of the weather to go battle boating in toms river. we have several reports on the weather, last-minute shopping, and christmas eve mass. we begin with meteorologist lee goldberg. what a warm christmas eve. >> it's a south florida christmas, dave. guess what, i don't know if you see this but one of santa's elves. sir, would you forward just a little bit? one of santa's elves in flip- flops. this is only three degrees cooler than july 4th. check out the weather graphics. the warmest christmas eve ever, in the middle 70s. it continues to be a balmy night. there's the empire state building in christmas colors. an even 70 at 9:00. the normal high 41. look at those record highs shattering the daytime records. just a few degrees shy of the

as warm as atlanta today and way warmer than phoenix and el paso. we have cooled off in the suburbs. there's a little area of showers working through morris county into essex and union county. a brief sprinkle in south brunswick. all those thunderstorms will stay off to the south. here is what you need to know. sick for santa. we are tracking somewhere over switzerland. more record warmth. rape could be knocking on the door by day's end. there's lots of up and down temperatures. you have to pay attention. that's coming up later on. but for now, a beautiful balmy 70 degrees in new york city. >> san tan flip-flops. that's a first. thank you lee. christmas in new york city, always a special time. that brings tourists from across the country and across the world, but these record

given a whole new twist to this holiday season. eyewitness news reporter rob powers in bryant park with more on that. rob. >> reporter: hey dave. a new twist indeed. the weather out here is absolutely spectacular. take a look at this crowd here. people are out here, they are shopping, they are eating, they are outside having their coffee. so one thing to say, happy memorial day, guys. it's crazy out here. no matter what you're doing today or tonight you've had historically spectacular weather. from runners uncentral park -- >> i don't have to go to california or florida. i'm fine right here. >> reporter: to the crowds near rockefeller center. >> it's wonderful. >> reporter: to this gay in the ice-cream truck. >> has business been better than a normal christmas eve? >> we're having -- it's more than a gift, it's a blessing. >> reporter: residents and tourists alike spent the day

christmas eve day, temperatures in the 70s allowing folks to ditch the scarfs in favor of shorts and t-shirts. >> i thought it was going to snowing and really, really cold, but i'm like sweating. >> reporter: many took advantage of mother nature's kindness to walk the dog, go for a run, lounge outside, and for this family from australia, even take a bike ride through central park. >> i think it's awesome. >> reporter: for some, it was just a chance to be a little more comfortable, to chill out, because there is no chill. >> i love it. i was able to wear a nice direction, not be cold, able to enjoy the city. so i'm all for it. >> reporter: of course, you can't make everybody for some, this just does not feel like the holidays. >> i miss the snow. it's not christmas without snow. >> reporter: no snow within sight. that is for sure. 14ly the warmest christmas eve ever in the tristate area. but let's look at the bottom line. if you are one of the lucky

food and a home and friends and family over the next few days, then you're already blessed, and this weather is just incredible icing on the cake. merry christmas everybody. rob nelson, channel 7 eyewitness news. >> thank you rob. pope francis celebrated mass today. children were among the tens of thousands at the mass. tomorrow the pope will deliver his traditional christmas day message. an early mass for children was held at st. paul's church in lower manhattan. eyewitness news reporter josh einiger is there tonight. josh. >> reporter: david, this is one of the most historic churches in the united states. george washington himself worshiped here. certainly not as long as it's been then, but we'll show you video of the annual children's family christmas eve service and children's pageant.

story of christmas. >> you can see are. they don't listen well. i actually think most adults don't listen well. nobody is going to listen to a sermon like they listen to a story. >> it brings you closer to god. i feel like special that i can perform in this way. >> just like my brother, it brings me closer to god. i prefer this church because they have doughnuts. >> reporter: st. paul's chapel is operated by trinity church which is rung more formal services all night but of course they don't have doughnuts there. eyewitness news. >> doughnuts are awesome. procrastinators are finishing their shopping.

darla miles is hanging out with the shoppers. darla, how is it going? >> it's going great. the mall is just about to close. right about now people are taking advantage of those last- minute deals. some people may have found themselves buying gifts for some who weren't originally on their list. >> are you going to bay me a gift? >> yeah. >> what are you going to bay me for christmas? >> that. >> count me in on some of this last-minute gift giving. >> what are you going to bay me for christmas? >> i don't know. >> what's the best daily you got today? >> probably h & m. >> he got the tie and the shirt. >> he's sporting some of his deals today. >> he's fresh out of the box today. >> shoppers are getting the

during the christmas eve dash in jersey city thursday. >> this is a christmas dress. we bought with it she was smaller, because she was too small, we leave it, and my wife decided to put it on because it actually fit. >> the one misfit, the weather. >> i'm used to the coul weather in new york. >> reporter: but for most it definitely feels just like christmas. >> just the excitement, the confusion. >> did you figure out what you are going to get me for christmas yet? >> reporter: maybe adam will do a better job next year with my gift, but i'm still going to keep my fingers crossed. the mall closes at 6:00. i spoke with a few business owners, those what own the kiosks in the center of the mall. they say they're seeing a lot

they did last year. darla miles, channel 7 eyewitness news. >> he's going to get awe great gift, darla. the nypd officers boarded buss and even made car stops, not to give out tickets but instead to give out toys. here's eyewitness news reporter a.j. ross. >> reporter: flashing lights in the rearview mirror is enough to make any heart skip a beat but this is a traffic stop with a festive twist. >> do you know why i pulled you over? >> no. >> because you're driving with a little girl in the back. >> reporter: no reindeer and sleigh were needed for these santa's helpers, as dozens of officers took to the street handing out a variety of giftstown suspecting kids and families. >> you don't drive with a little girl in the back without a present. it's the holidays. do you mind if i give your daughter a present? >> that's the seen throughout the country, the city. there have been issues with

interaction. this is another way to say, listen, here's one way the police are helping. >> protecting, serving, and placing priceless smiles on countless kids faces. the toys were actually extra gifts from a recent toy drive, prompting officers to not only hit the streets but also a few buses. >> i thought i was getting a ticket. i don't know, look. >> merry christmas. >> thank you so much. >> look at that. merry christmas. >> i'm a.j. ross, channel 7 eyewitness news. >> now that's a traffic stop. as we continue with eyewitness news at 6:00 on this christmas eve, a fast thinking doctor saves the career of a teenager who needed surgery. it's an eyewitness news exclusive. and giants quarterback eli

tonight an eyewitness news exclusive. a fast thinking doctor and creative surgeon saved a teenager's singing career. [ music ] >> reporter: she wants to sing for a living, but she has what could be a career ending problem with her tongue. an artery and tongue tangle that makes it hard to sing or talk. >> it's amazing to come back from the first surgery and know that i can eat and drink and sing. there's a good chance it won't blade. >> reporter: earlier this week

a neurologist did a procedure he had pioneered, snaking a catheter through her groin, up an artery to find and plug the leaking blood using a sort of crazy glue. >> here's the artery. it is no longer coming in. this is the glue. this is the picture before. we reversed. here comes the injection of the dye, and it's no longer. that after my first surgery i noticed how much thinner my tongue felt. dr. b was like, yeah, that's how most tongues are. i thought tongues were just usually this thick. >> reporter: jenna and her younger sister rachel both live in long island. the music school offered her a nearly full scholarship where she plans to study music therapy. thanks to the surgical tammy, she might some day sing her way all the way to broadway. >> for awhile i considered not

honestly i would be miserable if i didn't go into music, because it's my passion in life. >> reporter: at mount sinai hospital, channel 7 eyewitness news. of with some local churches, the story of christmas is reimagined as a star wars saga. this church put a spin on its service looking at what they call the parallels between the bible and the movie franchise. star wars "the force awakens" opened last week. >> star wars is an epic story of the dark side versus the light. and as christians that's our story as christmas. the light of god overcoming the fear and hatred in a dark world. >> the ceremony featured dancing storm troopers and a star wars themed nativity scene. just ahead on eyewitness

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do you ever wonder what santa does before he starts delivering all the packages? maybe this is it. look at this santa. he decided to take a break to get in some snowboarding in big bear, california. now comes the hard work of going down chimneys and delivering presents, but this is how he stays in shape to build up his stamina. >> the guy doesn't need reindeer when he can get air

>> i feel bad for all the skiers here. >> exactly. >> waiting for the snow. >> they'll be looking at the long range forecast and at least be happy that they can make some snow. what we do see is a little rain and a lot of mild temperatures. low 70s. a caribbean sunset on christmas eve in new york city. that is fantastic, gorgeous. that little hint of sun helped us get into the low 70s. we didn't even need the sunshine because of all this warmth. we reached 72. good enough to crush the old record in the low 60s, but just shy of the all-time december high of 75. westerly wind at 8, barometer on the rise. there's actually a cold front that's trying to work through. that cold front will work through and try to dry things out a little bit. there is your new record, 72, 2015. we are going to talk record warmth again but not on saturday.

low 50s with drizzle. sunday, midday sun, up to 67. that would be a record high. 68 long branch, a couple of showers could stroll through the jersey shore. it's been a beautiful day there. 65 white plains. so a stray shower early evening, mostly cloudy overnight. a fair amount of clouds early tomorrow morning, especially at the coast. a little sun inland, then sun midday. that will get us into the mid- 60s and break the record. fort lee, going into washington heights, headed up into the bronx, maybe riverdale, lower westchester, a couple of showers near staten island, a skinny line that goes away. there's actually a weak cool front. that's why the humidity drops. not much of a cool front for december. the cold front puts on the brakes, then more showers ride along it. that's why rain returns to the forecast tomorrow night into the day on saturday.

threat overnight, clouds thinning out during the day tomorrow. tougher to do south of the city. then the clouds will thicken up and a couple of showers. this futurecast is portraying that it waits to shower until saturday morning. i think some rain can get in here tomorrow evening. i would have the umbrella tomorrow. a merry, mild christmas at 66 degrees. a cool shot on saturday at 52, only to seat warm right back up on sunday. rain will be light on saturday. stray evening shower, patchy fog late, 66 tomorrow, brightest in the middle of the day, then late rain south and west. shower and drizzle comes back tomorrow night. your seven-day accuweather forecast, not a washout, just a lot cooler at 52. on sunday 67. that means for the jets- patriots game, 68 at kickoff. bring the umbrella. it might just shower the third or fourth quarter as the game is coming to an end. a dramatic drop on monday, 42. rain is coming in on tuesday.

morning could actually be an icy mix before it goes over to rain. on wednesday and thursday's in the low 50s, but we'll have these cool shots. with the help of norad we're tracking santa, last spotted in africa. so it's only a matter of time. he will swing through europe and the u.k. and be on the way to north america. >> i love tracking him. >> it's happening now. >> do you have the rights to "merry mild"? big blue backers are feeling blue. coming up, o'dell's teammates prepare for a big game without their best player. and the mets will not give up

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the giants without odell beckham jr. is a different giants team. >> maybe they're not giants at all. how about that. so it was day one of life after beckham. despite the suspension the nfl is going to make the giants play in minnesota on sunday night. mercy, mercy. crazily enough big blue still has an outside chance of making the playoffs but those chances include winning their final two games and getting help. it begins sunday with the 9-5 vikings.

from home it may take a christmas miracle to pull this off. >> a great opportunity for guys to step up. we'll be able to run our offense and good about our business, and the gaze know what they're doing, know how to get open, we'll make plays. >> it's about our team to be able to now come together and play hopefully our best game, but certainly many, many people are going to have to be called upon. >> as for the jets they, too, have legitimate playoff aspirations, but their foes, the new england patriots, come to town. gang green knows they need some help. even at 11-5 the jets could be on the outside looking in with the tie breakers working against them. but four wins in a row, and this team is on a roll. >> we've all got a little better understanding of who we are and how to get things accomplished.

that being said, we've got to go out there and do it. >> sorry, mets fans. late word tonight former met daniel murphy has signed a three-year deal with the washington nationals. he went to the dark side. they were hoping that i can't anna cespedes -- they were hoping that cespedes would be on their list. instead, they're looking to add a right-hander and a reliever. the knicks and nets are off until saturday. they hope to have carmelo anthony back after missing last night's game in cleveland. with his absence, the knicks look for a strong game from porzingis, and, yes, he delivered. the knicks were in it, but then came the final quarter and he was scoreless. with the game tied tin final 3:21, it turned into the lebron james show. he scored the next six points

the knicks fall 91-84, unable to finish once again. >> we have heart. we want to play hard for each other, and that's the most important thing for us, to stick together as a group and keep playing that way. >> finally aus plan your holiday sports travel, here's one place you probably want to skip. it's called the house of marbury, a museum to celebrate the life of stephon marbury. he has led the beijing ducks to three championships. that's it for sports. >> excuse me, they did win a championship. >> you're going? >> i'll go from there. maybe not with you. >> lee, you want to go? >> thanks a lot. that's our news for now. i'm david novarro. eyewitness news returns at 11:00. and please, have a merry, merry