wind chill factors are cold, almost freezing in baltimore, dropping the air temp in places like altoona. it feels like 15. the storm system continuing to work its way out. we could get some scattered light showers, rain and snow showers overnight. i think the bulk of this is a done deal. and then some clearing tomorrow but the wind is going to be ramping up. some clearing and no real new precipitation through tomorrow. this storm headed out. so let's turn our attention to the change has we go through the weekend. blustery conditions. we're set for dry weather through friday but then as we go into the day friday our second storm developing in the gulf of mexico will arrive up the coast. it's a pattern for maryland this time of the year. with snow pack i think we can get a couple inches but the timing and rain snow line all to be determined. that could move the rain/snow line. 34, clearing and windy. if you don't shovel you'll have ice tomorrow night. we get a windy one tomorrow, clearing and it's all about saturday and saturday night when that next coastal storm will run up the coast. th

what's going on up in altoona?thout any issue whatsoever. same thing in altoona where we live and of course, somebody comes along and says you can't do it. well, we can do it because this is the united states of america. so we would like to be able to work along with them to get the proper prime ministers to see that the nativity scene is back in front of city hall. once again, to make that statement that we can do it in the united states of america. in my opinion, the nativity scene, particularly the live nativity scene, is without a doubt one of the most clearest way to present the concept of what christmas is all about. we talk about christmas trees, the lack of the word christmas beside a tree, but the concept of the nativity scene is what christmas is all about and we believe as christians, we need to do more and more to promote that as those -- there are those who would like to stand against. >> gretchen: i always say it seems odd to me that around the christmas season that you would have to drive around and

we have them into the 20s right now in altoona.s right at freezing this morning in new york city. that's why we're expecting it to stay as snow. philadelphia, you're at 33 degrees, and washington, d.c. at 39. maybe more noticeable for us southerner, not used to temperatures around freezing, but that's what we're seeing now. it's warmed up a bit in atlanta to 41, but temperatures will get colder. you can see 35 in memphis and mashville helping melt some of the snow that's falling across much of the midsouth. christi, alison? >> will we see any snow in atlanta? >> we saw snow flurries, early, i think yesterday or two days ago. so i don't think the moisture will catch up to the cold air in time, but, you know, this is only december. we still have months to go. i think we'll get some snow here. >> you don't want it, christi. >> well, i'm from ohio. i mean, i miss it a little bit. >> it's exciting when it happens down here. >> it is. everybody gets so excited. don't they, bonnie? >> oh, yeah. >> bonnie, thank you so much. >>> okay. we'v

altoona, alabama, making sure one of its four officers are at the elementary school during school daystown residents seem to be on board with that. >> so thankful somebody will be here to stop that person because the person, the first thing i thought of is how rural we are here. that was a little rural town too, that never thought anything like that would happen to them. but we don't think that is going to happen to us either. >> we react we our emotion, if we don't do something for our school now i don't think we ever will. >>> there is always something to be done but having an officer there is the first line of defense. it drastically reduces response time. >> these teachers would take a bullet for their children and just a lot to ask because i know how much they love our children. and they do. i thank them so much. gregg: well the chief of police says the new commitment will cost a beg chunk of his budget but he is not willing to take any chances with the safety of children. heather: to a fox weather alert now on a massive winter storm that is also causing dangerous driving conditio

downwind of the great lakes region, you can see those across central pennsylvania, a heavy band west of altoonaust creeping into southern pennsylvania, maybe york county sees a couple of flurries. we're not expecting accumulation here throughout the day. western maryland may see a couple of flurries but this shows how strong the winds are. a wider view showing the snow event from yesterday, spinning out into atlantic canada, bringing heavy snow in parts of maine and behind us we have strong winds producing lake-effect snow showers downwind of the great lakes into west virginia, pennsylvania, upstate new york, as well these areas could still have travel troubles today as the roads could be icy at times, especially if you travel through a snow band. we'll feel the effects of the winds on the back side of the storm. they're coming in out of the north and west today, 17 mile-per-hour sustained winds at the airport. gusts are stronger now. we have wind sustained at 18 in edgewood, 21 in ocean city and 11 to our south in california. winds will take a toll on temperatures today. they'll prevent them f

alabama is today getting national attention for the steps it's taking to secure the schools there in altoonaabama, the police department making sure at least one of its four officers is at the elementary school full-time on school days. town officials and residents seem to be all onboard with that decision. the new commitment will cost a big chunk of the chief's budget, but he is not willing to take any chances with the safety of the children. heather: we are seeing more attention focused recently on a coming doctor shortage and what that means for president obama's health care act. today new questions about whether many of the medical is thes that have been traditionally -- that have been traditionally provided by trained physicians could be administered by nurse practitioners and pharmacists. well, "the new york times"es floated this idea in an editorial last week, so we wanted to ask dr. mitchell brooks, a former family practitioner to join us with his insight and his take on this. thank you for joining us. >> you're welcome. heather: so is this a good idea with the looming doctor shortag