first alert, dangerous cold. thousands of people across our region are upholding a new year's day tradition. a deadly crash in costa rica with victims with ties to our area. and a slew of new laws are taking effect across our region on this first day of 2018. this is a piece of americana. it's good for the city, it's good for the state and for all of us. >> nothing could stop them. today, thousands of people around our area donned their elaborate costumes and braved the bitter cold and strut down the street. i'm keith jones. >> and i'm erin coleman.

this frigid weather is not letting up. windchills are making it feel like the temperatures are really, really low. below zero in some places. nbc 10 is in gloucester county. people are shopping earlier today in glassboro. and a penn's landing, people are out there despite the frigid temperatures. the cambelback mountain ski resort in the poconos is almost one of the most popular. nbc 10 has coverage of the new year's eve deep freeze. thousands of people have braved it the cold and have kept up the tradition. we have first alert for tomorrow morning but tomorrow we're very concerned. outside, a beautiful picture. sunshine today that couldn't have been more spectacular and

more bitterly cold. we're going to be looking at the first alert with temperatures falling to zero and 15 above. we're going to ask you to limit your time outside and special care for your pets. it's going to be dangerously cold. cover all of that skin so you don't get frostbite. next up, what we're talking about is snow. we could be looking at a big coastal snowstorm, possibly building in for wednesday and thursday. this may affect part or all of our area. that's to be determined but that's the next thing we'll watch. we do not have a first alert out for that yet but that could be coming as early as tomorrow. let's look at the numbers across the area. rochester, below zero. they made it to 15. and in philadelphia, we dropped to 7. 23 in d.c. boston was at 0 this morning up to 12. incredibly cold for this time of year. nonetheless, much better than

where we started. it was a slow climb, though. 18 in allentown and 21 in wilmington. it's warmer across the jersey shore. we should be above zero. the poconos will have a chilly temperature and here's what it feels like. 4 in philadelphia, 11 in ç bluebell, 7 in reading and minus 6 in mt. pocono. i'll show you where the storm is right now. guys? >> today's frigid temperatures caused mum officials to reschedule but in the end, the event carried on. george spencer is out there with the mummers and he's been out

there all day long. you are bundled up. that's good, george. >> reporter: you have to be, erin. even in the middle of the afternoon, it was bitterly cold. i can tell you on broad street, it's still closed to traffic and things are beginning to quiet down. a few of the groups are progressing southbound from city hall. the cold weather could have kept some people away but parade organizers try to offer ways to stay warm. the unique sounds of a philadelphia new year. but on this first day of 2018, as the fancy and comic brigade moved on -- >> this is a piece of americana. >> reporter: carol has been coming for the past ten years and recalls some years warm enough for sunburns. but today, even the performers layered up.

some spectator stands were full and others nearly empty. >> it was more packed last year and a couple years ago but, yeah, it's -- >> reporter: the cold is keeping people away. >> i think so. >> reporter: it included group buses on the parade group, allowing frigid mummers a place to warm up. the famous string bands prepared for their big moment and warming tents offered relief. although some performers insist getting used to the cold is the better approach. >> just keep on moving. i mean, having the warming tent and all is a good idea. and we're in philly. it's cold. it's the mummers. >> reporter: they had to be hearty out here. two centers offered a place to

go in and warm up while seeing parts of the parade and if that indoor viewing is more your thing, don't forget, the fancy brigade finale is over at the convention center starting in half an hour. we are live along south broad street, i'm george spencer, nbc 10 news. >> thank you for being out there and covering it for us, george. pico crews are working on fixing a power outage that's been plaguing neighbors since early this morning forcing them out of their homes and into the frigid cold night. a double whammy, too. a power outage and water main break which meant they had to leave their apartments. an unhappy start for these people. >> it's crazy. i have a baby in the car. this is not a happy new year. >> reporter: crews were at the complex immediately trying to fix the problem. some kids and parents sat on a

warm septa bus until they found somewhere else to go. they hope to have the problem fixed in the next couple of hours. the city is responding to the relentless and dangerously cold weather. a warming center is opening at 5:00 at the recreation center. it's opened to people in and around the kensington and fairfield area of the city. they will offer toiletries as well. download the free nbc 10 app. it tracks the bitter cold temperatures in your neighborhood. well, the investigation continues today after a plane crash in costa rica killed 12 people, including 10 americans. all 12 people on board were killed. the single engine plane went down in a wooded mountain region in the northwest part of the country. a family of four from florida and a family of five from suburban new york were among those killed and they have ties to our area.

mitch is working on that part of the story for nbc 10 news at 5:00. inially hi lehigh valley, te were shot along turner street. nbc 10 has learned seven shots were fired. one victim died and another is in the hospital in critical condition. neighbors say it's an unfortunate start to 2018. >> it's a sad statement for the state of the city and the area. >> allentown had 20 homicides, the highest number in a decade. in philadelphia, 316 people died as a result of homicide in 2017. that's the highest rate since 2012 despite the fact that reports of shootings, gun robberies and rapes in philadelphia have all dropped in the last year. next at 4:00, minimum wage increases to more protection during a job interview. we look at the new laws

taking affect across our area. and blasted by the cold. how people are changing their new year's day plans thanks to the subfreezing temperatures. and we have a first alert right now for the dangerous cold. it's going to be out of the frying pan and into the fire. or maybe we should say out of the fridge and into the freezer. we're staring down what could be a big coastal snowstorm. coming up. i'll cover that right after the break. locked up, a slave to heroin - that was my life. married, a homeowner, a professional, recovering and thriving - that's my life now. i got help. you can too. new years means a new day for those struggling with addiction. don't suffer. don't wait. choose help. call 844 reachnj or visit reachnj.gov

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pope francis delivered a homily at st. peter's basilica. he urged the faithful to leave behind baggage. there were 40,000 people in st. peter's square to hear the pontiff's message. last night the first family attended a new year's eve gala in mar-a-lago. the president spent most of his time at his palm beach private club. the first family is now on their way back to washington. joe biden is spending the new year in boston. he spoke at marty walsh's second

invocation. >> we need leaders who make up neighborhoods. neighborhoods. we need leader who is will stand up for the core values that were taught as kids, respect, hate has no place. well, the new year means new laws taking effect. >> today, sales tax in the garden state dropped from 7% to 6.875%. additionally, the minute mimum is increasing to 16 cents per hour so they will see an extra $469 per year. and those who affect data breach must affect customers within 60 days of the hack. also in delaware, employers can

no longer ask how much you were paid at your current or previous job. turning to the weather now, millions of people across america are ushering 2018 with an arctic blast. >> nbc's dan sheniman shows how it's impacting thousands across the country. >> reporter: braving single digit temperatures in boston, hundreds traded in their parkas for swimsuits to take part in one of the city's oldest tradition in the icy boston harbor. but for some communities in new jersey, those festivities put on hold by the brutal cold. >> it's too cold and they are worried about someone getting hurt. >> reporter: no dip in cleveland either. the subfreezing temperatures closing down an ice skating park

in des moines, iowa, over the weekend. and in ohio, the 5k was taking place inside instead of on the streets. the cold has already turned deadly. in milwaukee, two men found within hours of each other. the medical examiner confirming both deaths are cold weather related. and in detroit, where temperatures dropped to 2 below, a man was found dead in front of a church. and forecasters warned the arctic blast is expected to maintain the icy grip on most of the country through the week. dan sheniman, nbc news. >> ridiculous. turning to dangerous cold here in our area, nbc 10 in camden, we saw people waiting for the bus at mlk and broadway. bundle up for sure. >> taking a live look at our philadelphia skyline at the

lincoln financial field. temperatures barely made it into the 20s here today. smooth sailing, though, on this new year's day across the betsy ross bridge connecting philly to south jersey. a lot of folks enjoying the holiday at home in their warm homes. >> right. >> where they should be. >> where they should be. >> it's still brutally cold and i don't know we'll make it above freezing before early next week. we have one shot at it. that's wednesday. and then we may get some snow. just what you wanted to hear, right? let's go to mt. pocono. i thought maybe a lot of people would take a pass on skiing. i love skiing myself. but when you start out with a windchill of 24, it makes it harder to enjoy. nonetheless, they are bundled up and enjoying it.

it feels like minus 6. that's the coldest spot in our area. they were at minus 3. the actual air temperature, that was the low. pottstown, 1. lancaster, minus 3. philadelphia hitting 6. it was actually 11 degrees before midnight making it the coldest december temperature since 2004 in philadelphia. that was for the month of december. not january. we have a whole new brand-new month to enjoy that. mt. holly, 6. allentown, 18. reading at 18. millville, 19. dover, a toasty 21 degrees right now. here's your neighborhood weather. this is where we're going overnight and into tomorrow morning. we'll wake up to about 13 in philadelphia under mainly clear skies. 10 in the pennsylvania suburbs. 10 in the lehigh valley as well. so a tad warmer tonight.

we'll see 11 in delaware. should be 11 in new jersey and 14 along the jersey shore. so not as bad but still brutally cold and windchills that will be dipping below zero. now, the doppler radar, everything is quiet out there. lake-effect snow machine is in full gear. there's a clip thear at is join with a big coastal storm. the center of low pressure drops so quickly it's stronger than a hurricane and this bomb is going to come right on up the coastline. the question is, is it close enough to bring us snow, rain or nothing? right now, wednesday morning, you see it starting. here it comes. everything comes together. if we get the snow and a lot of the models agree on this, i think it's very possible, if it's close enough, we'll start seeing snow on wednesday night and throughout the day on thursday. they are already very concerned to the north in new england

about this because that is where it's tracking so we'll have to watch this very, very carefully for your thursday, for school, for commuting and everything else. that would be the day to really keep an eye out. your neighborhood for tomorrow, 24 in fairmont and shanksville and allentown. longport, 27. 26 in dover. so at least we're making it out of the teens, right? the next five days, whether you're at the shore in philadelphia, it's going to be brutally cold. we'll see the 20s in both places tomorrow. we'll see 31 along the shore. now, this is that warm day that we might make it above freezing but look at this, snow is very possible on our thursday and it could be a lot of snow for some of us. too early to determine that. back into the deep freeze. next friday and saturday, right back in for the dangerous cold weather. guys? >> tammie, thank you. next at 4:00, safeguarding your vehicle in the winter months. >> the safe purchase you can make to keep your car riding

steady during snowfall. and gym membership warning. all new at 5:00, the top three things you should know before joining a jim. gym.

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buildings ransacked and cars torched. this video is from iran where four days of protests left four people dead and hundreds other arrested. armed protesters are trying to take over police stations and military bases. people are protesting over economic issues there. the judiciary chief is ordering strong action against those who damaged public buildings and other property. two people were taken to the hospital after this crash on roosevelt boulevard and east falls. around 5:00, two cars crashed

along the boulevard between i-76 and roberts avenue. one of the cars involved flipped on its side. no word tonight on the condition of the injured. experts say it's a smart move to invest in winter tires. all-wheel drive can help keep a car from getting stuck but your tires can make a bigger difference between stop organize steering in the snow. they also have better grip and cold conditions for standard all-season tires that may not hold up. sussex county is considering an ordinance that will give workers the decision whether to join a union. the ordinance seeks to change the mandatory membership that is in place now. the arctic animal that is

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and the start of the new year means it's almost time for restaurant week in philadelphia. participating restaurants will offer the discounted three-course menus from january 14th through the 26th. the three-course lunch will run you $20 and three-course dinner, 35. restaurants are already accepting reservations. for the second time as in many months, snowy olds are turning up in our area. the most recent visit happened in southern delaware. the wildlife refuge near

milford. they have been spotted throughout the northeast and west this year. three teenagers are facing charges that they illegally killed seven dear. they poached the deer outside of the regulatory season and they are charged with unlawfully possessing the deer carcasses. >> each of the boys face jail and fines. >> temperatures are taking a plunge. penn's landing and cannersville. >> we come in the summertime and in the winter and it doesn't stop us, the cold from coming here. such a beautiful spot. we love it. and it's a nice way to bring in

the new year. >> she looks cold. taking a live look it feels like zero. >> now let's take that live look across penn's landing. ice skaters are wrapped up tight as they brave these extremely cold temperatures this evening. looks like fun, though. >> uh-huh. >> from the city to the coast, we can't say it enough, folks. make sure you're prepared when you're outside. dress in layers and cover all your skin. it's really important. good evening. i'm erin coleman. >> and i'm keith jones. we have team coverage of the arctic blast. dozens kicked off the new year's like you can't imagine. >> tammie souza has more on this first alert. >> maybe they wanted to stay warm because the ocean water is almost twice as war