the storm that tore through the area has turned deadly. >> one pern has died. he was staying in a tent whe the tree fell. >> yeah, the victim is identified as gail fall agoos of madison, alabama. she died at the scene but also in the tent with her when she died was her seven-year-old granddaughter. take a look at pictures we have for you from this morning from sky 7 hd. the sheri's deputy says about 9:00 lat night a larg oak tree came down in a storm that

brought strong winds and hey rains. about 20 people in a group known as roahodes scholars were campi. it offers high quality, thick safari tents, not like roughing it at all. the gramother stopped off to pick up her grand daughter and the girl was traed with the dying grandmother. >> there was a at the prent time right next-door with a father and soon. and they heard the initial crash and heard screaming. they went outside and saw wh happen. and luckily they had a pair of scissors in their tent and were able to cut through the canvas to take the seven year gir out. she's unhurt physically >> a crane had to be called in to get that okay tree off the

tents and he cease oak trees down all the time. they're top heavy with a ashallow root sure. only tng you see coming down more often is eucalyptus trees. represents are with the family. moreor you at 5:00 and 6:00. you look at the flags, you can see how strong the winds were and with the roots as wet as they were, winds that strong are knocking dn the tree, somethinwe can understand. a seven-year-old girl with a her father now here in santa rosa. >> really tragic. terry, thanks so much. highway 17 is open again after the wet weather cautioned two accidents early this morning. a tree fell and blocked lanes around 3 a.m.. the chp says a toyota corolla was the first car then a tanker trailer so crashed. officers are warning drivers t

be carel. >> be careful, drive slow enough to know if you came around the corner, yo should be able to stop the vehicle prior to hitting it. >> fortunately no one was hurt. more than 1500 pg&e customers are without power. 250 outages are in the south bay. all are new today caused by high winds. the utility says all the outag from last night's storm have been restored. >> along with the winds there are some showers expected today througut the bay area. >> the wind could be a problem. here's lisa argen. >> here's 24 hour rain totals with an inch and three quarters, santa rosa, over two inches in oakland, san francisco, three-quarte of an inch in livermore. we talked about the wind. still ry gusty. up to 40 mph at the airport.

these winds are expected to stay in the 30 to 35 mile category for gusting throughout the afternoon. that's because there's high pressu building in. but that colder air in place is also generang some showers around venetia looking at wet weather, millbrae and look a this a little rainnow mix around mount hamilton. so san jose tough sun veil, i'm going to talk about a chance of showers for the rest of the year. >> we'll see you later on. well, the storm that hit us last night is now sliding south. causing mudslides and flooding concerns all around southern san francisco. trying to clear out debris tha forced 50 families to evacuate their homes. many could not believe the scope

of the disaster. some homes have a foot of mud in them. the devastation is too much for some to bear. >> i ha nothing. i'm done. all i do is cry and sit here and cry. we need more he. we need big help. >> just a few miles from high land, a hillside that leads to big bear lak gave way. caltran expts the road to be closed throughout the winter. >> in the northeast the weather is better but frustrations are mounting. most flights are taki off and landing as scheduled and on time at the three major airport in the new york city area. the lines are lg as passengers try to get their flights rebooked. this week 5,000 flights were cancelled because of the bad weather. airlines sayany passengers may have to wait until after the new year before they can get on a flight. as for new yorcity streets, some realize dents are furious that roads are still clogged and

the entire neighborhoods. there's calling new york city response dismal. michael bloomberg admitted the city didn't do as well as he had hoped. one convenient private tow trucks and plow operators were on vacation. hundredsf people abandoned cars, blocking streets making it hard nor crews to clear roads. the city has hired nearly 2,000 workers to help out. >> now, our city is using every single resource at our disposal and many more that we've bored and hired to get the five bureaus back up and running. we have a lot more work ahead of us. >> acro the river the mayor in newark, new jersey, is receiving a lost praise. helping to dig south plows, ambulances and cars as well as shoving snow from sidewalks. he has been responding on his

twitter. >> both the goverr and lieutenant govern out of state where one evaluations in flew and another in mexico. >> if your new year's resolution is eat more fruits and veggies, you can expect to pay more. a col snap in the southeast and heavy rain in california has had a devastating effect on farmers. record low terse in florida damaged crops. bright spot is citrus crop. farmers have been able to ice over their trees to protect them. >> san jose policere trying to determine if a man and officer shot late last night is connected to a home invasion robbery.

the incident began about 11:00 when police responded to a 9-1-1 call to a home. theyad received reports of shots fired in the house and one person injured. officers surrounded the ar looking for the suggestio spects. officers spotted a man matching that description t far from the home. >> the officer attempted to make contact with that individual. that individual jumpeinto an awaiting vehic being driven by a female. the vehicle sp towards the officers. one of the officers was able to discharge his firear at the vehicle in order to attempt to stop the immediatthreat. >> investigators say that car did get away but minutes later they received reports of a man with a gunshot wound close by. they're trying to determine if that i the man who was inside the car and so was he involved in the robbery. as for the home, police said it housed an illegal marijuana selling operation. >> still ahead, the nfl

announces its punishment for quarterback brett favre that he sent inappropriate messages to a hostess. the debate over a couple's privacy rits at home. >> what investigators say caused a chair lift accident at a popularr honey...? [ mom ] s. honey, i can't find my iernet cord. oh, i'll borrow hailey's. you're downloading movies. fastfrom here?

where is herord?! we switched to at& high speed internet and gowireless access. no more cords. wireless, okay, honestly, can i just get a cord, plea? dad, the cord's invisle. [ female announcer ] for a limited time, ll to get high speed internet for just $14.95 a mont with a 1-year pre guarantee. it's our fastest intert for the price! oo. videos online? here? how much is that? nothin'. at&t high speed internet at home includes access here. our invisible cord really long, dad. oooh. [ male announcer ] get access to the entire at&t national wi-fi network for no extra crge. so f a limited time, get high speed internet for just $.95 a month with a 1-year price guarane. aren't you glad we switched to at&t? yes...but i want my own invisible cord. you already have one. oh. ♪

>> investigators say high wind

was a primary factor in a chair lift accident at a maine ski areana injured eight people including three childn. state inspectors were sent to sugarloaf ski resort after yesterday's accidents. wind gusts 40 mph were repord around the resort before the lift derailed plummeting five chairs. they haven't said whether mechanical difficulties were at issue. the lift was due to be replaced possibly next summer. >> blizzard conditions are hampering the search for a missing snowboarder at alpine meadow. shante marie willis became separated. search and rescue crews looked for her 4 p.m.. she was near the top of an advanced slope accessible by chair lifts. she lives in south lake tahoe. >> this next story may provoke a

debate in your home about a family reading your e-mail. the husband could face prison time for reading his wife's e-mail. >> leon walker has launched an uncomfortable tional conversation. >> if you look at the letter of the law, he has committed a crime here. >> the michigan man could face prison sim for reading his wife's e-mail. >> i definitely feel it was okay to confirm that reading her e-mail in our home. >> prosecutes disgrew chargg him with hacking. they're private by federal law unless the user allows access. it's triggered talks with dinner tables with commerce asking each other would you peek. >> i think i would tell her first. >> i probly would tell him also. >> sure. but they're null weds. other couple disaee. >> no. >> i mean, once in a while.

i mightake a peek. >> really? >> to be helpful. >> it's illegal and marital minefield. propers are expected to play up the fact the walkers had a divorce case spending. if walker goes to jail for snooping, he probably won't be alone for long. >> i bet we could see more of this to come. >> it's outrageous. it's insane. >> legal experts say you can compare this to opening a spouse's regular mail. but even then they are open questions. what if they weren't married? >> very interesting. >> oh, boy. >> that's going to be a huge debate. lisa argen in now for meteorologist mike nicco. >> very gusty winds and a few showers. a look outside from our high definition emerille camera. and the sun trying to come out. not warming us up too much.

we're looking at the chance of showers fore we say good-bye to 2010. i'll explain next. >> plus the way you buy meat at the grocery store is abouto change.

♪ san francisco cit officials are still hoping for a positive

announcement from larry ellison to have this city host the america's cup. but rhode island says it is still in contention to host the race in newport. its top economic development offial says the city's abou a week or two away from committing. even though there's a december 31st. rhode land is still trying to come up with improving the infrastructure in newport. >> well, the ra is basically gone but the high winds. >> a little breezy. some areas in the north bay not getting out of the 40s. it looks pretty good but you can see how the camera's shaking. sfo wind gusts of over 35 mph. the whitecaps on the bay, a renegade swer in oakland. a little bit of everything going on now but cumulus clouds out there. live doppler 7 hd confirms around clayton and pleasant hill we're looking at showers east of

almoe and also the peninsula. you're seeing pop-up showers. that cold irair moving over the warmer water redwood city, take a look. showers wood acre around the santa cruz mountains. mount hamilton, that's a rain/snow mix. showers soh of san jose and they're going to continue tlult the afternoon, mainly along the peninsula. chains required on 80 and 50, a lull in the action in south lake tahoe right now but more snow is expected and we're looking at the winter storm warning until 4:00 this afternoon. 2 to 3 feet above 7,000 feet. 6 inches at lake level and some very gusty winds. see these temperates now, that's about our highs today. you factor in very gusty winds and it fes even cooler. 50 redwood city, 53 san jose. our highlights, very gusty

winds. napa, sajose you too have some very gusty winds are up to 33 mph. the breezy conditions cool afternoon and isolated showers and that translates into very cold weather tonight as well as tomorrow morning. a little clearing an maybe frost. a chance of showers gonna take us through the end of 2010. here is our satellite picture. the cold front sweeping through and the shufes of the clouds, that's that cold air cum lulls i talked about. that gives us a pretty sky but the showers popping up here and there, espially when you hit over the warmer water. so right on through the afternoon we're looking at slight chanc of rain. overnight take a look what happens. 3 a.m. tomorrow morning light showers and a bit of a break for many of thursday afternoon. we get into new year's eve, look what happens. 1:00 in e afternoon, showers pushing out to the peninsula and by the later afternoon into the

early morning urs 2011 we've got some rain showers. we're not quite done with it yet. this system nothing wh we had yesterday. more of a nuisance rain for new year's eve and new year's day. partly cloudy, breeze, cool. temperatures w 50s from the north bay to the south bay. lower 40s arod cobb mountain and mount hamilton. slipperyoads highway 17 as well and the south bay 50 morgan hill, 52 watsonville. here's the 7-day forecast. breezy day, maybe a shower. partly cloudy through the most part tomorrow but then the showers come in just in ti for new year's eve day and then new year's eve night. you've got a couple of cold nightsntil we actually get into the latter part of the weekend and should see more partly sunny. so a little more rain out there. >> the nfl has fined quarterback

brett favre $50,000 for failing to cooperate with accusations he spend inappropriate message and lewd ptos to a hostess. they cannot conclude he violated the conduct policy but he was not candid during th investigation which resulted in a longer review and negative attention for him and the nfl. he's accused sending those messages to a woman when they were both working for the new york jets. >> nutrition labels found on just about everythi in your grocery store will be required on mea 2012. the u.s. deparent of agriculture made that. officials hope this will make americans more conscious about healthier. labels are required in 1993 but meat was not included except upped a voluntary provision. >> you won't need to buy an

extra 1 or 2 cent stamp and postal rates go up. the service will desiate all new stamps as forever. they're sold for the price of one ounce of first class postage. they'll be good no matter in the postage range chance in the future. they wanted a 1 cent increase but the independent postal ra commission rejected that request. we'll be back in jusa moment. ♪

[ femalennouncer ] with cable's bundle choices, thers not much to see. witht&t u-verse tv, yocan record up to four shows at once on a single dvr. hey. yeah. on my wahome. [ female annouer ] you can even choose wireless voice service. he c't do that with cable. now you have your choice of offers. call today to get u-verse tv and internet plus choose home phone or wireless voice seice starting at $99 a month.

or choose get $300 back via promotion cards with other qualifying bundles. bundle the services that fit your life. with u-verse tv, record and play back your show in anyoom from a single dvr. call now to get three services starting at $99 a month. or choose to get $300 back via promotion cards with other qualifying bundles. ♪ fothe bundle that fits your life, at&t. ♪

>> at a time when state universities are facing budget cuts, dozens of u.c.'s highest paid executives are asking for more money. the executiv are threatening to sue unless the university of california agrees to spend tens of millions to increase their retirement benefits. the executives want the u.c. system to calculate their benefits as a percentage of their entire salary instead of the federally instituted limit of $245,000. hundreds of employees make much more than that. their demands come at at time when u. is trying to eliminate a $21 billion unfunded pension obligation for future employees. >> today at 4:00 oprah winfrey up plugged and unsensored. then on abc 7 at 5:00, an east bay woman arrested on insider

trading. she fed illegal information to her clients. getting our first pictures from the sierra where a snowboarder went missing. >> final check of the forecast. here's lisa. it's windy. still isolated showers. the best chance here on the peniula, the santa cruz mountains. a very cold night tonight, chilly morng. another chance of rain new year's eve day, night and new year and a break from the rain. >> take your rain jacket. >> from all of us at abc 7 news, thanks for joining us.