but first the winter weather we've seen in many parts of the bay area today. the view right here outside our kgo tchgs studios in san francisco. snow in higher elks. we are pleased to have at abc 7 christian spencer to get news on the forecast tonight. >> pretty interesting day weatherwise, don't you think. >> i think so. right. >> a variety pack. >> tell us about the variety that we're getting. >> just -- okay. well here is a look at some of the variety we've had today. pea-sized hail at st. heleno and san mateo. snow atop mount diablo and mount hamilton. the snow levels down to about 2500 feet. here a look at current conditions and live doppler 7. notice the thunderstorms and lightning strikes in the foothills and central valley. but in the bay area we have our little active weather as well up in the north bay. pretty good downpours moving to southern napa county indicated by the orange and yellow colors north of american canyon. over in the east bay scattered showers see the yellow near san ramon isolated downpour there and wider area of moderate rainfall east of livermore up towards byron. down in the mount hamilton areas we have widespread areas of snow. and other forms of frozen and semi frozen. precip. rainfall totals have been pretty generous. waiting for this for weeks. a quarter inches 3/4 of an inch. and snow totals over in the sierra, half foot to nearly two feet at squaw over two feet of snow at sugar bowl. anyway, again this storm ranks only 1 on the abc 7 storm impact scale. but bringing unusual conditions, showers briefly have lightning hail, some downpours, snow in the highest peaks. this pattern continuing through the evening hours looking at the forecast dimension and break up a bit overnight and early tomorrow morning we'll see the storm wind down. but it will -- it's a memorable event because we don't usually get this kind of mix of wintery precipitation. >> yeah spencer, definitely i was awakened in the middle of the night by superloud hail. my question is will we sleep more soundly tonight in or do you expect the active stuff to continue into tonight and tomorrow? how long? >> this is the key question. and i think the answer right now, kristen. we will probably have more isolated occurrences of this type of weather than last night. most of us will not see these conditions or experience these conditions tonight. however, there -- this upper level low that's swirling over us is still keeping the atmosphere unstable, still sweeping in moisture. in fact, io advance my -- my graphic up to this and show you this one. this is the pattern we've been looking at. here it comes over the last 12 hours. you can see the counterclockwise circulation in the upper level low sweeping in pockets of moisture and bringing in cold air. even though the system is weaken and we won't see such a widespread occurrence of the precipitation and the snow and hail tonight as we did last night some will experience it. it's still with us. and it's not going to wind down completely until probably sometime in the midmorning hours tomorrow. >> okay. we are looking at a dry weekend, though, so that's good timing. but spencer i want to ask for those ever us closely watching the snow and the snow pack, is this too late in the season to really make a difference, that is, you know, what we're getting now looks great and everything. but melts pretty quickly, doesn't really help us in terms of the drought? >> yeah, let me put it this way. it will make a difference but not a major difference not a significant difference. we are so far below the normal snow pack levels i think the last time i checked we were at about 62 or 68% statewide. any snow we get now is certainly going to help. but it's very, very doubtful that we will approach the average levels for this time of year. so it's likely that this rain season will end with us being significantly below average in snow pack and with the bay area being significantly below the average levels of rainfall. this helps. and we might get a bit more early next week. but it's very unlikely we're going to end the season at the average or normal level. >> yeah, i mean when you say the season we really have one month more, right? and i wonder -- at this point what we're getting from this, do you expect an extension of the ski season up in tahoe? >> oh, that's a good question. i would imagine as long as there is snow on the ground and there is the ability to add a little bit more machine-made snow i would think they'd want to extend the season just because so many people love going up there to ski. and the businesses want to keep operating. but we are really running out of time for reasonable expectation of natural snowfall to occur. this may be the last significant one we'll see. but this one has been significant. those snow totals. did i show you -- yeah i showed you the totals earlier. nearly two feet in some places, a foot and a half in many resorts. in fact we have a winter weather warning in effect. let me show you this graphic for the sierra until 7:00 this evening. still snowing there. and even as this warning expires there will be more snow falling. it will just be lighter and lighter. >> wait, this video, where is it from, mount diablo. this is mount diablo. look at that. >> look at that. oh, yeah that's pretty cool. i'm looking to my right that's where my monitor is to see what you are showing the audience. this is showing that dusting of snow i mentioned earlier that we've had on mount diablo. we've had some over down in the mount hamilton area. and just on the very, very highest peaks but as you can see it's pretty widespread. and in some places it's several inches accumulating, which we rarely see in the bay area. and as i was about to say, we still have the winter storm warning in effect for the sierra until 7:00 this evening. but even after that warning expires we expect another 5 to 8 inches of know there. >> yes. >> for this evening. and maybe a foot or more in the highest peaks. >> wow! >> in the bay area we're certainly getting some periods of additional rain this evening and overnight. this is good. >> wow! >> enjoy it now because the season is winding down. >> yeah. >> and we're in mid-march now. not many more weeks to expect this coined of thing to happen. >> by the way, viewers, i have to apologize. i do believe that the congressman barbara lee try as hard as she is she was just taking care of a vote on the house floor and and then running back to her office to try to join us spencer. i don't know if she is making it. but i'm glad we have the time to spend with you to talk about unusual spring storm. unusual in the amount of snow we're getting not that spring isn't full of storms. but also do we have any more either live camera shots of maybe mount hamilton or other places in the bay area? this is michael clark who shot this in the north bay, right? >> oh, yeah. yeah. up at -- this is either in insomnia an county or napa county, i believe. but we've had snow across much of the north bay. and hail by the way. this -- i think this is a collection of hail on this deck. >> well it looks similar. >> up in santa rosa. yeah, very similar. and then we've also had what we call graupel, sort of like soft hail or crusty snow. it's the droplets that are superschooled as they are falling attach to the snow flakes and the snow plaks get a sort of rough texture. so it's called graupel. g.r.a. u.p. e.l. >> okay. >> we've had the complete variety pack here in the bay area last couple of day. >> just don't quiz me on the terms because you know my memory. but i really appreciate it. and some of our viewers on facebook live are saying we love spencer. that comment from alex and llarisa saying it's clear in santa cruz. thank you for the weather information. more about this on abc 7 news at 4:00. thanks, spencer. >> okay we will. thanks. coming up next, we have a special guest for you. we are excited for this one thp olympic champion one of the most decorated figure skaters of all time your favorite bay area yami welcome back. all this week abc 7 news is focusing on learning loss as we try to build a better bay area. yesterday my colleague abc 7 news reporter david louie reported on a new stanford study showing distance learning has had negative impact on the reading skills of elementary school kids especially among second and third graders. our special guest is not only an olympic champion but also a champion of childhood literacy. she needs no introduction but here it is anyway. joining us today, fremont native, 1992 ladies figure skating olympic gold medalist and founder of kristy yamaguchi always dream. kristy yamaguchi. >> hi, kristy. >> great to be here. >> i think last time i saw you was november 2019 in san ramon. you know, you were opening one of your rinks, i think the first one in san ramon. and so much has change, right? we miss these rinks. >> we miss the rinks. we miss being out and about in crowds together. but i think, you know, that's around the corner for everyone. and we've been diligent for a year. so let's just keep our fingers cross. >> we can make it, yeah. >> and we all remember it's been 29 years sips you won the gold. but a lot of people don't know it's been 25 years since you founded always dream to promote childhood literacy. congrats on the silver anniversary. i don't know if silver is a dirty word in our conversation. but congratulations. >> we'll take the silver. we're proud of the 25 years. and you know looking forward to 25 more hopefully in the future. so thank you. >> no, i followed the non-profit's work. because you started by donating books to a couple of local bay area schools. but give our viewers a snap shot how always dream has grown and the types of support and services it's providing now. >> well, we're really excited this past year. we have served over 500 school kids based here in the bay area, arizona and hawaii. and it's also based on kindergarten-age school kids, and low income areas, so making sure they get the resources, books in hands and also family engagement support. so, you know, some really consistent reading routines can be established at home. but of course this year has been very unique with the distance learning. and, you know, one of the unique things about our program and see it really is focused on family engagement, so helping those families, you know, figure out and giving them tips in support to be that you know, second teacher at home. as we have seen it was very hard not just on the students, the teachers, but also the families at home with the distance leni >> in terms of supporting the families you've started putting out book coaches. what are book coaches? what do they do? >> the book coaches in our program are so essential. and the schools have found them to be such a valuable part of our program. and they have direct contact with our students and their families. and what they do is not only monitor the reading that is happening with our families, and the consistency of that. but also reaching out three times a week via text message to give tips and reminders and literacy strategies that they can do with their child, and also the kind of that one-on-one. -- you know schools don't have the direct contact with the families, but because we are do we are able to see some of the really devastating impact that covid has had on so many of our most vulnerable families with the pandemic. and whether it's needing resources on -- where the nearest place is to get food for that night, or for the coming week, we're trying to gather and stay consistent and up da li to date on the some of the resources to give to our families. >> and you've also pivoted to technology, right? providing the ipads is it? is it ipads to students? >> right now they're not on ipads. they are on android definvices s go one to one with the students, with the pandemic that started the lockdown at the end of the school year last last year. we gifted the tablets to the families so they can have those and continue with their reading throughout the summer and even, you know, this year now that the students are in 1st grade. so little ways that they can stay connected and continue to have that consistent reading at home. >> fantastic. and i know that you're in three states. multiple cities going to san jose soon. so that is great. i want to ask about this. because we're all just becoming more aware of why picking the right books is so important. because kids will either see positive images or affirm who they are or negative sat stereotypes or belittle who they are, the barbecue backgrounds be, right. i know you're curating books that uplift kids. do you have a list of favorites to share right now. >> i have a few in front of me right here. and a couple of these are actually in our -- most of them in our current program with the readings. one is kamala and maya's big idea. i think a lot of people are familiar with this. kamala is vice-president kamala harris. and it's a local twist to it. and it takes place in her childhood and inspired by a project that her and her sister did for the community they lived in. so very empowering for kids to see what difference they can make in the community. rainbow reever is another beautiful book. and ychell not only cleans up the community by taking the plastic bags she sees discarded but weaves them into a beautiful woven piece of fabric that resembles those that her great grandmother and her grandmother and her mother make in her community. that's a great one. and then "my name is not isabella." this is empowering for girls. talking about inspiring female characters. sally rooids with the first woman in space. and rosa parks, the civil rights activist, very empowering for girls to see themselves as these leaders and trail blazers. >> all right. well, thanks for sharing those. folks. we have kristy's books we want to tell but as well. she is too humble to brew bring them up but i'm osberging about them because they are wonderful. we'll do and answer your by harnessing california's abundant wind and solar energy, we have the power to take on climate change. use less from 4 to 9 pm to keep california golden. air. welcome back we're talking about the bay area's own home grown olympic champion, kristy yamaguchi today. kristy, previously we talked about your passion to build a better bay area through childhood literacy through always dream. but something else that hasn't felt better in the bay area recently is the increase in the visible attacked on asian-americans, especially the elderly. how does that affect you on an emotional and personal level, given that your grandparents and mom were in a japanese-american internment camp in world war ii? >> yes, i mean, it definitely hits close to home. i think any of us with elderly parents. and sorry, mom if i say elderly parents. but, you know, i think of them whenever they leave the house. i always tell them to be aware of what's going on around them. and it's hard not to worry. and really i am glad that the light is being shined on what's going on so that more people are aware. and the support is out there. because, yeah, it has to stop. >> and actually your daughters, like you, are not content to sit i'dly by when they see people needing help. how are they responding to this issue. >> they actually recently with a friend, dylan tell, they started a clothing brand. celebrating their multiracial heritages. but they did a design of a stop asian hate tee shirt. and they are designating the proceeds to that asian-pacific fund and the stop aapi hate organization supporting the victims in various ways. >> that's fantastic. what is the web address? i'm going to ask my producer to try to put that up along with the family picture if we have that. what's the website again? >> well, it's wasianwasianwasian they are working on the website but they are on instagram and twitter. >> that's awesome. look, wage of our daughters -- i see two daughters there. you have kira and emma, right? and i don't know they both love skating or just one of them? one of them be, right, emma. >> emma the younger one skates. kira has her other activities. >> i'm sure you're superproud. don't be medium sized but we have the video of your duo, two of you doing the duet. i want to tell me about in routine and what it means to skate with your daughter. >> well, it was a really special performance. one, because we had the honor of skating to the live singing of the broadway superstar, world star really. and with her voice of playing mulan from reflection, the song. it was a fun tribute that my daughter, em, and i can do together. it was a fun, fun moment to share the ice with her and to find that joy of skating and performing again. i really haven't performed much since becoming a mom. so to get out there and to share my love and with her was really special. >> she is so good. she definitely has your grace and agility. does she have that, you know, highest competitive level aspirations? or is it more just, you know, for the love and fun of it? >> really for the love and fun. i mean, she has improved. and believe it or not she taller than me right now. >> i believe it you're tiny. >> oh, man, yes. so she is doing really well. but it's hard. the rinks have been closed this entire year almost from the pandemic. she is starting to get back on the ice tomorrow will be her first day in a long time. so, yeah, it's -- you know, she loves it and i -- hopefully we'll get through her testing session so she can become a top level rated skater. >> do you get nervous when you watch her? >> oh, it's crazy. i have much more compassion for my mom now and what she went through. because it's -- you know, you can hardly feel your heart at all. it just drops to your stomach. so, yes, even though she is not super be super high competitive, it's still tough to sit there and just watch. >> oh, i believe it, no doubt. okay, now you get what it's like to be her mom or what it was like. here is a viewer shay who says would you ever consider becoming a coach? >> you know, i love americaning the you -- mentoring the young skate resist. there have been incredible skaters out of the bay area. karen chen. currently alissa lu goi goi goii 2022 olympics. and i always have an open door for advice and guidance and whatever, just through the experience that i had. i love to share with them. but right now, mom has taken priority over that. but who knows in the future, maybe. >> but i know basically you're coaching everybody, mentoring everybody for free. just not a professional coach. what's next for you? we have about 40 seconds on air. but people are arnd ohhing what's next? what projects? hopefully the rinks will be back soon. >> hopefully the rinks will be back soon. you know, during the holidays at the end of this year, the 25th anniversary of always dream. so we're celebrating that throughout the year with special events. and, you know, hopefully a new book will be in the works as well. >> ooh, all right. well we are intrigued. and you promise when you debut the new book you'll come back on, right? >> absolutely for sure. >> fantastic. all right if you want to learn more about always dream, just go to always dream.org. the conversation is n >> thank you kristen. you too. >> thank you. . and we are back thank you so much for joining us on today's interactive show, getting answers. rgs we saw incredible weather and snow images from sky seven around the bay area. and your video submissions of the winter storm and our good friend meteorologist spencer christian was the perfect guy for us. plus we had an excellent conversation with olympic champion kristy yamaguchi and what we can do to address childhood literacy. we apologize we weren't able to bring the details of the stimulus bill that passed that president biden sign on friday. but the idea is those checks will be going out soon, $1,400 more persons making under $75,000. and under $150,000 for couples. and also an extension of tonight, the president's historic bill passes. help for struggling americans is now on the way. president biden's $1.9 trillion covid relief bill clears its final hurdle. to be signed by the president on friday, after house democrats today passed the historic bill, sending it to the president's desk. the president immediately signaling, quote, help is here. tonight, what it means for millions of americans, the checks for $1,400. what it means for a typical family of four. also, the jobless benefits extended through the summer. and the cost of health insurance lowered if you rely on obamacare. the presidnt scheduled to address the nation tomorrow night. and how soon will those checks go out? your questions answered right here tonight. rachel scott live on the hill. it comes as a growing number of states ease restrictions.