disappeared behind billowing clouds before it set tonight. meteorologist cecily tynan is live at the big board. cecily, you can just feel it old man winter is ready to make his entrance. >> that's exactly right, jim. kind of a shock to the system. our high today 38 degrees. that's 9 degrees below normal. the coldest day in 10 months and it felt a lot colder with the winds. right now the wind chill in philadelphia 27 degrees with those westerly winds and that westerly wind is also picking up a little moisture in the form of lake effect snows. the news about the winds it will be diminishing. wind chill tracker showing it's not going to feel different in the overnight. 7 o'clock 26. you can see the wind chill gradually diminishing by 7 o'clock in the morning down to 21 degrees but again, we are seeing a little bit of lake effect snow. right now most of the activity across southern berks county, northern chester county. this is all just from the

winds off the lakes. there's a bigger storm system entering the pacific northwest. that's the system that will bring us a messy monday morning commute. it will pull up a lot of warm air. so, what this means by monday morning, it will mainly be a rain events. however, when that storm system starts, really north of the pennsylvania turnpike it likely will begin as snow before that changeover to rain. i'll talk more specifically how much snow before that changeover and then track another arctic front on the way coming up in the full accuweather 7-day forecast. jim. >> all right cecily. let's switch thrive "action news" reporter jeff chirico in center city philadelphia. jeff a code blue now in effect in the city. how is city hall trying to protect homeless people tonight? >> reporter: jim, and this is the first code blue of the season and it is potentially deadly for the city's 700 homeless people. now, i just spoke with the head of the city's office of homeless services who says teams are working as we speak to find those homeless individuals and get them into someplace warm. >> we really want people to

come in. we do not want anybody to die of exposure. >> reporter: city officials are jumping into action issuing a code blue and pleading with the homeless to get inside. as temperatures and wind chills plunge this evening outreach teams will hit the streets much like last winter encouraging anyone sleeping outside to seek shelter. >> we've opened up about 300 more beds. we have another hundred and some slots within what we call our cafes. people can come in any time day or night. >> reporter: the first arctic blast of the season has people bundling up with extra scarves hat as and blankets. some, however, were caught off guard by winter's return. >> i was not expecting it to be so cold. i thought it was going to be a little warmer. i was not too prepared. i need a little camp i should have wore a hat. >> i came outside in my little jacket and i got cold so i went and bought a coat 'cause it's cold. >> reporter: but the chill is also putting some in the holiday mood making for ideal weather for a spin around the

rothman institute ice rink or if you're noodle and diva a good day for a ride. how do you keep him warm. >> i got heat bags. the bags hold the heat and i got one back here and they relax with it. they look forward to it. >> reporter: cool dogs there. well, the code blue goes until monday and officials say if you happen to see someone sleeping on the streets you're asked to contact authorities. we are live in center city, jeff chirico, channel6 "action news." jim. >> thank you, jeff. we urge you to keep track of wintry conditions this weekend with 6abc.com/weather. you can check the frigid temperatures with the hourly forecasts and keep an eye on storm tracker6 radar to see if any flakes will fall where you live. a jury has chosen the death penalty for a philadelphia man who murdered two brothers and then dumped their bodies into the schuylkill river along kelly drive. tam le received two consecutive death sentences

today. he kidnapped tortured and stabbed vu and yet hun. their bodies were tied in cement and dumped in the schuylkill. a suspect on the run since 2015 captured. rodney shelton arrested today in decatur georgia. police say he killed 63-year-old thomas-childs who was working as a delivery truck driver in yeadon delaware county. childs was shot to death during a robbery in june of last year. philadelphia health officials and police have a real crisis on their hands tonight. the city has recorded 35 deadly drug overdoses in just the past nine days. and authorities are trying determine if they're all from heroin. "action news" reporter vernon odom is live at temple university hospital. vernon, this is a real scourge. what are you learning there

tonight? jim, i'm learning among other things that the scourge is spreading all across the delaware valley but here at temple university hospital's emergency room, they treat lots of overdose cases, saving as many people as they can. the city's medical examiner now believes that it's a spreading epidemic here in 2016. as the year comes to an end and they're seeing the same things in the suburbs as well. >> that way we can make money to be able to support our habit. >> reporter: on the streets of kensington he's known as junior a heroin addict for more than 20 years now. he says he feeds his habit by selling fresh syringes to other addicts. he tells me and his girlfriend hustle out here on these mean streets as best they can. >> how do i get it? i get it any means i can. i do not rob people and i do not steal from people. i bum money and i sell. >> reporter: they're both worried about the increasing number of deaths out here believed to be heroin overdoses a suspected 35 this

month pending the results of toxicology testing. >> yeah, there's been a lot of people died. there's a drug out there killing a lot of people and you just -- like i said you don't know what they put in it so it's hard. you don't know what you doing when you put something in your arm. >> reporter: montgomery county and first deputy d.a. ed mccann a former top official in the philadelphia d.a.'s officers. he recently arrested this woman gwendolyn prebish of hatboro. a willow grove man ordered heroin but she sold him fentanyl instead a synthetic opioid stronger than heroin. she's been charged with criminal homicide and drug delivery. the sale fentanyl is spreading like wildfire mccann says. >> the addicts when they find out someone has overdosed on something they want that. they want to get that high that actually killed somebody. they don't think it's going to kill them. >> reporter: tonight the

philadelphia narcotics squad declined our request for an interview today but a department spokesman says they will all keep on battling this problem. now in montgomery county, the record numbers are going up there. they say overdose deaths could approach 200 this year alone. live at temple university hospital on north broad, i'm vernon odom channel6 "action news." >> all right, vernon. a 62-year-old main line woman has been sentenced to 90 days in jail for selling heroin lynn twaddell sold the drugs to undercover police at her home in wayne last year. her attorney says that twaddell became addicted to opioids when a doctor prescribed painkillers after hip surgery. there's a problem with the drinking water at west philadelphia high school. it is discolored and contains high levels of iron and sediment. the school district says the water is technically safe but they shut it off until they can figure out what's causing the problem and they're distributing bottled water instead. a federal judge is

considering whether to grant a presidential election recount in pennsylvania. attorneys for green party candidate jill stein argued for the recount today in philadelphia federal court. they said it's possible that computer hacking took place. attorneys for the state said that that was highly unlikely. the judge is expected to rule on monday. meanwhile president obama has ordered a full review of possible cyber attacks during the election season including the hacking of democratic national committee e-mails and concerns about russian interference in the presidential campaign. the president has asked intelligence officials to finish their report before he leaves officers. world news with david muir will have more on the election review coming up at 6:30 right after "action news." septa riders should be ready for changes this weekend new schedules on most regional rail lines will take effect on sunday. some trains will be leaving up

to 25 minutes earlier or later. obviously you better check your schedules. septa believers the changes will improve service. coming up on "action news" tonight the eagles are ready to welcome back their top receiver on sunday. and he is on a mission with his chainsaw. a new jersey artist is carving 150 years of history into a local landmark. those stories and much more when "action news" continues tonight. >> ♪

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they're upset because their campus in princeton may be soldnd in lawrenceville. the rider board of trustees is studying a possible consolidation to save money. westminster is a part of rider. they expect to finish the study early next year before making a decision. people who live in grays ferry have a new place to buy affordable food. fresh grocer opened a store on grays ferry avenue. it has a deli bakery sells wine and beer. mayor jim kenney joined the ribbon cutting today. the store owners also donated $10,000 to the philadbundance food bank. >> ♪ the story is new at 6:00 tonight and it is fascinating "talk philly" living history. well, almost living. it's a unique way for a south jersey communities to preserve its history and its heritage. new jersey correspondent nora muchanic has the story. >> reporter: brian is a plan on a mission. this talented chainsaw artist

is working 20's feet in the air turning this historic 235-year-old oak tree into a masterpiece. the mighty oak the centerpiece of saw mill park in buena vista's richland section died last year. but residents didn't want that to be the end of the story. instead of chopping it down the limbs and trunk will tell the story of this proud community celebrating its 150th anniversary next year. >> i really felt like a piece of living history and we didn't want it to not live on. >> i grew up here. this is where i was born and raised and this tree has always been the center point of everything. >> this is the most massive tree i have ever carved period. >> reporter: using three different size chain sauce he's carving images of buena vista a bonnet wearing woman at the old train station, the general store, the volunteers an eagle part of the town symbol. >> this says a lot about our community, all the people in outer loop communities, what they did, what they do. margate has the elephant and buena vista township now has the tree.

>> reporter: local schools come to look at the work. these students are from buena high. >> i've never seen this before. it's amazing what he can do way tool like that. >> reporter: this oak is one of the only trees in the area that many survived a saw mill operate hearing in the 1800s. it's always been a local treasure that that people here wants to preserve. >> i work by the seat of my pants. >> reporter: without a blueprint and showered in sawdust he says holding a chainsaw isn't easy. >> my body is protesting but i'm not listening to it. >> reporter: the project is being paid for with donations. when it's finished the tree mural will be oiled and preserved a unique monument to this rural town's proud history. in buena vista, i'm nora muchanic channel6 "action news". >> philadelphia's american legion playground back and better than ever. students from tacony academy charter school bundled up to test out the new equipment during the grand reopening today. the park on torresdale avenue was redesigned to be more inclusive for children with

autism. and this reminder. "action news" is about interacting with you. so please follow us on social media for the latest headlines accuweather and breaking news and to communicate with us on facebook we're 6abc "action news." on twitter, we are @6abc. >> ♪ the roses are blooming in herbal essences

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>> eagles fans hoping that both matthews as in jordan and ryan will be able to play on sunday. >> they're expected to play. hopefully they can make a difference this team averaging only 14 points per game the last three weeks. since their last game against the redskins eagles quarterback carson wentz has twice as many interceptions as touchdowns. hopefully he can even out those numbers with his top receiver expected back on sunday. jaime apody has more. >> reporter: while the eagles may be too far gone get their playoff hopes back at least they'll have their top weapon back as jordan matthews returns from a ankle injury. >> i think one game is going

to be enough for me. i'm trying to get back out there sunday. >> reporter: matthews says being a spectator and not a participant for the first time especially while the team struggled was not fun. >> at all times it's hard to watch. you don't sign up to do this just to watch games. i always played my whole career strictly because i lover the game and for respect of my opponent and for nothing else so you can't really do that on the sidelines. >> reporter: believe it or not that's the first game jordan's ever missed even all the way back to little league and his teammates are hoping it's the last for a long time. >> touchdown jordan matthews. >> he's a great player. i think it kind of opens up the offense a little bit. football player with the ball in his hands and when he's running routes. i can't say enough good things about him. >> getting jordan back hopefully this year. having a guy like that and a guy you can trust it's huge but at the same time i know trey burton stepped up huge, paul turner stepped up huge.

>> reporter: wentz has developed chemistry with matthews. the only thing to salvage this year is maybe the kid's confidence in 2017. >> everybody realizes where we are in the season as a team so guys have been extremely focused ready to go out and get a must win. >> if the post season's not going to happen this year, definitely want to put a good taste in his mouth going into the off season. >> reporter: in south philadelphia, jaime apody channel6 "action news". >> all right jamie. finally the sixers got a win on the road last night ending their 23 game losing streak. dating back to last january. hopeful they will don't have to wait that long for another one. sixers in detroit. nerlens noel could make his season debut. flyers going for their eighth straight. something they haven't done if 14 seasons. what a finish last night. they overcame a two goal deficit twice in the same game and won. the flyers, they are on fire. captain claude giroux and company hope to keep this going. >> being in a position we are

right now and having the momentum we have right now we just got to keep -- we got to keep going, keep working and keep working as a team for sure. >> giroux signing a few more autographs these days. today signing his name on this fop p is the digital trading card. it's a new thing and he's the face of it. download the topps app on your phone or ipad to get access to digital playing cards. this is much different than when he was a kid. >> yeah, you can't lose them, they can't get stolen so it's going to be on your account and as a kid i think it's pretty exciting for them and it's one of the reasons why i was pretty excited to be a part of this 'cause kids are going to be enjoying it. >> i guess those old fashioned baseball and hockey cards -- >> back in the day it came way thing of bubble gum. >> loved the bubble gum. >> but you can't get there on an ipad. >> i don't think so at least not yet. might not taste good. >> they'll figure it out. philadelphia police department hosted a holiday party for neighborhood children this afternoon. partnered with an officer these boys and girls enjoyed a

game of bingo at the 19th district in west philadelphia and then everybody sat down for lunch. a nice treat for these youngsters to get to know their local police officers.

>> all right. let's get that accuweather forecast from cecily tynan. you're smiling. you have a couple surprises hidden in there? >> it's friday. i'm always smiling when it's friday. >> you're always smiling every day. >> okay. it's cole and it's going get wet. so there you go. >> wet is going to be rain? >> rain, some snow to start late sunday night. parts of our viewing area. tonight, though, it's dry.

let's go live to where sky6 is taking a look at the river rink rothman ice rink at dillworth park where if you dress for this weather it's not that bad. philadelphia right now just partly cloudy skies but we do have a few lake effect snow showers, one little batch moving into exton right now crossing 202 route 100, route 30 and we've got another batch that's right over reading currently. and this is moving pretty swiftly down to the south and east an indication just how strong the winds are and how unstable the atmosphere with this cold air. you step outside, it feels like winter. 27 degrees in philadelphia. the wind chill allentown 25 feels like twenty five in millville, feels like seven in the poconos and satellite6 along with action radar showing that had kind of a cloud sandwich. started the day off with sunshine. clouds bubbling up in the afternoon. now that the sun has set the do you see clouds are diminishing and the winds will be diminishing tonight. so it's going to be cold but

wind chills generally in the low 20's so not any worse than last night. 28 degrees in philadelphia, allentown 24, wilmington 26 and cape may 31. the day planner for your saturday showing we will once again have clouds bubbling up in the afternoon. i don't think we'll have as many as today. start off with sunshine at college 7 o'clock 29 degrees. by 1 o'clock 37 likely reaching a high of about 38 degrees just like today but the winds will not be quite as strong. now future tracker showing things start to change on sunday. the clouds roll in early. by 4 o'clock, a warm front will be advancing through. so what that will likely do is bring some snow showers to the lehigh valley and the poconos. the storm gets closer but the center of that low pressure tracking to the west. so what that will do is pull in warm air. so, philadelphia 3 o'clock monday morning, it's raining, 41 degrees. still a mix in the lehigh valley. still snowing in the poconos but by the morning rush, there's fluff warm air, should be rain everywhere. even in the poconos too warm

for snow so we're looking at a very wet monday. as far as the potential for accumulation, coming really north of the pennsylvania turnpike, this is where could get one to 3 inches of snow in the wee hours of the morning on monday but it will all be washed away by that rain as that storm pulls in some very mild air. so, the exclusive accuweather 7-day forecast, partly sunny, cold tomorrow, 38 degrees. on sunday, it's cloudy, it's cold, a few snow showers. bundle up if you're heading to the linc for the eagles game. 37 degrees. it gets messy sunday night. it's all rain by monday. we're looking at pretty good soaking of rain. generally about a half inch, 53 degrees the high. then late on tuesday, another front gets closer. tuesday partly sunny, 45. that arctic front will bring us a round of rain or snow showers on wednesday, 40 degrees and look what happens behind that system. even colder than this arctic outbreak. 32 degrees on thursday and friday.

you factor in the winds, wind chills in the teens and 20's. and we'll have an update on monday's storm on "action news at 11:gloom no denying it now it is glinted almost. >> oh, well. but it is. >> it's meteorological winter. >> isn't there a polar vortex going on? it. >> little bit. [laughter] >> big spectacle a big spectacle at the capitol building in harrisburg. governor tom wolf and the first lady welcomed a full room of people to enjoy the annual lighting of the capitol christmas tree after saying a few words the group listened to the sounds of the holidays from the children's choir. abc's "world news tonight" with david muir is next on channel6. "action news" continues at 10:00 on phl17. for the entire "action news" team, i'm jim gardner. we hope you'll join us on "action news" at 11:00 here on channel6. >> ♪

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tonight, the deadly storm system. the sheets of ice and the snow. the dangerous commute at this hour. and the deep freeze sweeping in across much of this country. from seattle to chicago to the northeast. the chilling moment in court today. images never seen before. dylann roof walking into that historic church, then walking out with the gun, after killing the churchgoers who invited him to pray with them. also breaking, the trump white house. who's out tonight. also, president-elect trump won't be giving up his producing role on the tv reality show "celebrity apprentice." his team tonight explaining why. the takedown. growing outrage after an officer is cleared tonight after a suspect is shot and paralyzed. the k9 unleashed, too. and, the warning. the holiday e-mail you could