michelle franzen has more for you. >> reporter: the holiday getaway is on. >> it's a time for family and spending time together with the loved ones. >> reporter: brandon is one of an limited 92 million americans traveling this christmas where part of the gift of giving is getting there. >> she just started walking like a month ago. >> it's important to be with my family on christmas, so it's worth all the trouble. >> reporter: at airports around the country, there were no major problems atramped up. no problems passing through security. >> reporter: that despite a new alert issued by the tsa that empty insulated bench containers could be screened more closely. authorities say there was not a specific threat but a concern terrorists could use them to conceal explosive chemicals. from the skies to the roads. a whopping 93% of travelers are driving despite a jump in gas prices. up about 40 cents a gallon on average. >> it doesn't help when you're trying to buy presents and make ends meet. >> reporter: but whether driving, flying or staying close to home, the only hurdle may be the weath

here's nbc's michelle franzen. >> reporter: whiteouts and wipeouts as a wintry blast barrelled across the upper midwest and plains this weekend. in minneapolis, many snowbound drivers ended up spinning their wheels. for the twin cities, it is the snowiest december day on record. nearly 14 inches and still counting. early on, transportation officials urged residents to stay home, and many stocked up on food and supplies before getting snowed in. >> i don't think we're going to leave the house. >> reporter: blowing snow closed airports and slowed the new york giants travel plans to the twin cities for sunday's game against the vikings. giants spokesman pat hanlin posted a photo on twitter showing players stuck in kansas city for the night. this major storm is expected to leave its mark as it moves east. >> this storm is basically going to be moving its way from the midwest all the way through the great lakes and eventually into the northeast. wide ranging impacts from snow to rain. >> reporter: it is the latest sign winter is here in a big way. near hagerstown, maryland on friday, snowy

michelle franzen begins our coverage. >> reporter: at daybreak in minneapolis, the digging out began to clear sidewalks and cars buried beneath a record 20 inches of snow. >> it's the worst i've seen in a couple of years. that's for sure. >> digging people out, get home, watch football. >> reporter: there would be no sunday football at the minneapolis metrodome. the vikings and new york giants game canceled and moved to detroit after the weight of this massive snowstorm caused the inflatable roof to collapse. the weather channel's scott williams got a look inside. >> typical temperatures inside the metrodome in minneapolis are 635 to 68 degrees, but it doesn't feel that way today. it feels more like it's in the single digits all because of a one-two punch from mother nature of damaging winds and heavy snow. it has caused the largest tear since the stadium was built. >> reporter: the storm and blizzard warnings made driving treacherous and closed roads and grounded flights in several states. in chicago more than 1,000 flights were canceled, but it wasn't just the snow that caused prob

michelle franzen, nbc bay area news, new york. >> santa's also going to have to battle this snow.his is st. louis, missouri, where people had a tough time navigating the roads there. in minnesota, it is shaping up to be the snowiest december on record. imagine that. it snowed five inches overnight. and needs only a half inch of new snow to break the december record of 33.7 inches, a record set in 1969. well, some u.s. troops in iraq celebrated an early christmas today. they took time out to decorate some trees, share a special meal and spent time with santa. army leaders say while morale is high and the threat to american soldiers is significantly lower than years past, the holidays are always a tough time to be away from the family. >> this year is challenging for me, because my father died on christmas eve the last time i was deployed. it's challenging for me personally, that's why i'm glad to be with friends. this is the one time of the year you don't want to be alone. if you can't be with your family, be with the family you have chosen. >> many troops hope this will be the las

michelle franzen starts us out. >> reporter: whiteouts and wipeouts as a wintry blast barrelled across the upper midwest and plain this is weekend. in minneapolis, many snowbound drivers ended up spinning their wheels. for the twin cities, it is the snowiest december day on record. nearly 14 inches and still counting. early on, transportation officials urged residents to stay home, and many stocked up on food and supplies before getting snowed in. >> i don't think we're going to leave the house. >> reporter: blowing snow closed airports and slowed the new york giants' travel plans to the twin cities for sunday's game against the vikings. giants spokesman pat hanlon posted a photo on twitter showing players stuck in kansas city for the night. this major storm is expected to leave its mark as it moves east, it is the latest sign winter is here in a big way. near hagerstown, maryland, on friday, snowy conditions triggered a multi-vehicle crash on i-70 injuring seven, including children. in the pacific northwest, a massive snowstorm in washington state closed parts of i-90 as snow plows tr

nbc bay area's, michelle franzen has the new developments tonight. >> reporter: the alleged bomb plotgeted this military recruitment center just outside baltimore. federal investigators arrested suspect antonio martinez, a 21-year-old construction worker, after he reportedly tried to detonate a car bomb outside the center filled with what turned out to be phony explosives given to him by undercover agents. authorities say he posed no real threat to the public. >> the evidence to date indicates that he was acting alone. with his arrest today, we have eliminated the threat. >> reporter: but at the shopping center where the recruiting center is located, the attempted car bomb plot was enough to rattle many nerves of workers at nearby businesses. >> it's a very scary thing when it's that close to home. >> it could have hurt this building here. we might have been inside, you know. who knows. but it is scary really. it really is. >> reporter: prosecutors say martinez was under surveillance for the past two months while plotting the attack. the fbi says martinez, also known as muhammed husse

but nbc's michelle franzen joins us with more on the story. ter. the soho house behind me is known as a play ground for celebrities, and its members-only clientele. now is it at the center of a homicide investigation after a talented fashion designer with a promising future was found dead in a hotel bathtub. her boyfriend arrested as the lone suspect. sylvie cache was a talented crime wear designer who friends and colleagues say enjoyed the spotlight on and off the runway. >> i think she really had a zest for life. she was really fun. >> reporter: but her life came to a violent end early thursday morning inside the new york city members only soho house and hotel. a worker discovered the 33-year-old partially clothed body face up and emerged in an overflowing bathtub after guests below her room reported a leak in the ceiling. investigators on scene say her neck had red marks, along with a bite mark on her hand. they also found prescription pills in the room. friday night police arrested cachay's boyfriend nicolas brooks on charges of attempted m