snow covered paum eded palm trees lining the streets of temecula. so much of the country dealing with the brutal cold. at midnight 70% of the country will be at or below freezing. we have team coverage of new-year-old's and security tonight. and we begin with abc's chief meteorologist ginger zee, tracking the deep freeze gripping most of the country in the final hours of 2014. ginger? >> reporter: yeah elizabeth. we are just hours away from the big party here in times square and yes, cold but totally tolerable. meanwhile, that deep freeze is only the beginning. the ice, the snow the dangerous conditions across the american west. snow smothering palm trees in southern california. spinouts and abandoned cars littering this stretch of the ortega highway. 2014 leaving a dangerous and frozen mark across the west. >> this is not something we wake up to every morning in california. >> reporter: overnight, more than 130 drivers rescued in san bernadino county. up to half a foot of snow and gusting winds to 50 miles per hour. the cold winds battering catalin

. >>> temecula family is calling a father/daughter reunion an early christmas miracle. the 6-year-old girl had only one request from santa, to see her dad. he was on the cb, the u.s. navy, been in afghanistan the last six months. he wasn't due back. in the end of the month. his daughter got her christmas wish. >> supposed to come home right now but i didn't tell anybody. i told them it was the end of the month. so i misled my kids a little bit. >> it's a miracle! >> the whole family including his 20-year-old daughter join in on the surprise reunion, calling it an incredible christmas. no kidding. wonderful to see. good to see that game. question mark? >> all right. the 49ers and raiders face a pretty good game tonight. if you are a raiders fan, perhaps the biggest win in a decade and the over a million californians have out of reach for far too long. health insurance. how? they enrolled through covered california. it's the health insurance marketplace where you'll find a range of plans from leading health insurance companies that offer you the best combination of qualit

ramona, temecula. it looks like las vegas will have to wait until tonight. this is rain.s a cold rain. the low will head into arizona. as it does, it will be a powerhouse as it moves across the country. for us, cold and breezy. not as windy but windy at sometimes. a lot of sunshine. it's severe and clear. 50s on the temps. it won't take long to start to see the temps fall off the table. they will. bundle up. there would be a breeze coast and bay. but the wind will die down. that temperature will plummet tonight into tomorrow morning pth sunny. people are asking pea all over are we going dry? are we going dry? until then cold morning, sunny days. >> you know how to end the year. [laughter] >> i know. >> the month. >> thank you. >>> 7:23. a three-day music event in south lake tahoe is underway but the police have serious concerns. coming up in 20 minutes, what event organizers are doing about those concerns to keep people safe at the big concert. >>> i'm wondering how comfortable or uncomfortable you are with this per is uption that you are the save ure -- perception that y

>> crystal werder from temecula, california. >> her husband is deployed overseas.er. >> kordell, happy holidays. we're about to ship your generous gifts to some very deserving kids. >> all part of our toy drive next. first this is "today" on nbc. >>> the holidays are a time for giving and one of the reasons why our "today" toy drive is able to give gifts to so many children in need is because of the support from our generous partners like home goods. >> emily trent is vice president of marketing for home goods. hi, emily. >> thank you for having me. >> what are you guys donating this year? >> i bought my friend happy, he's an example of the toys we have. >> because he's happy. >> he is. high end toys at amazing prices. he insisted on coming. we're here to donate $25,000 to the toy drive. >> that's fantastic. >> that's so terrific. home goods is a great place to buy christmas stuff, really, isn't it? >> it is. gifts, gifts and more gifts. we have been sourcing from around the world. we have gorgeous throws, oils from italy, gorgeous gift baskets and gifts arriving t