tonight, double trouble. the winter blast hitting both coasts. weather alerts from oregon to maine. and the white christmas in store for millions. breaking tonight, deadly plane crash. five people killed, including a father and his children. investigators on the scene. did weather play a role? christmas terror scare. the false alarm sending holiday shoppers into a panic. this, as homeland security officials are now calling that shooting spree targeting police an act of terror. rescue emergency. more than 100 skiiers stranded for hours. helicopters called in for the mountaintop rescue. and, home for christmas.

the police officer killed in the line of duty. tonight, a community coming together to give her family a place to call their own. and good evening. thanks for joining us on this sunday. i'm tom llamas. and we begin tonight with the christmas eve blast of snow and cold hitting both coasts. that car you see there, spinning out of control on icy roads in kansas. all part of a system sweeping lots of snow across the midwest. it's shaping up to be a white christmas for millions. that arctic blast and strong winds slamming a chunk of the country. 50 million under weather alerts from washington, d.c. to boston. here's rob marciano. >> reporter: tonight, millions are getting that white christmas and all the headaches that can come along with it. winter weather alerts now up in

over two dozen states, stretching from coast to coast. >> it's coming down a lot heavier than it was earlier. >> reporter: it's coming down in chicago. and in buffalo. parts of new england bracing for another foot of snow. >> it's a little slippery, a little wet. >> reporter: while bostoninans are still trying to claw their way out from this. >> if you don't have four-wheel drive, you're in trouble. >> reporter: slick roads causing multiple accidents in pennsylvania. traffic along 1-79 at a crawl. in maine, a tow truck using rope to pull this vehicle to safety. >> you've gotta be careful out there. it's starting to freeze over. >> reporter: whiteout conditions blinding drivers in nebraska. this car slipping and sliding in topeka, kansas. and a second storm pummeling the west, giving mild cities like seattle and portland a rare december snow. >> a lot of snow out there this weekend. rob, who will get a shot at a white christmas? >>

christmas, but it certainly can be a headache if you have to travel through it. i-5, from portland to seattle. i-70 to i-90, east of chicago, indianapolis, columbus, ohio. will be pushing east. by 7:00 a.m., mostly north and west of i-95. but wind for everybody, from boston to new york city. over 40 mile an hour gusts. and snow away from the coast could accumulate to over a foot in some areas. there's your white christmas, and drastically colder behind this, teens and below zero windchills tuesday. >> thanks. now to the fiery plane crash in florida, five people killed. and fog said to be thick at the time of

in the accident. here's gloria riviera. >> reporter: an ill-fated, early morning takeoff in florida leaving nothing but wreckage, killing five. >> they say there is a plane down. it's really foggy, we're unable to see it from our location. >> reporter: the plane, a small twin engine, was taking off for key west, crashing soon after takeoff at the north end of the airport. >> clearly no one should have tried a takeoff from this airport at 7:15 this morning. the airport was totally socked in with fog. >> reporter: upon impact the plane bursting into flames. >> we do have an aircraft on the ground. it is on fire at this time. we are extinguishing the fire. >> reporter: the sheriff knew the pilot, 70-year-old john shannon, personally, flying his two daughters, son-in-law and a family friend. all perished. >> there was no chance of survival. when you look at the crash the only thing you can say is that nobody suffered. >> reporter: that community heartbroken tonight. no definite cause for the crash has been given but the ntsb is investigating.

>> thank you. we turn to parts of the country on edge after recent terror attacks. fears about an active shooter triggering panic at a local mall. this, as officials are urging vigilance. here's eva pilgrim. >> reporter: crowds running from this mall outside miami. a shooting scare causing panic, but authorities there say it was a false alarm. this, as across the country, law enforcement remains on edge. in california, court documents revealing 26-year-old everitt jameson, a former marine recruit was planning to attack one of san francisco's most popular spots, fisherman's wharf, on christmas because of president trumps decision to recognize jerusalem as the israeli capital. >> it kills me to know that he might would do something like that. >> reporter: this as a homeland security spokesperson says a central pennsylvania shooting spree by ahmed aminamin el-mofty targeting police late frid

terrorism. killed in a shootout with police. >> this individual showed that he was not afraid to fire at different law enforcement officers. >> reporter: homeland security now asking people to stay alert. >> while we're not aware of any specific, credible threats at this time, the recent attempted attack in new york is a reminder that we must remain vigilant. >> reporter: in new york, the city on heightened alert after the halloween attack that left eight dead and that subway attack near times square earlier this month. the suspect using a homemade explosive, telling investigators he carried out the attack in the name of isis because he was angry over all the killing of muslims around the world. >> and eva joins us live. police are stepping up security in new york on christmas eve. >> reporter: security ramped up across the country at soft targets like churches including the national cathedral. here at st. patrick's

they've put up barricades. tom? >> thank you. and we move on to escalating tensions between the president, the fbi, and the press. democrats accusing the president of trying to erode public confidence in the special counsel's investigation. >> reporte >> today, and every day, we're incredibly thankful. >> reporter: trump kept busy on christmas eve, thanking troops. >> we're grateful for each of you, who spend this christmas away from your families. >> reporter: and hitting the golf course. trump also teeing off on fbi director, andrew mccabe. accusing him of

all all ally of hillary clinton's don e donated to his wife's campaign. trump's attacks on the fbi have been increasing. democrats and republicans, concerned the president is undermining the russia investigation, and that he may take aim at special counsel robert mueller. tonight, the white house facing scrutiny over remarks the president allegedly made over immigrants. trump reportedly complained that 15,000 immigrants from haiti all have a.i.d.s. and the white house strongly denying the story, calling the

claims lies and outrageous. >> i was not in that meeting. but the people in that meeting say the comments never happened. >> kenneth is with the president in west palm beach tonight. the president also predicting success in the midterm elections on twitter? >> reporter: that's right. the president tweeted, good republican candidates will win. he also blasted those polls that say his approval ratings are in the low 40s. he says his base is strong, but the president didn't provide any evidence to back up those claims. tom? >> kenneth, thank you. and this headline from north korea, rejecting the latest u.n. sanctions as an act of war. the u.n. security council voting unanimously to further restrict oil imports.

danger. the cdc warning of widespread flu activity in 23 states. here's marci gonzalez. >> reporter: the flu spreading fast and hitting hard, now experts say its going to get worse. >> i went to the doctor and got tested, and that i felt like i had a sinus infection. >> reporter: it turns out vince blea does have the flu, so does his son. now they are spending christmas quarantined, away from their family. >> it's sad that i won't be with the family today, it's the best thing for everybody. >> reporter: the cdc telling "the washington post" there's a 30% chance the flu peaks next week. ten states already reporting high flu activity chiefly from one powerful strain of an alarmingly contagious illness. >> the influenza virus can exist in the air three to six feet from a person who is infected and that does not have to be spread by just coughing or sneezing.

breathing. >> reporter: and it's not just the very young, old, and people with weakened immune systems who are at risk. 20 year old alani murrieta was killed by complications from the flu last month. >> never in a million years would we have thought that we would have lost her that day like this. >> reporter: she didn't get the flu shot, neither did blea and his son. though the vaccine is only 10% effective against the most common strain. dr.s recommend you should get it. and the pope and faithful flocking to st. peter's square, where the pope asked catholics to focus their prayers on the people in the philippines. that country ravaged by a

officials reporting more than 200 have died. the devastating images of people struggling through water, trying not to be swept away. 40,000 having to flee their homes. next to puerto rico and christmas in the dark, where hundreds of thousands are still struggling without power in the aftermath of hurricane maria. here's victor oquendo. >> reporter: more than three months since hurricane maria hit and nearly 30% of puerto rico's electrical grid not generating power. christmas eve, better known as "noche buena" in puerto rico won't be as illuminated this year with electricity at a premium, noticeably less holiday lights creating a very unmerry christmas for hundreds of thousands. >> we decided to do it in my house, because there's a more civilized system so we can finish cooking and eating and haver fun.

san juan. he tells us this holiday is different, just hoping not to run out of the bare essentials as his family gathers to celebrate. >> this christmas will be bigger because our families got extended. we got together with neighbors. >> reporter: since the storm we've visited some of the hardest hit areas across the u.s. territory. like san lorenzo, where the bridge that connects it to the rest of the island was washed away. your mother had a stroke? >> yes. >> reporter: how long did it take to get her to the hospital. >> about two hours and a half. >> reporter: and if the bridge wasn't down? >> 20 minutes. >> reporter: the suffering comes as congress has delayed additional disaster relief funding until january. all this too much for luisa melendez and her three sons, her sister and her sisters family. ten now packed into a relative's three-bedroom home in north carolina. >> we have to make do where we

down to keep the costs where we can afford to pay it. >> reporter: this family says their gift is being away from the storm ravaged island. tom, many puerto ricans are spending the holiday away from friends and family. some 269,000 puerto ricans have fled the island since hurricane maria to start new lives here in florida alone. tom? >> a very tough christmas for all those from puerto rico. victor, thank you. and there's much more ahead on "world news tonight" this sunday. frozen, skiers stuck in the air above the alps. we'll take you inside the high-flying rescue. also, a potentially dangerous ingredient item under some christmas trees. why some children's products are being pulled off the market. and our reporter joins last-minute shoppers scrambling for the perfect gift. and we'll also tell you about the big savings available after the holiday. stay with us. ide the box. it's what's inside the person who opens it.

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time just about running out for christmas procrastinators. here's maggie rulli. >> reporter: tonight, we are just hours away from christmas and santa isn't the only one dashing around. you look a little stressed and desperate. >> i am on a mission. >> this man scrambling for gifts. desperately searching for an electric scooter. checking off most of his list in just minutes. but that electric scooter? i'm sorry, we tried everything. >> that's what happens when you wait until the last minute. >> reporter: but sometimes waiting won't put you on the naughty list. many retailers offering up big post-holiday deals. experts predicting discounts up to 30% on video games and up to 60 to 80% off certain clothing if you wait until january. but for those procrastinators like ralph, sometimes hope is not lost.

you found the scooter. where was it? >> just by the door. >> reporter: but waiting until the last minute can be risky, some toys are so hot and so rare they don't even put them on the shelves. we had to ask for these from behind the customer service desk. this is the final l.o.l. ball and last fingerlings in the entire store. >> maggie, thank you. when we come back, serena williams announcing where and when she's returning. and where in the world is santa claus? tonight, we're tracking him all over the world. stay with us. [ click ] [ keyboard clacking ] [ clacking continues ] good questions lead to good answers. our advisors can help you find both. talk to one today and see why we're bullish on the future.

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everyone is okay tonight. no word what caused the cars to stall. and a warning about some children's items that could be under your christmas tree tonight. retailer claire's pulling children's makeup off shelves in nine states. the warning coming after a product used by a 6-year-old girl tested positive. claire's says the move is precautionary. serena williams playing a match next month, looking to defend her australian open title next month. and, santa on the move. norad now tracking st. nick's busy day and night. this is a live look. at least check, his sleigh and reindeer are over europe. the journe

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a new york city police officer, killed in the line of duty. for her three children, their first christmas without their mother. but thanks to the kindness of strangers, they'll spend it in a new home. here's adrienne bankert. >> reporter: it was a cold-blooded killing of a mother of three and veteran of the nypd. >> my partner's shot. my partner's shot. >> reporter: in july, without warning and for no reason a deranged gunman murders officer miosotis familia. her children thrust into an stark reality. eldest daughter genesis now the guardian of twins, her 12-year-old siblings. >> i was really concerned about my brother and sister. sorry. >> reporter: but just in time for christmas, neighbors and strangers raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy them a new apartment. >> oh! >> reporter: furnished complete with christmas decorations. >> it was just really emotional that there are so many people who really care about the well being of me and my siblings and want us to have a nice place to ourselves. >>ep

>> we've had to learn how to move forward. and it hasn't been the easiest road to go down. but the support that me and my siblings receive, it helps a lot. and we would be in a much darker place if it wasn't for that. >> reporter: and sweet reminders of the angel watching over them named mom. >> those we love don't go away. they walk beside us every day, unseen, unheard but always near. still loved, and still missed and very dear. >> we thank adrienne for that story, and we thank you for watching. i'm tom llamas in new york. "gma" first thing in the morning. merry christmas. i'll see you right back here next week. good night.

coming up next , > you may be dreaming of a white christmas but we could get that cold without the snow. >> and christmas is just hours away but people are starting -- shopping in falls church. you'rr live report is coming up. >> with nothing left to lose, the red six actually -- the redskins actually win. abc7 news starts right now. >> this is a breaking news alert. >> that breaking news out of loudoun county where two