grab those rain boots before heading out this morning. there's some serious flooding out there. we are live with team coverage of the severe weather and how it could impact you. we're raven proud around here. >> that's right. it's you a about the ravens in charm city. how -- all about the ravens in charm city. how fans are showing off their purple pride. and the special super bowl tribute planned for the children of sandy hook. how the nfl is honoring those impacted by the horrific tragedy. the final day of january, good morning and thank you for joining us. i'm charlie crowson. >> and i'm megan pringle. right to the severe weather because it's a big story this morning. not only here but all across the country. take a look at the video out of georgia. about an hour north of atlanta and witnesses say that the

tornado was on the ground for about 20 minutes with winds estimated over 125 miles an hour. >> yeah, tornado destroyed almost everything in its path and in milwaukee, heavy rain quickly turned to snow and temperatures dropped in that area. cold weather behind this front. some places in wisconsin saw as much as 6 inches of snow. the incredible weather impacting people in our area too. >> we have team coverage for you this morning with how the storm is going to affect you. linda so is live in towson where they're seeing terrible flooding but first meteorologist lynette charles is in the weather center with more on what you can expect today. >> all right, we can expect improving conditions when it comes to the rain and the flooding. that's almost out of here but what we are going to be watching those winds kicking up. let's go ahead and start with the flash flood flood warning, then we have a coastal flood advisory for today until 11:00 and that's for the areas there shaded in the bluish looking color. so if you are in those areas be aware that there could be some

coastal flooding across those areas. this is what we're looking at in terms of maryland's most powerful radar as of now. we have some showers stillingering just one line of showers around the baltimore area now. we can see the areas, rossville, towson, edge mere but this is light rain that's beginning to subside. it's heading over to the eastern shore. but then we are going to have to deal with some windy conditions. we do have a wind advisory that's in effect until 6:00 this morning and that's for all the areas there shaded in the grayish color. let's send this over to megan and charlie. you're waking up to a wet mess this morning depending on where you live. we saw 1 to 3 inches of rain and that means standing water on the roads. and flooding in some neighborhoods. abc2 news linda so is live this morning on what you're dealing with as you head out the door. linda what are you seeing out there? >> reporter: well, chances are you heard that rain coming down pretty hard overnight. and this is what it's led to this morning. we're here along york road

where it meets chundley. the truck the manned here to -- is manned here to lead the traffic into one lane. look over here. this is where it gets real serious. and you can see this whole intersection is flooded out. we've put a call around to area counties and dispatch tells us this morning that there are roads like this all throughout the area because of all that heavy rain. something to keep in mind. remember no matter how shallow the water may look you do not want to drive through standing water. because you never know how deep it can get and it doesn't take much for the car to stall out or face some problems. just something to remember as you're getting the kids ready for work this morning or school or you're getting ready to head out for work. give yourself some extra time because of flooded roads like this. again, this one at the corner of chundley and york completely flooded out. you can see the water just covers the whole intersection over there and again on york

road, we're seeing some cars drive by. there's a truck that's manned here just to let people know there's high water but again keep in mind that in some areas you might not see any signs. because they don't know about the roads. so just keep that in mind. take it easy. give yourself a bit more time this morning. because of all that rain, several area roads are flooded. we're live in york, linda so, abc2 news. >> this will likely affect your commute coming in this morning. charles was in bad shape. parts of the bare 695 and 70 they were tough too. i know you and i coming in this morning saw a car completely flipped around. >> definitely impacting the roads. if you're wondering how to get around this morning here's lauren cook with a look at traffic. >> never drive through standing water and be extra careful this morning. the jfx also seeing some areas of flooding. now if you are traveling across the key bridge we have a wind warning in effect. you want to take it slow there. heading downtown no delays

ration now on 83 from the beltway all the way down to east fayette street. the tunnels are also free of delays. and as we check in and take a live look at the west side of the beltway here at liberty road. traffic is moving right along. no problems getting down to route 40 or traveling the inner loop you through pikesville. here's 83 up in hunt valley at shawan road. everything up to speed. you don't have any issues getting down to the beltway. that's a look at your abc2 timesaver traffic. megan and charlie, over to you. today we're going to learn more about the future of howard county. county executive ken oleman is scheduled to deliver the seventh state of the county address. hundreds of businesses and community leaders will attend today's event. the teenager accused of opening fire at perry hall will be back in court today. robert gladden jr.'s attorneys are trying to make the case and get it moved to juvenile court. yesterday the attorney argued the 15-year-old had been bullied and right now gladden is being charged as an adult in

the shooting that left a classmate seriously hurt. today jurors are expected to hear more testimony in the phylicia barnes' murder trial. but it may not be as shocking as what they heard yesterday. that's when the state called its star witness to the stand. a friend of the defendant who is a convicted criminal. the witness told jurors that the defendant michael johnson told him he killed barnes after sexually forcing himself on her. he also testified that he saw the victim's body and that johnson asked him how to dispose of it. johnson's defense discredited the testimony reminding jurors that this witness is serving time. the state says he is getting no deal for the information. time now for a little sports on this thursday morning. the countdown is on. we are just days away from super bowl xlvii and ravens' fans are not wasting any time. the team will hold their second practice today in new orleans and yesterday, the players didn't let the bad weather get in the way. they suited up and hit the field at tulane university practicing outdoors for nearly two hours despite the heavy winds. meantime ray lewis is trying to

pull the deer antler spray behind him. he says the allegations have no effect on his team. >> for me and my teammates i promise you, we have a strong group of men that we don't bend too much. you know, and we keep pushing forward. so it's not a distraction at all for us. >> the ravens will hold their practices leading up to the super bowl at tulane university. the super bowl may be this new orleans but you wouldn't know it looking around charm city. the purple pride this city has. you see that when you drive into baltimore. that big billboard that goats visitors drive -- driving visitors driving in from 95. the ravens' flags are flying all over town and it's hard to deny that people in the city have ravens' fever. >> they just like -- hoodie, i mean the hair band. like -- kind of crazy i guess. >> go ravens! we're going to win sunday. >> we love football around here. we didn't have it for a while. and everybody loves the ravens.

>> and we are just as excited for you as the super bowl xlvii. so before the game, we are bringing you another live ravens' special on friday night. we're going to have live team coverage of all the best tailgating spots around town. plus the peek at what you can expect this sunday. that special airs friday at 7:00 right here on abc2. news time 4:38. we know alicia keys is performing the super bowl and singing the national anthem and beyonce scored the halftime show. this morning another group of packagers is taking the -- performers is taking the stage sunday. more than two dozen students from sandy hook elementary are heading to new orleans for super bowl xlvii. they will sing "america the beautiful." these children survived last month's shooting rampage that killed 20 classmates and six adults. you are wondering what the weather is going to be like in new orleans. we'll find out in a little bit but right now today because the big story this morning what you're waking up to which is a mess. >> all right lynette charles standing by with a check of the forecast. it was a tough night. >> it was a tough night and it seems like it's been just a tough week.

day after day we've been dealing with the different story across the area. for today we have been dealing with going to turn windy and that's what we're going to be dealing with right now as that rain gets out of here. so temperatures at 54 degrees in millersville and waking up to mild conditions. but that cold air is finally going to filter in and temperatures will begin to drop off. so we're at 48 degrees right now in hereford. mount airy at 47 degrees and they got over 3-inches of rain last night. the winds now sustained out of the west at about 10 to 20 miles an hour. they will be picking up as we go throughout the day. sustained at about 20 to 25 with gusts up to about 50 miles an hour. that's why we have that wind advisory in effect until 6:00 this evening. there's the big batch of rain that romed through overnight. we have one little thin line that's going to move through this morning. and then on the backside of it that's wean we're going to be talking about the snow. we'll talk about that coming up but right now back over to megan and charlie. a 6-year-old boy is being held hostage.

>> the efforts being made to free the young child. >> also ahead people in several states are cleaning up after severe weather passed through their area. we're going to show you some of the damage left behind. >> well megan we have a wet and windy start. here's a look at 695 and york road. we are dealing with flooding across and region and i'll have all the details coming up on "good morning maryland."

making headlines around the nation this morning, a hostage situation is taking place in alabama at the center of it, a young boy 6 years old. >> yeah the fbi is now come in on this investigation. they're working with hostage negotiators trying to get the man accused of killing a driver of a school bus been kidnapping if child. >> police say the 6-year-old is being held in a makeshift bunker or storm shelter in a place called midland city. neighbors say the property belongs to a 65-year-old man named jimmy lee dykes and authorities have been able to talk to the suspect through a pvc pipe and they have sent

down prescription medicine for the child who has asperger's sin drone as well as coloring books and crayons. the boy's family remains hopeful this morning. >> the family was camped out once they heard about it and we got in touch with them just the give them any -- to give them any comfort that they needed. and they're just holding on by a thread right now. hoping to get a resolution to the situation and get their young son back. >> negotiators believe that the child has not been harmed. in the wake of the -- dozens of people were forced to leave homes after a massive fire broke out at a frozen food plant. >> that fire started just after 6:00 yesterday evening at the echo lake foods in burlington, wisconsin. look at this video it's incredible. flames and thick plumes of smoke could be seen high in the sky. about 80 homes were evacuated and firefighters say the eight alarm fire was at the center of the factory and there was concern over leaking ammonia

tanks. there were no explosives and everybody got out of the building safely. heavy rains strong winds and even some snow. >> people all over the country are are dealing with all different types of severe weather right now and this is video of virginia. powerful storm winds ripped through the area yesterday and winds of up to 60 miles per hour rips bricks off buildings and knocked out windows and ripped out trees and tossed around trucks like toys. amazingly officials don't believe anyone was seriously hurt especially when you see this. that's amazing. >> absolutely we're seeing cars tossed around and trees ripped in half and here you have some really wet weather. massive rain pouring down when we came into work and hopefully that will die off. >> it is already starting to taper off but in its wake we have some very gusty winds and also some snow. ill break that down for you in just a second but we had lots of watches going on and even some warnings. we did have a tornado watch as we went through the evening, that's finally out here. we have some severe thunderstorm warnings across the area yesterday as well.

so we had it all and we did have rain i'm going to show you the rainfall totals in just a moment as of right now. and as we look about .8 in parkton. this is what we're seeing for today. yesterday we already put down 2 to 3 inches in a lot of spots. on top of that when this is all said and done, we're seeing about 4, maybe even 5 inches of rain in the whole system. this is a huge system. also we're going to be talking about rain gusts, wind gusts rather as we go throughout the day. annapolis 43. bladensburg at 46. union bridge close to 50. 55 in gay low that and goldsboro coming in ash galena and goldsboro coming in at 52. the temperatures right now are on the mild side still. the cold air will filter in through the rest of today. right now 52 degrees in aberdeen and sparrows point at 5 # and i do suggest you take the warm coat with you because temperatures will fall and you might not be able to get back home to get this warm coat. now this is what future trend

looks like, abc2's most accurate future trend. we have some snow that will begin to work its way in here as we go into friday. some light snow across the area. but all in all, things will start to improve as we go through time. and as we look at the planner here for today that temperature coming in at lunchtime by 44 degrees and that will continue right into 3:00. let's get a check now of the abc2 timesaver traffic with lauren cook. good morning. good morning lynette. well, we are dealing with flooding across the region and it's a problem in anne arundel county for those of you traveling on 97 right at hoods mill road. and problems persist in carol county where there's more flooding reported right on 795 at main street in both directions. for those of you in baltimore county linda so actually just showed you a few minutes ago all of the flooding right on chundley road at york road. also up in cockeysville right at sherwood road. a live look outside here's what the beltway looks like in parkville. everything up to speed. the highway going to be very

wet and you won't have any delays heading up to towson. we have a wind warning in effect for those of you traveling across the key bridge. take it slow in that region. here's 95 downtown at 395. no problems getting to the fort mchenry tunnel and the harbor tunnel will also be nice and clear. that's a look at your abc2 timesaver traffic. megan and charlie, over to you. you've heard her story but until now, you've never heard her name. the baltimore woman's death prompted a state investigation and forced the closure of a med spa. tonight at 11:00 an abc2 news exclusive. the family of the victim who died after getting an invasive infection at the monarch med spa talks about her life and their cause. the families talking about trying close a medical loophole. >> we are the guardians of her legacy. and it's our job to make sure this type of thing doesn't happen to anyone else. >> coming up tonight at 11:00 you'll see the entire exclusive interview and our investigative

look into that loophole that could impact the safety of place where is you go under the knife. to really get into the super bowl spirit you need to have the latest' ravens gear, no doubt about it. >> you have the shirt and jersey and hat, but do you have the button? coming up this morning, where you can find a special ravens' button for only a short amount of time. >> and this high school senior probably has colleges begging him to get on their team. his amazing shot from the foul line on the other side of the court. we're going to show you this incredible video. >> as we go to break this morning another live look out at towson. flooded roadways could affect your morning commute. we'll have you covered from the beginning to the end with you as you get out to door to get your -- the door to get your day started. we continue in just moments.

it is ten minutes before the hour. back now to some of the top stories this morning. we could find out very soon when anne arundel county executive john leopold will be sentenced. the judge and attorneys are expected to meet today to set a date. john leopold was suspended from

his post as county executive after being found guilty of misconduct earlier this week. yesterday the county council introduced a bill to have him permanently removed and they're expected to vote on that monday. but some people think lawmakers might be acting too fast. the county attorney says leopold can't lose his job until he's officially sentenced. president barack obama has his new secretary of state and now it's time to move on to the secretary of defense. today is the senate committee hearing on chuck hagel's nomination to be the next secretary of defense. president obama nominated the former republican senator for the position earlier this month. his nomination is come with some continue verysy. members of his own party have challenged his past comments on israel, iran, and nuclear weapons. five things to know before you head out the door this morning. 35 new police recruits will graduate from the maryland transportation authority police training academy. the recruits have completed 29 weeks of academic and physical training. the new officers will be assigned to various facilities around the state. today is recalling more

than a million vehicles worldwide mostly corolla models. the recall is for faulty air bags and windshield wipers. they were sold model years 2003 and 2004 and so far the company says the air bag problem has caused two confirmed crashes and 18 minor injuries. a lab retriever is top dog for 2012. that's according to the american kennel club. german shepherds earned second place on the list followed by the golden retriever and bulldog. quiet waters park in anne arundel county. they will host a ravens' rally from 5:00 to 9:00. the event is free to the public. and just in time for super bowl sunday, modell's will be giving away limited edition super purple friday buttons, they can pick up the buttons after 12:00 today and all day tomorrow. they will be available at several locations including the store at the ricest town road plaza. a sunday of super emotions for jack and jackie harbaugh as

they watch their sons do battle. but in a way they say they're no different than any mom or dad out there. >> now every parent. every single parent can identify with that. that thrill of victory and the agony of defeat and on sunday night we're going to experience both of those great emotions and our thoughts will be with the one that comes up a little short. >> you're going to ask us how we feel on this historic event? jackie? who has it better than us? nobody! >> if you've watched previous interviews with the harbaughs, that was the slogan when they were growing up. that last reference a cheer the san francisco 49ers now do in the locker room after every single victory. high school basketball player for naevoid crow today hits a -- new video today hits a full court shot at the buzzer. the senior glen gerard watched it sail to the basket and then hit nothing but the bottom of the net. >> my hands just went straight

up in the air and i went over to my teammates and they all gathered around me. >> very proud. he's a great leader on the team and it's great something like this happened for him. >> gerard will graduate this spring and has domes of continuing his -- dreams of continuing his basketball career at rhode island college. takes out a western illinois cheerleader doing a back flip. oh gosh she landed on her face. now like a true pro rocky gets up and continues the routine. great job rocky but not so good -- he's doing push-ups and he's laughing. >> check out the biceps. not to mention that. >> how about that cheerleader? i hope she's all right. >> it looks like she's okay. shebeansed back as they often -- she bounces back as they often do. >> the forecast -- >> i was going to say the weather department has been crazy. >> snow and ice, 60s, rain. >> we hit 70 yesterday. >> really? >> the record was 72 set back

in 1914. two off that. >> wow and it probably seemed a little deceiving because it was is so gray out there yesterday. >> exactly but we were humid and we had the moisture and that's why we had some weather. >> you guys are just having a great week aren't you? >> we are a little bit of everything. let me show you what's going on as we look abc2's most accurate school day forecast. we can see the temperature coming in at 48-degrees this morning. and it will fall as we go throughout the day. but the big story is that it's going to be very blustery out there this morning. and even as we go through the afternoon. as you check out the seven day forecast for you, the cold weather pushes in here by friday. along with the snow showers and the cold will continue right through saturday. another chance for some snow moves in here on sunday. we'll talk more about that coming up. now let's get a check of the abc2 timesaver traffic with lauren cook. good morning. we are dealing with flooding across the region. if carol county be particularly careful on 795 at main street and the problems persist in baltimore county. we're dealing with at will have odd flag right now -- a lot of

flooding right now on york road as well as western run road at western road. that area really always floods whenever there's a great deal of rain. here's what 83 looks like at shawan road. everything moving right along. once you do get onto the jfx there are no delays to get in the way. just 11 minutes right now traveling southbound from the beltway all the way down to fayette street. and here in parkville 695 moving right along at harford road. it's going to take you 11 minutes to travel the outer loop from 95 all the way up to 83. and the inner loop will be clear as you make the push down to 95. the west side of the beltway also going to be in great shape. it's going to take you 11 minutes to travel the outer loop from 795 down to 95. that's a look at your abc2 timesaver traffic. megan and charlie, over to you. a couple of minutes away from 5:00 right now. gun violence claims the life of another teenager in chicago. >> coming up this morning at 5:00 details on the victim and the role she played in president barack obama's second inauguration. >> men listen up and listen good. if you think doing the grocery

shopping and cleaning up around the house will get you more loving. think again my friends. we're going to tell you why you may want to put down that vacuum cleaner and pick up the hammer. >> yeah!

thank you for joining us on this thursday morning, the effects of hurricane katrina are still very visible in parts of new orleans even after all these years. >> many people still can't return to the homes because they're in such bad shape. so that's why abc2 has teamed one the st. bernard project. rehabbing the homes devastated by the flood waters. the head of the group says more than seven years after the monstrous storm the need for volunteers has not diminished. >> there's 130 clients on our waiting list and we're getting ten plus calls a week from people who own homes who can't afford to rebuild their houses. the average age of those callers is 61 years old. thankfully the problems are solveable and we would love the people of baltimore to come on out and be a part of the solution. >> we're going to be working