likely snow totals all next on "action news." "action news," delaware valley's leading news program with jim gardner. the hot ticket items tonight at lowes in voorhees, ice melt, snow shovels and one guy walked out with a beauty of a snow blower. in northeast philadelphia, they are already putting brine on the

roads at cottman and the boulevard, yet they are preparing for a big one. and it looks like a big one is what we're going to get. wednesday night, the big story on "action news" tonight is 12-18, as in inches, as in snow. we've got meteorologist cecily tynan and adam joseph with all of the latest facts and figures. let's begin with cecily at the big board. >> jim, that's what we expect will be on the ground in philadelphia when this storm finally winds down on sunday morning. in the meantime, we have a little bit of an appetizer before the main event. some snow showers, light south of philadelphia. but i do want to mention this because d.c. got a coating to an inch. roads untreated and it caused hundreds of accidents tonight. use caution. there could be slick spots with the temperatures. and bigger news, water vapor

imagery showing the storm system to the west will drive over texas, gather moisture from the gulf of mexico and then from the atlantic and this will cause a major winter storm with far-reaching impacts. winter storm watches and warnings from west of memphbe m through the tennessee valley, the carolinas and virginia into our region and north jersey. here we are looking at the watches going into effect friday night through sunday morning. and also blizzard watches for the d.c. area for the baltimore area. i wouldn't be surprised if we have near-blizzard conditions here at the height of the storm. for the details on the storm and how it will develop and the timeline we head over to adam joseph. >> cecily, the storm haven't even formed at this point. tomorrow afternoon we'll start to see the storm setting up shop in eastern texas, northern parts

of louisiana. at that time it will start to pull the moisture. the winds off the gulf of mexico feeding into this primary low. "primary" meaning it is the first low to develop because there will be two. as we get into friday morning, still dry here, some sunshine in the mid-atlantic. moisture spreading in snow with charleston, west virginia and roanoke, virginia. and the primary low falls apart and transfers its energy to the coast where a new low develops along the barrel clinic zone where you have the warm ocean water and it will bomb out. it will rapidly develop off of the carolinas and pull more moisture in off of the atlantic. the storm will be so big, it will spread that moisture all the way to the north. this is 9:00 friday and we start to see the first flakes falling here as we get into philadelphia and points south. so most of friday it is dry, it is friday night. in addition to this, because the storm will wrap up so quickly and intensify, it will throw

very strong winds out of the east-northeast. major coastal flooding, beach erosion on saturday. winds mere the shore can be in excess of 60 miles per hour with that snow, which will be very heavy and wet. so as we look at the timeline here for philadelphia specific, overnight on friday the snow arrivals from south-to-north around 9:00, 10:00 for philadelphia. during the day on saturday, that is the heart of the storm. winds in philadelphia 40 miles per hour and it wraps up and moves out saturday night and early sunday morning just after about the midnight hour. when meteorologist cecily tynan comes back, jim, she will have the expected first-call snowfall map in the full accuweather forecast. >> thank you, adam. live to "action news" reporter dann cuellar at 30th street station in philadelphia. dann, how are folks get ready for the storm? >> it may seem like the calm before the storm until you go into grocery or hardware stores, and you realize people are

taking no chances on this one. many folks do not want to be caught unprepared. in cherry think the race is on. getting read yiel for -- ready for it? >> i am. the regular things, bread, milk, egg, butter, cheese. >> and it seems the train has left the station and stuff flying off shelves matter than they restock. >> they didn't even have the milk i wanted, just plain skim milk. >> at lowes they are stocking up. in fact snowblowers going like gang busters. >> selling 10 to 15 last night, plus an additional five or six over the interest net in the half 36 hours. >> ordering his online. >> i am ready.

i hope it snows a lot after what i paid for it. >> nothing worse than not getting use out of it. >> and wanting to make sure he is ready before the last-minute rush. >> you are set and battened down the hatches. >> i am batting them down for good, want plenty of rock salt. >> saying she is staying home until it passes. >> you will be stuck. into it's the weekend, might as well stay home. >> might as well enjoy the ride. >> that's what i am going to do. >> so the countdown is on for the first major snowstorm of the season. get those snow shovels ready, here we go. live in university city, dann cuellar channel 6 "action news." >> thank you, dann. philadelphiale international airport, up two feet of snow possible air lines are planning ahead. major airlines issued waivers for the weekend, allowing

passengers to rebook on earlier or later flights without penalty. you can find round-the-clock coverage of the pending storm on 6abc.com and providing constant updates on the 6abc "action news" facebook page and, of course, on twitter. ice has taken over the fire scene from last night's blaze in center city, philadelphia. investigators have yet to be able to get into the structure to start gathering information about the origin of the fire. meanwhile, "action news" reporter back at 22nd and locust tonight. of course, it goes without saying this is primarily a story about the people who lost so much. >> that's right, jim. this was once a home to dozens of people. now it is an ice-locked structure deemed too unsafe to enenter as it sits behind a maze of yellow tape. >> i grabbed my purse and my jacket, my coat, and that's all i grabbed. >> althea simeons left with

nothing but the clothes on her back when the smoke detectors blared. she left thinking it was a false alarm. >> i call back at 6:30 and the whole place was on fire. >> the fast-moving flames ripped through the four-story building causing the roof to cave. the structure so unsafe it even forced residents next door out of their homes. >> tried to come back to get her stuff, wanting her passport and wallet. >> what was the condition like in the home? >> not bad. >> the rescue group retrieved this cat in the evacuating building. >> thes first floor apartment, a little bit of water damage, a little smoky haze but it wasn't bad at all. she was inside of an enclosesity and she was safe. >> lni says when they can enter they will assess the building. but the big issue is this

weekend's weather. it is a challenge already for firefighters retrieving frozen equipment. this ladder had to be sawed in two. >> almost like out of a book. >> residents can't help stopping to stare at the frozen apartment. >> and they are trying to pick up the pieces. >> i don't know if we will ever get in. it is probably destroyed, that's what i am assuming. >> the city ordered a partial demaolition of the building and work likely continuing tomorrow morning. >> thank you. investigators say a 28-year-old driver struck a red light and struck a philadelphia police commander who was in an unmarked car. the car happened just after 6:00 tonight at the intersection of belmont and montgomery in fairmount park. two children in the striking vehicle suffered minor injuries. they were taken to children's

hospital for treatment. the officer suffered a minor leg injury. another philadelphia police officer crashed tonight while pursuing a suspected carjacker. at university. and they were chasing a taurus stolen earlier today. one patrol car slammed into a third unrelated vehicle. there are no serious injuries, and they are still looking for the suspected carjacker and stolen car. it was on you - unanimous they are asking the mayor to step down. after the f.b.i. opened an investigation into government contracting practices. three city leaders and one other person already pleaded guilty to federal crimes.

he called the council's actions a "stunt." still to come, amazon offering refunding to anyone who bought a hover board. ahead federal officials are urging other retailers to do the same. and weapons of violence transformed into something good tonight at the university of pennsylvania. we have a little snow moving through tonight but a lot more on the weekend. what you can expect where you live in the accuweather forecast. plus, the possible discovery of evidence that there is a ninth planet in our solar system. and it's big. "action news" continues in just a moment.

here is a consumer alert. if you bought a hover board from amazon you can return it for a full refund. federal officials are urging every retailer to do the same. today the consumer product safety commission announced it's trying to find out why hover boards can catch fire.

investigating 39 fires in 19 states. the agency urging anyone who rides a hover board to do so with a fire extinguisher nearby. another bumpy ride for investors on wall street today. stocks recovered some after a dramatic plunge early. the price of oil suffered its worse one-day drop since september, fueling the down market. the dow closed down 249 points, but it was down over 500 earlier in the day. the nasdaq lost just 5.26 points. the s&p >> laying off workers from the two facility in philadelphia, beginning in may. employing 2500 people in the city, it is an auto parts manufacturer. and one day after endorsing donald trump sarah palin spoke out for her son. arrested for domestic violence

after allegedly punching and kicking his girlfriend. palin says her son suffers from pstd, and lacks support from president obama. and prosecutors say bill cosby is asking for special treatment getting his case thrown out before the first hearing. and a response to the motion to dismiss the sex assault case against him. steele's team alleges that cosby may have been committed similar crimes for decades, using his celebrity to avoid consequences. and cosby has not yet enter add plea. they have the power to take away a life, but tonight guns forged into tools to help a life

grow. raw tools, from a colorado-based activist group at the university of pennsylvania. weapons were melted down turned into garden implements. organizers say the mission is to reduce violence by showing the power of change. drivers who travel the falls bridge in fairmount park need an alternate group. and preparing for a major rehabilitation project. february 1 the bridge closes to all vehicular traffic. and they expect to finish the project in april. bikers and walkers still have access to sidewalks on the bridge. one of the fee fiats that was used by the pope auctioned.

and the diocese may auction that one off too. no doubt that is a distinct possibility much the proceeds from the sale will benefit catholic charities. we made the point that we have a major storm on the way. a lot to talk about and get ready for. >> even getting a little snow tonight. not from the storm, from another event. but some "action news" viewers say they are brining the recooa but it is good, having a lot of accidents in d.c. because of the storms moving through. and they are not all that intense and most are falling south of philadelphia. they are quick-movers but moving into cape may county and there is a reason they are salting a roads. it is a weak disturbance moving through, it is all gone by tomorrow. there could be slick spots tomorrow morning on untreated surfaces and you want to be careful. it is cold enough for snow teach

temperatures are below freezing. and the radar showing the fast-moving system that will be out of here by tomorrow. and tomorrow a prelt mr -- pret pleasant day. and feeling a lot better than earlier this week. 7:00, 27. by 1:00, 36. by 7:00 p.m. down to 30 degrees. and friday will be quiet as well during the day. satellite 6, along with actions radar showing the ingredients out to the west. you look at this and you are like wow there is nothing there. it doesn't look like a big deal. these are the pieces that will be becoming together and will form the coastal storm. and this is going to be a big mess over the weekend. futuretracker showing though i think the timing is great as far as people getting safely kids from school. 4:30, a lot of clouds and temperatures around freezing. it's dry. around the 9:00 hour this is when the snow showers break out mainly south and west of

philadelphia over spreading the region by 11:00 or midnight. and the storm really cranked up and bombs out and intensifies on saturday. and it continues through the night. i wanted to mention the rain-snow line. and this model shows it reaching the i-95 corridor. i don't think it will get that far north and west. i think it will stay closer to the coast. but talking a lot of snow. and what i expect the snowfall by sunday morning, good 12-18 inches from the pennsylvania turnpike through interior south jersey. and the northern suburbs, it is a southern storm, not getting quite as much. but still talking 6-12 inches of snow. as you get along the coast this is the wild card. how much mixing will get. calling for 3-6 inches at the immediate coastline. that may change based on how

quickly the change overhappens. but i don't want the people on the coast to think you are not getting battered by the storm, you may have the worst of it with the winds. talking winds along the coast, 50-60 miles per hour. major coastal flooding and beach owe -- erosion. and nice weather tomorrow, pofltly spoflt ly >> mostly sunny. and saturday a great day to hunker down. heavy know and high winds. a very wet snow and i think we could have a lot of power outages. 34 degrees the high. sunday the snow ends and bumping up to 38 degrees. the good news, we have a quick melt next week temperatures in the 0's and the -- in the 40's and snow should not last long and more information beginning at 4:30. this is a red carpet tribute to local heros tonight at the

cinemark. men and women of the u.s. military and local police officers and firefighters attended a special screening of the new movie "the finest hours" the true story of a dangerous rescue mission, and it is produced by disney, the parent company of 6abc. could there be another planet in our solar system? two scientists from the california i institute of technology say yes, there could. they are calling it planet nine saying it is 10 times more massive than earth. the only problem is they haven't found it, but they say it is lurking at the outer reaches of the solar system. they have seen six objects in the neighborhood appearing to have their orbits influenced by a real planet. that's why they think it is there. said the scientists will wait and see, prediction is not discovery. in case you didn't know, this was penguin awareness day

going to the zoo to salute our flightless birds. the earliest known penguins lived 66 million years ago when dinosaurs still roamed the earth and those prehistoric penguins could fly, but we like our modern penguins just the way they are. hey gus! good to see you again!

the usual? veggie burger with the works. see ya. sounds good matt! thanks! gus, the second most famous groundhog in pennsylvania! that's me. and this is for you! gus bucks ! the new instant game from the pennsylvania lottery- with top prizes of a hundred grand. it's the best game yet. 'cause you're on it? well... keep on scratchin'! it's not about hugging trees. it's not about being wasteful either. ♪ you just gotta find that balance. ♪ where taking care of yourself takes care of more than just yourself. ♪ lease a 2016 lincoln mkz for $289 a month only at your lincoln dealer.

♪ wow. the internet is crazy fast here. i know, right? it's so nice to have everyone over. hi hey. mmm. i just laid an egg. does anybody want it? joey, you want some gasoline? yes, please. mom, guess what? i married a clown and we're having tiny little clown babies. mhm. i just bought a hammer. with internet fast enough for everyone, your guests might get a bit carried away. get out of the past. get fios. doug pederson going about

the task of putting his staff together. >> the day after introduced as the head coach, doug pederson filled out his staff. greg lewis and tim hauck among the 15 adams. lewis coaching receivers and houk the defensive backs. and leading the chargers, reich is a former nfl q.b. reunited with ryan matthews. he rushed for over 1200 yards. chip kelly all smiles today. the former eagles head coach introduced as the head coach of the san francisco 49ers. in the two weeks he was out of work he says he was doing plenty of second-guessing. >> you self-scout what we did well, what we did poorly, how can we improve as a team. and i was in the process of that. and really, i don't think it was a self-scout to me probably because i got fired, i looked at it more as an autopsy. so i'm in the middle of the

autopsy right now, still looking at it so i sent some toxicology reports out and i will give awful answer when they come back. and the bills hired the first woman special time, kathryn smith started as a college scouting inturn with the new york jets in 2005. and 29 days away from spring training. and ryan howard's bat slowed. the $35 million he is owed makes him untradable. if he wants to play every day he has to do one thing. >>i will have a discussion with ryan and say if you want to face lefties you have to hit them better. if you don't hit them better i am going to platoon. that's basically what we're looking at. >> blunt. the sixers look for magic in orlando. and fourth-ranked villanova with a fight from seton hall tonight.

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it's hard to believe, the sixers more than half way through the nba season and they enter the night without a single victory against a conference opponent. the magic here, and picking up in the second half, and smith and okafor hookup and the sixers clinging to a 1-point half time lead. the third quarter, thompson scored 17 off the bench an 11-point lead. and back to okafor and a plethora of moves in the paint. 20 points for the rookies and sixers win 96-87 the eastern conference win.

joe -- and after seeing this why worried about our future? and dribble around, the cats up 2. and the 1-point game, nova. a shot by seton hall that did not go in and escape 72-71. and a double-header. in the second half, johnny shuler and the three from way out there. how about that? and down by 3, they get within 1, but the owls pull away late. and coleman scores as part of the 8-0 one and temple wins 64-49. and penn's matt howard, and aaron brown steady. he scores 15 points and the hawks take it 75-60. a look at sports. >> thank you. a well-deserved honor for dozens of men and women putting their lives on the line every

day. a packed house as the haverford board of commissioners recognized each and every one of the township's 60 volunteer firefighters, calling each name followed by a round of applause. they have a rich tradition of service dating back more than 100 years. "jimmy kimmel live" next on channel 6 followed by "nightline." the guests casey affleck, vanessa hudgens and music from savages. and we continue at 4:30, and for cecily tynan, ducis rodgers and the entire "action news" team, i'm jim gardner. good night. ♪

and now abc's "jimmy kimmel live! >> announcer: from hollywood it's "jimmy kimmel live"! tonight - casey affleck, from "grease - live" vanessa hudgens, and music from savages with cleto and the cletones. and now, no kidding, here's jimmy kimmel! [ cheers and applause ] ♪ [ cheers and applause ] ♪