millions of holiday travelers are hitting the roads and the skies. bay area airports... are seeing the rush. now at noon, millions of holiday travelers are hitting the roads and the skies. bay area airports are seeing the big rush. good afternoon, i'm michelle griego. >> i'm kenny choi. kpix 5's maria medina is live at san jose mineta international airport. the long lines started early

this morning. >> reporter: all right, guys. i want you to gobble this: it is expected to be the busiest thanksgiving travel week in almost a decade. you can see behind me the cars and the people lined up. it's nonstop but nothing compared to what's going on inside. mineta is expecting alone 400,000 travelers starting from last friday to next wednesday. that's up from 15 -- up sa% from last year but they want to help those travelers who are stressed out. >> reporter: is traveling stressful through the holidays? >> of course. >> reporter: it's that time of year. >> you worried about getting to the airport on time. >> reporter: where your stress level. >> where do i go, where's my gate? >> reporter: is likely on the rise. >> if you have a rental car, how long does that take? >> we have a baby so we have to get here early. >> reporter: nearly 50 million americans are traveling for thanksgiving one of the biggest travel weekends in history.

according to aaa and the tsa. >> this is piper. >> reporter: but at san jose mineta international airport, they are helping travelers ease their stress using robots throughout their terminal. i think it's cool. i have never seen anything like it anywhere else. the robot has several features including one of my favorites. it can take a selfie. >> 4, 3, 2, 1. >> reporter: and that's not all. ♪[ music ] >> reporter: live music fills the ground level of terminal b. ♪[ music ] >> reporter: if that's not enough, mineta is using therapy dogs. volunteers bring their companions that slow down the busy travelers. >> it's stressful to travel during the holidays. before you get to the airport i will say yes. >> reporter: but once you get to mineta they hope it's a different story. >> going to put smiles on your faces. happy thanksgiving! >> reporter: all right. so we have been talking to travelers all morning long here

and they actually say that the lines are going pretty smoothly. they have extra tsa on hand here for those lines. not sure what it's going to be like later on today. so the busiest travel days this week today, next sunday, and monday. so you've been warned to come to the airport early. live in mineta, maria medina, kpix 5. definitely pack your patience. farther south at l.a.x., airport officials estimate that 2.3 million people passed through this week and that's not even the busiest hub in the country. l.a.x. comes in third behind atlanta and chicago. is. >> it's showtime for southwest. today marks the first time the airline has operated more than 4,000 flights in a day. representatives from aspects of the airline, meteorologists to maintenance, are in one room to troubleshoot. >> it's our super bowl. we could get off to a great start on wednesday. it transfers into thursday, friday, saturday. so if the network stays ahead

on the stays on schedule, each day is set up for success. >> to ensure success airlines and tsa recommend all domestic travelers arrive two hours before departure. >> a lot of people will be heading to the mountains for thanksgiving. here's a live look at "sierra at tahoe" where that's fresh snow and the flurries continue. wendy aguilar reports on what to expect if you are making the drive. >> reporter: fresh powder coming down as drivers make their way up the mountains. gail and her family had to stop to install chains on the way to idaho. >> we're pretty sure we can make it without the chains but it's safer. >> our son and his family live in emmitt, idaho. >> reporter: for people like pat murphy who live here it's business as usual. >> oh, yeah. i mean, it was fine. um, the driving is not the hard part. the hard part is waiting for everyone to get out of your way with their chains and watching for the pedestrians.

>> reporter: her only concern was getting the snow off her suv. when you saw your vehicle, it was covered in snow. >> relief that my son got up to clean it up for me. [ laughter ] >> reporter: but for this man, the snowstorm was unexpected. how are you feeling? >> i'm not feeling my toes! [ laughter ] >> i don't know. >> reporter: do you have any extra clothes in the vehicle or anything? >> i should have something. it's fine. it should be fine. >> reporter: either way, he is excited to spend the holiday weekend with his loved ones. >> we have blankets and gas station no problems here. >> hopefully extra shoes. back here in the bay area, traffic along 880 was snarled all morning after a deadly crash. a pedestrian was hit and killed. kpix 5's anne makovec has the story. all lanes of 880 are reopened but the backup and

delays lasted all morning. at around 5:45 this morning a pedestrian was hit and killed on the northbound lanes of i- 880 in hayward. the chp had to close all lanes south of the west tennyson off- ramp. they didn't all re-open for almost 3 hours. traffic diverted on to whipple road and thousands were caught in the backup. >> near mission we came down to a traffic jam all the way down. >> reporter: drivers we spoke with say traffic is always bad on and around 880 in hayward to say nothing of the addition of holiday travelers. >> i know it would be billions of dollars to do double-decker freeways. but something has to happen. >> reporter: the accident still under investigation by the chp. in hayward, anne makevoc, kpix 5. new at noon, president- elect donald trump has just filled two more high level posts in his administration. both are going to women. cbs reporter weijia jang has the latest from the white

house. >> reporter: south carolina governor nikki haley is accepting president-elect trump's offer to be the u.s. ambassador to the united nations out of a sense of duty. mr. trump is in florida for thanksgiving. in a statement this morning president-elect trump praised the daughter of indian immigrants saying she has a proven track record of bringing people together. gop donor betsy due voice also accepted the offer. she is his choice to be education secretary. due vose is from michigan and a long time advocate of school choice reform. former rival ben carson in the running to be the next secretary of housing and urban development took to social media media this morning to say an announcement is forthcoming. president-elect trump made be walking back some campaign positions. during an interview with the "new york times" tuesday, reporters live tweeted his shift in policy including his promise to investigate hillary clinton. >> to get a special prosecutor to look into your situation. >> reporter: according to one reporter's tweet, mr. trump

said, i don't want to hurt the clintons. i really don't. she went through a lot and suffered greatly in many different ways. he also seemed to shift his views on climate change and water boarding. weijia jang, cbs news. >> the stockton opened stock market opened above 19,000 for the first time in histories. right now it's over 40. markets are way up since the election. president-elect trump will cut taxes and ease restrictions on the financial industry. according to property radar, prices have been high so long for homes sales are lagging. that means people no longer want to pay and housing prices adjust themselves. the report shows prices in alameda county with down about 10% this year. san francisco is down 13%. santa rosa police are offering a $2,500 reward for help finding a man accused of

sexual assaulting a young woman last month. they just released this sketch. they say that the man is in his early 20s about 5'8" tall with short dark hair. a slender build and possible goatee and moustache. the alleged assault happened on october 15 as the victim was walking down on mendocino avenue. police say she broke free from a suspect and he fled. an estimated 3.5 million homes along the san andreas fault could be in trouble if the big one hits. that's according to a new report from the data firm core logic. scientists used to think no major quake could hit that section of the fault where you see small rumblings but recent computer simulations have debunked that saying it could get hit by 8 or higher. a waterpark will demolish a waterslide. 10-year-old caleb schwab was killed on the ride in august.

the 168-foot attraction is closed ever since. operators say that once the investigation is complete, they will tear down the waterslide. the check is in the mail for some facebook users. why you may be getting some extra cash. >> plus, a thanksgiving feast in space. what the astronauts will be eating in zero gravity to remind them of being home for the holidays. >> from the kpix weather center, the rain has moved out. the sun is shining. now the effect all this will have on your thanksgiving. the complete report coming up as the news continues right after this.

meal probably isn't freeze-dried. that's there may be some bad cooks in your family but at least your thanksgiving meal isn't

freeze dried. that's what's on the menu for astronauts on the international space station in orbit. >> a little different. here's our turkey right here so it's going to be in a pouch. we'll heat it up and it will take just like you have it at -- it will taste really good like you have at home. a few more items. we got cherry blueberry cobbler for dessert so that's going to be awesome. >> yummy. [ laughter ] >> nasa released this greeting from international space station. mission control set up a live feed so the astronauts can catch so many thanksgiving day football tomorrow. facebook is about to make a lot of new friends. the company is sending out checks for $15 to people all over california part of a class action lawsuit payout. it was over images used in sponsored story ads without permission. facebook was ordered to pay $20 million to people who joined the class action lawsuit. new warning for anyone who uses an iphone or ipad. a video going around can apparently crash the devices in a matter of seconds. the website called everything

apple pro posted this video. first the user clicks on what appears to be a harmless link. then a video pops up of a man doing a magic trick with cards. and then within 10 seconds, the operating system freezes. a hard reset may fix it. no word from apple yet. a former 49ers san jose crash pad is hitting the market and it could be yours for a cool $2.8 million. just take a look. the 7,000-square-foot stunner is where vernon davis called home. it's 6 bedrooms, 4.5 baths and features a professional grade kitchen, wine cellar and gym not to mention incredible views. davis doesn't need it since he was traded last night year to denver. the opening ceremony for one of the bay area's most popular holiday traditions today. downtown ice in san jose. olympic champion kristi yamaguchi will be there for the ceremonies which start at 5:30. it's the 21st season for the outdoor skating rink. >> time now for a look at our

forecast. >> everyone is looking ahead to the thanksgiving holiday and the weekend of course. here's roberta gonzales. >> good afternoon, everybody. we have plenty of rain showers in the early-morning hours. [extremely scratchy voice] so far san francisco picked up over a half inch of rain today alone. over 1.5" in the month of november. now the sun is settling in. plenty of sunshine will be served for your thanksgiving day and then this weekend we'll have rain on saturday. a stray shower certainly possible on sunday. but backing up with today's system, it's been so powerful it's churned up the swims. the national weather service has issued a beach hazard statement for sneaker waves. please be very mindful of that in effect through tomorrow afternoon. the area of low pressure is pushing out of here after dumping already five to eight inches of snow at the lake level in the greater lake tahoe area. so now that this system is out of here, high pressure begins to build in. but look what's quickly on its heels this system will bring us rain showers friday overnight dry saturday. we know that by calling on our

futurecast. so today for this big getaway wednesday, the evening commute will be dry. and then thanksgiving dry skies. and then here comes the next system for our friday bringing some rain showers right over there in the overnight hours. that's the front slicing through the bay area 4 a.m. on saturday. that's the heaviest rainfall, you will hear the raindrops on the rooftops and as you wake up for your saturday throughout the day, a scattered spotty shower. meanwhile on this getaway wednesday temperatures 50s and 60s throughout the central valley with dry skies from the coast, 58 degrees to the high sierra where we do have snow falling in fact snow today beginning to taper off. and then a dry day on thursday for thanksgiving. rain and snow on friday winter weather advisory in effect for today through our midday hours with up to 8" of snow in the highest elevations. locally with the sunshine 50s and 60s, a pretty seasonal autumn day northwest wind 10 to 20. there's your official sundown and the forecast does call for

nothing but sunshine for thanksgiving. and then we're calling on dry skies again the beginning of next week. make it a great day. ♪[ music ] still ahead, now them for their crazy music individual -- you know them for their crazy music videos. now the band "ok go" is getting a big honor. the founders on the unique style and success story. >> and what's cool about your school? email your nomination to us at coolschools@kpix.com. we may come and featu re your school on the show. ,,,,,,,,,,

who says i shouldn't have a soda every day? my doctor. my dentist. definitely my wife. hey wait. we have better bubbles. make sparkling water at home and drink 43% more water every day. sodastream. love your water.

well, today's tip of the day is going to be with the holidays coming up, sweet an anise. fennel, it's so refreshing, it's so great. a bowl of fennel with a little dip, some olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper, dip them and it's great in recipes including stuffing using the leaves it's so versatile on the holidays. and look at this. the new crop coming in. look how beautiful they are. when you buy them make sure green all the way around. the bulk nice and white and mint green and the stalks have to be green. make sure they have that wonderful aroma. when you bring them home, in the refrigerator right away. shelf life not that long at the most 3 to 4 days. after that all the flavor is

depleted. fennel if you never had it, tastes like celery with black licorice. i love it. use the whole fennel because it changes texture and flavors, the leaves, so many different recipes. you will enjoy it. and i'm tony tantillo, your fresh grocer. nd always remember to eat fresh and stay healthy. will... tonight on the "late show", stephen colbert welcomes the >> the name doesn't spark a memory their viral videos probably will. tonight on the late show "ok go" is on the story. jamie yuccas reports. ♪[ music ] >> reporter: you may not know the song here it goes again off the top of your head, but you likely know this music video. ♪[ music ] >> around 90 million people have viewed "ok go" hit on youtube. >> we kind of know we'll go to our grave being, like, the dread mill dudes, you know,

but it's riley fun thing to be known for and it's opened up this stuff for to us play on. >> reporter: the founders met at summer camp when they were 11 years old. ♪[ music ] >> reporter: eventually the two friends started the band "ok go." ten years ago, this video launched them into stardom and earned them a grammy. ♪[ music ] >> reporter: instead of running from the format, they embraced it shooting complex videos in just one take. like this one done in zero gravity. ♪[ music ] >> reporter: one in japan involved complex choreography using umbrellas. ♪[ music ] >> reporter: and this fan favorite. ♪[ music ] >> reporter: the newest one called the one moment being released today is an explosion of color and expression. >> lip-syncing was challenging because playback was three times the normal speed so had to be like -- [ talking fast ] >> you know, like that. [ laughter ] >> reporter: to get them right, the band rehearses dozens of

times. >> how do you come up with the ideas? >> a lot of late night, like, just feeling kind of crazy looking online and seeing things that inspire us. >> reporter: the band looks at music as a song plus screenwriting and producing to equal videos of this quality so they are now honored with the ingenuity award from the smithsonian. >> it's the smithsonian. like that's crazy! when we started this band, you know, almost 20 years ago now maybe at the most we might be dreaming about, like, a grammy. >> you already have the grammy. what's next? you have the smithsonian. >> an award from mars. >> reporter: here on planet earth the fans are wide ranging including stephen colbert. ♪[ music ] >> reporter: we call up with them getting ready for their late show experience tonight. >> extremely excited. we are huge fans of mr. colbert. >> you can watch "ok go" on the

late show with stephen colbert tonight at 11:30 after kpix 5. we'll be right back. ,, (upbeat music) - [voiceover] you are san francisco. we've been with you from the beginni we've seen each other through good times and bad. sickness and health. we're with you san francisco, and you bring out the best in us. care. zuckerberg san francisco general hospital and trauma center.

their message of blue lives matter coming up later today on kpix a bay area police officers association is taking on "black lives matter." their message of blue lives matter coming up later today on kpix 5 news at 5:00. finally this noon a workout idea before the big thanksgiving feast tomorrow.

>> do we have to work out? man. it's going viral in san francisco. the cyclist who put together a 50-mile bike ride that's shaped like a turkey. it starts in the castro goes through twin peaks and then the marina district and ends near city hall. [ laughter ] >> pretty cool. people are posting their results on twitter and facebook with the hashtag, turkey ride. >> i might do it. you have to watch out for all the cars in the city. >> i'm walking to the table to eat. that's my exercise. [ laughter ] captions by: caption colorado comments@captioncolorado.com ,,

♪ >> steffy: happy thanksgiving! the house looks wonderful! thank you for hosting. >> eric: hi. >> quinn: ohh! mmm! [ chuckles ] well, and thank you for organizing. you're the one bringing everyone together -- not just the forresters, but you convinced wyatt to come, and that made me so happy. >> steffy: i wasn't gonna let wyatt be alone. >> liam: steffy and i are doing our part to make it as painless as possible for wyatt. >> wyatt: make what painless? [ sighs ]