officers were crushed, pushed, and hit with objects, dressed in riot gear as they struggled to control the massive crowd. authorities arresting more than 60 people. whit: rena roy joining us now from union square. a much different scene tonight. but, rena, what are authorities saying about whether this influencer actually had free merchandise to give out? and was there some way this could have all been avoided? reporter: a, nypd official tells us they do believe cenat was planning on handing out several playstation 5s. and police say a lot of this could have been avoided if he contacted city officials ahead of time. we contacted his team but haven t heard back. whit? whit: thank you. we re tracking a severe weather threat tonight. millions on alert from colorado to tennessee for flash flooding and damaging winds. and the scorching and unrelenting heat for more than 60 million americans from florida to california. overnight, dramatic water rescues after more than six
including inciting a riot and unlawful assembly. police say it all started after kai cenat told his millions of followers on the live-streaming platform twitch that he was giving away video game consoles and gift cards. within hours, union square park and nearby streets were flooded with teens. the crowd turning violent, clashing with police, tossing bottles and fireworks. today, new york city mayor eric adams blaming outside agitator for inflaming the chaos, but blasting parents, saying our children cannot get their values from social media. police reporting more than 60 people arrested, nearly half under the age of 18. abc s rena roy leads us off from union square. reporter: tonight, after hours of violent pandemonium, social media influencer kai cenat hit with three charges felony riot causing public injury or damage, inciting a riot, and unlawful assembly. thousands rushing to manhattan s union square creating chaos.
followers went on a rampage, smashing vehicles, hurling bottles and fireworks, even attacking police. tonight, how cenat drew a crowd of thousands that got so out of hand. and the mayor calling out parents, saying our children cannot get their values from social media. rena roy in new york. also tonight, the severe weather threat in the center of the country. dangerous storms in the forecast. flash flooding caused by half a foot of rain in missouri. and heat alerts for more than 60 million americans, stretching from florida to california. rob marciano tracking it all. a california judge accused of shooting and killing his wife in their home. investigators seen carrying guns from the home and boxes labeled ammo. the judge arrested, but tonight, the bond he posted to be let out of jail. multiple injuries reported, some critical, as a bus filled with teens from a summer camp rolls over on a highway. we speak with a good samaritan who stepped in to help.
international airport tonight where over 100 flights have been canceled today. these disruptions are expected to continue? reporter: terry, that s right. tomorrow and monday expected to be the busiest travel days to return home, and we re already seeing more than a thousand cancellations sunday alone. terry? hard day. rena, thanks very much for that. next to the daring high wire rescue outside albuquerque, new mexico, amid icy conditions. nearly two dozen people stranded overnight in a tram. rescuers reaching all of them late today. and a winter storm impacting millions across the country tonight. a state of emergency declared in kentucky. tornado watches in effect across several states as this system sweeps east. elwyn lopez is in atlanta. reporter: tonight, a dramatic high wire rescue in albuquerque, new mexico. all 21 people being pulled to safety after being stuck in a cart on a tramway for more than 14 hours.
nearly half of those in chicago, which is seeing the most cancellations in the world. there is no space to spend the time, something to eat, so it s a long time here. reporter: southwest halting all flights at midway airport this afternoon. a winter storm bringing gusty winds and heavy snow across the central u.s., slamming colorado, grounding hundreds of flights in denver. just like when we think air travel couldn t get any worse, it gets worse. reporter: all of this during one of the busiest travel periods of the year, with an estimated 6.5 million passengers traveling today through monday. and the faa is warning these issues could continue through mid-january as more air traffic controllers and other employees test positive for covid. united now offering triple pay for pilots who pick up extra shifts. spirit paying flight attendants double. rena roy joins us live now from newark liberty