in, and in a few hours so will spring breakers pouring into the beach community and pulling off their masks. the island's open. crowds are rolling in. and partying mask-free on south padre island >> yeah. i just feel like it's time to move on with our lives and stuff. and get back out there >> reporter: an opinion apparently shared with texas governor greg abbott who dropped all business restrictions and the statewide mask mandate in time tour spring break >> state is open for business so that means we're open for business we're trying to give the kids something to enjoy their spring break so they come back to the island >> reporter: and they are coming back many aware, but seemingly not that worried about covid-19. >> i don't know. i mean, if i've been exposed to it up until now, i feel like i'm still a healthy human being. i don't know, that sounds so bad to say >> reporter: especially bad for local officials to see the lack

of masks and little social distancing at bars and on the beach and worry about what it could mean long term >> i hope this doesn't come back to create an influx of cases and superspreader or virus incident. >> reporter: as the party and the pandemic continue. yeah and look, a big concern, not only the possibility of spike of infection still on the island, but that the virus could spread as students head back to school. and families back to their communities. philip, frances. >> jay, thank you. we all want to be done with this cowboys fans in texas will know, reminds me of leonlet who supe. the other player knocked him out yet. not quite yet, we can't celebrate yet. >> numbers say it all. the "csi" has left us socially distanced from one another and lacking human

interaction. this is the thing in germany some residents are turning t vo. ance to cuddle with a sheep. you the sessions are free, although they're add, you know

life has never been the same since coronavirus hit. >> development in the coronavirus pandemic are changing by the hour and really having an impact on all of our lives. >> exactly. obviously right here, things are going to look a little bit different from here on out on "today in the bay." but remember, we're here for you. we're just practicing some social distancing of our own. so marcus is in our newsroom, i'm in the studio, high five, too, buddy. we're going to get through it together. >> it's been one year since our lives and the world was thrown into a crisis. we have never faced anything like this before. we want to you know that we are here for you