Experts from around the bay area. have a great day. tonight, several developing stories as we come on the air. the cross-country storm set to disrupt new year s plans for millions. and paying tribute to pele. a global soccer icon. first, that major winter storm. heavy, wet snow stranding drivers in denver. some people stuck in a tunnel, propping doors open to protect themselves from carbon monoxide poisoning. all part of that fast-moving system slamming the west. and in the east, in blizzard-ravaged buffalo, the death toll still rising. roads are reopening. but now, the new threat. rapidly melting snow. more than 800,000 sandbags at the ready for possible flooding. mola lenghi in the storm zone. and rob marciano tracking the new year s threat coast to coast. also tonight, after more than 15,000 cancellations,
Pouring in for soccer legend pele, who died today after a long battle with cancer. the 82-year-old was a national treasure in his native brazil, and an international ambassador for the sport. that country now planning two days of national mourning. here s abc s matt rivers. reporter: tonight, the world mourning the loss of a giant pele, the brazilian legend many consider the greatest soccer player of all time, dead at age 82. his daughter sharing the news on instagram, saying, all that we are is thanks to you. we will love you forever. rest in peace. pele had been battling colon cancer and was hospitalized in early december. born edson arantes do nascimento in 1940, he grew up in poverty, in part honing his skills by kicking a rolled-up sock stuffed with rags. making his world cup debut as a 17-year-old in 1958, brazil s victory there rocketing him to global star 2k078. he would go on to win three
World cups, the only player in history to do so. after dominating in brazil for nearly 15 years, pele brought his unique brand of soccer artistry to the u.s., coming out of retirement to play for the new york cosmos in 1975, becoming an ambassador for the game, helping many americans fall in love with the sport. as children, we learned his name, and he brought us he took us by the hand and brought us into soccer. reporter: after his career, pele was a passionate advocate for children s education, while promoting soccer across the world. pele wore number 10, often worn by top playmakers. tonight, tributes from other number 10s, including brazilian forward neymar, saying, before pele, 10 was just a number. argentinian lionel messi saying, rest in peace. messi just won the world cup, and pele was watching. in his last instagram post before he died, he congratulated messi and argentina for the victory, writing, what a gift it was to watch.