our sister station kbr caught up with one sacramento family heading up to the palisades to ski when they ran into trouble this morning. >> we thought the storm would be over by the time we drive. and we swerved on the highway even though we have a four-wheel drive vehicle and we hit the partition. >> luckily everyone is okay, and they were able to get turned back. >>> across the country, a lot of viruses are heading especially the holiday gatherings and the travel. covid hospitalizations nationwide are at the highest level since last february. it's not just covid, by the way. 31 states are reporting high or very high levels of various other respiratory illnesses. that uptick leaving hospitals in several states and washington, d.c. to bring back masking requirements. >> and it really helps to protect the vulnerable people that are sitting out there in the waiting room right now. >> the cdc says one contributing factor to the rise and illnesses is that people haven't kept up with vaccinations. fewer than 50% of adults are vaccinated for the flu even fewer for covid. with cases of all three