Its in dupont, washington, between tacoma and olympia. Its a new service that just started today that runs from seattle to portland. Look at that, just a tangled mess. Still so many Emergency Personnel on the scene. Even hours after this all started. About 7 45, the train went off the tracks and fell partially on to interstate 5. Again, six related deaths just confirmed. Investigators say the death toll is sadly expected to rise. There are dozens of others hurt and hospitalized, but police say there are multiple fatalities on the train. No drivers who were on the highway have died but there were multiple injuries reported. Our seattle affiliate just talked with a woman on the phone who witnessed it all and then tried to help. I seen it come around the curve. As it went around the curve, it jump and hit two cars that i saw. Do you have any idea it was awful. I see bodies on the ground. I dont know if theyre from the train, but there were three to five bodies on the ground. People injured with gashes in their knees. Head wounds. Im a cna so i had some gloves in the car and some bandages. And i just did what i could to help. We can also tell you this, amtrak says there were more than 80 people on board that entire train. Lets bridge in nbc bay areas kris sanchez shes live in san jose. Shes actually spent the last couple of hours investigators how rail workers here in the bay area are continuously trying to keep our tracks safe. What did you find out, kris . Reporter hi there, laura. We knew it is going to be a very long time before there is a definitive reason for that train crash in Washington State, but with so many bay area commuters on trains and rails, we had to ask is there Something Like that that could happen here . We did hear back from some of our agencies. We know that the train was on tracks part of a new route, as you mentioned. The train was traveling about 70 miles an hour. A passenger told msnbc a little earlier this morning that the train started to wobble before then it careened down a ditch. But we also know that under federal law, that line and all other commuter lines like it would have to have positive train control. According to the federal railroad administration, positive train control can automatically control the trains speed and force a stop if a train operator fails to take appropriate action for the conditions at hand. Ptc is intended to prevent traintotrain collisions, and also the movement of a train through the main line switch thats going in the wrong direction. Now back in 2015, cal train was to complete its ptc installation on schedule and it is now working on the electrification through highspeed rail service through the peninsula. That high speed will require that kind of ptc technology. B. A. R. T. Was pressured to implement positive train control after two workers were killed while working on a rail line when a train went through unannounced. We are going to continue to dig into the local records to see if there is something can be gleaned, but i did get communication from muni and their Spokesman Says they use automatic train control, particularly in the subway, through the subway tunnels, but that at this point it is just a little too early to take anything away from what happened in washington and apply it to what we could do differently or more safely here in the bay area. In san jose, kris sanchez, nbc bay area news. All right. Good point, kris. Thank you. Well bring you updates throughout this newscast as well. You can also get information across all of our digital platforms. Were sending out push alerts with breaking developments so download our nbc bay area app to get that information. Just minutes ago, a very sad story. Officials are investigating the death of a 4yearold boy from redwood city who died near lake tahoe. He was found in a hot tub in state line, nevada. Authorities say it appears to be an accident. The child has not been identified. Developing now, the power is back at atlantas airport, the worlds Busiest Airport impacting can be felt really around the globe. When it went out on saturday for ten hours, it cancelled more than nous flights. The airport is starting to recover but the problems are not completely over. And there you have it there. That was the moment the lights turned back on yesterday, but that fallout from the power outage at hartsfieldjackson is being felt widely across the country. More than 300 flights cancelled today, on top of 1,100 flights cancelled sunday. Being trapped by that loss of power on under sunday and the trains being stuck there. Others were really stuck looking for help. There was no one at b, there was no one as c, and only when we got to c and people were coming down from tsa was there someone guiding them to the gate. And atlanta officials blaming a fire deep in the airports sprawl tunnelled system. Now casualty az you can imagine, bay area airports and passengers are experiencing those problems. Lets go to nbc bay area pete suratos. Hes at sfo. You were talking about this earlier this morning, that impacted a lot of people. A lot of people in line behind you. Reporter yeah, good morning to you, marcus. Well, you know, this morning at least we were saying there were about half a dozen flights cancelled at the three major bay area airports, sfo, San Jose International and oakland airport. The Biggest Issue we saw here at sfo where they had five cancellations. At Delta Airlines getting folks on to the planes. As airlines are trying to figure out this situation, you have passengers trying to come up with a backup plan. Its an airport holiday greeting no passenger wants to hear. Seeing the cancellation, im a bit shocked but im hoping to be positive to get on another flight this afternoon. Reporter cindy is one of the many frontier passengers dealing with a cancelled flight to atlanta. Passengers were handled with this piece of white paper with information on how to book another flight. Ive got my neighbor taking care of my cats. Ive got business to do. Im reporter daelt Airlines Passengers are running into the same problems with some having success booking another flight. Were going to land maybe ten hours from what our original, you know, touchdown was. Reporter but passengers like maggie apparently took notice. Her 8 00 flight to atlanta was not cancelled, so in the spirit of the Holiday Season, she gave up her seat to those waiting for hours. I felt very compelled to do it. Reporter the resolution may not be so easy for others who are hoping for some good will with time running out. My grandchildren are all there so this is a trip i take every year. And every day counts. Reporter now, we know that Frontier Airlines and Delta Airlines are giving passenger vouchers when it comes to that next flight. Always a good idea to check in with our airline before heading to the airport. Live at sfo, pete suratos, nbc bay area news. Im sure a lot of headaches going on there. Its been a dry couple of weeks but finally a chance of much needed rain this week. A live look at downtown san francisco. Not really a cloud in sight. Meteorologist kari hall has been tracking the conditions and the wet weather heading our way. Kari . A lot of sunshine today. That will continue throughout the afternoon. The rain does not get here until late tomorrow night. Were enjoying our last few hours of all of this sunshine. Taking a live look outside in san jose at christmas in the park. Temperatures still very cool. Now in the mid50s. If youre getting ready to head out on your lunch break in oakland, its going to be in the upper 50s and eventually hitting about 60 degrees with mostly sunny skies. Temperatures all around the bay area, low to mid60s. Then we talk about that rain and when it arrives. Were already seeing it across the pacific northwest. That will be dipping to the south. A look at the timeline and how much rain we are going to see coming up in the full microclimate forecast. Thanks so much, kari. New at 11 00, a prominent Circuit Court judge calling it quits amid Sexual Misconduct allegations. Judge Alex Kosinski worked with san franciscos ninth Circuit Court of appeals. Last week the Washington Post reported on misconduct allegations by at least 15 women dating back decades. Saying a prolonged battle would be bad for the court. He apologies, saying he speaks candidly but never intended to make anyone feel uncomfortable. An arsonist may have struck again in the south bay. About 20 suspicious fires that were set along highway 680. The latest fire was spotted early sunday morning near the southbound 680 onramp off of capital expressway. The fire appears to have started in a shopping cart next to a homeless encampment. Then spread to surrounding vegetation. Chp says that fire is likely connected to the recent suspicious string of fires. New this midday, we finally know how this crash started. That video taken along east 14th street in san leandro about 1 30 in the morning. The car crash flood a nearby bridal shop near ban kroft avenue. In the last 15 minutes or so, the chase started after a carjacking in oakland. Also new, two suspects were taken into custody. No one was hurt. New this morning, a story we brought you this morning on today in the bay. People in one livermore neighborhood are pushing Alameda County to fix the congestion. Tesla road has become a popular shortcut. Some people try to circumvent the gridlock on 580 and the alt mont. A nearly 37 increase in traffic over the past year. We spoke with one man who said the traffic is bumpertobumper about 7 00 in the morning. What used to take him ten minutes now takes him 40 minutes. I could be in the city and commute out here just as fast. So, you know, its just ridiculous when you spend three hours a day going to a town that is only five miles a day. We asked county leaders who tell us theyre considering adding speed tables, which are basically longer speed bumps to discourage drivers from taking the shortcut. Coming up next, two recent close calls the sfo have lawmakers looking to prevent mishaps happening again. Their push to keep flying travellers safe. Plus, your tax bill may look very different next year. The battle over tax reform and where the republican plan stands now. National security. Let s listen in. Right now, president trumps speaking about National Security. Lets listen in. We are beginning to see results on the battlefield and we have made clear to pakistan that while we desire continued partnership, we must see Decisive Action against terrorist groups operating on their territory. And we make massive payments every year to pakistan. They have to help. Our efforts to strengthen the Nato Alliance set the stage for significant increases in member contributions with tens of billions of dollars more pouring in because i would not allow Member States to be delinquent in the payment while we guarantee their safety. And are willing to fight wars for them. As you can see right now, the president speaking on strengthening Nato Alliance. Hes also speaking about National Security right there. We are actually streaming this online at nbcbayarea. Com. And right now, the dow jumps 137 points as wall street cheers upcoming tax bill vote. Nasdaq hit 7,000. Congress expected to vote as early as tuesday on a plan that would clash the federal tax rate from 37 crucial votes on the republican tax bill and we learned late last night that senator john mccain will not be there. Hes actually returned home to arizona as he recovers from his ongoing treatment for brain cancer. Nbcs Hallie Jackson reports theyre pretty confident this bill will pass with the president weighing in. Reporter no john mccain, no margin for error with the republican tax bill on the line. The word is that john will come back if we need his vote. And its too bad. Its tough. Hes going through a very tough time, there is no question about it, but he will come back if he need his vote. Reporter the senator battling brain cancer has returned home to arizona, where hell spend the holidays. Dayes after being hospitalized at walter reed medical center. I did speak to senator mccain. Reporter his doctor now saying that mccain is responding positively to ongoing treatment as his office says he appreciates the outpouring of support from people all over the country. Mccains daughter, meghan shared a personal moment with joe biden. Your son beau had the same cancer my father was diagnosed with. Reporter tweeting that my father is doing well and were all looking forward to spend christmas together in arizona. Thad cochran has also been absent lately, but expected to be back on work when the senate votes on taxes later this week. That plus last minute support from bob corker and marco rubio, the senate will have just enough votes to get its tax bill over the goal line after the house votes tomorrow. We are on the 1 yard line and intind to punch it in on tuesday. Reporter the 1. 5 trillion gop plan would double the standard deduction and cut corporate rates, with critics arguing the bill mostly benefits the rich. What we are seeing here is a real massive attack on the middle class. Everybody in every tax bracket will see a tax cut. So picking out one piece in 1,000page bill and saying, well, this is going to benefit somebody takes the whole bill out of context. Well, if youre still in need of Health Insurance, there is still time to get covered. The deadline to sign up for covered california has been extended to this friday, december 22nd. Thats if you want to have Health Insurance starting january 1st. The final deadline to get coverage is next year, january 31st. Now in the last few days, thousands of californians have signed up. In fact, signup this year is outpacing last year. Recent close calls at sfo have reportedly prompted one lawmaker to launch new legislation. Mercury news reports east bay congressman is proposing legislation to promptly preserve cockpit voice recorders. It comes in the wake of two recent incidents involving air canada planes. In one case, the plane almost landed on a crowded taxiway. In another case pilots didnt hear them telling them to go around. The ntsb says those proposed rule changes are not necessary. Christmas shopping just became a lot easier for someone in the bay area, actually. Theyre suddenly 40 million richer after hitting the big state lotterys superlot owe plus game. That Winning Ticket was purchased on saturday at that drawing at the albany hills mini mart in san pablo avenue. 4, 17, 21, 37 and 44 with the mega number 17. Oh, to dream. Dream of winning that money and dream of a beautiful day. Oh, wait. Dreams do come true. But, you know, if you had 40 million, you could change your own weather, right . Change your location. Yeah, just, you know, jump on a flight. But we are going to have to stay right here. We can still enjoy all of that sunshine and some very mild weather. Now its been cold during those morning hours. Definitely colder this morning now that the winds have calmed down. As we take a live look outside in fremont, you can see its not as windy as it was just yesterday morning at this time. Looking live in san jose, all clear skies. A lot of sunshine helping our temperatures make it into the mid50s. 55 in palo alto. Santa rosa at 52 degrees. Check out the sevenday forecast at the bottom of the screen showing rain in the forecast starting late tomorrow night but mostly wednesday morning. Our high temperatures up to 64 degrees in milpitas and up to 63 in concord. Oakland, 63 degrees. Vallejo, 65 degrees. 62 in san mateo and redwood city and 63 degrees in the marina district. North bay also looking at some mid60s today and a light easterly wind. If youre going out this evening to the menorah lighting in union scare, at 5 00, well be 60 degrees. These are the kinds of cold mornings weve had but start to see some clouds moving in as this storm system finally has a chance to dip to the south as High Pressure has moved away from the bay area. Thats whats kept it so dry. We havent had rain here since december 2nd if you can believe that. As we go hour by hour, its looking all clear good and then we take it into tomorrow. Start to see some clouds moving in. By 1 00 in the morning, that rain starts to make it in to san francisco. And also into the east bay, south bay, that rain is in and out before sunrise and before you get to head out the door for that morning commute. Its going to be clearing but also cooler and very windy. During those overnight hours when we see that quickmoving system moving in, most of us are looking at about 0. 05, maybe 0. 10 at the most. It looks good for the sierra as well. As we look live in heavenly, we do have that snow moving in for wednesday and the possibility of getting New York Post spots about 2 to 4 inches of snow. Maybe a little bit hower in some of the higher elevations. Well talk more about that and another look at the forecast coming up a little bit later, laura and marcus. All right. Well look forward to that. Coming up, giving back to those in need. The annual holiday tradition going on right now in the south bay. But first, happening now, espns president says hes resigning. His name is john skipper. He says Substance Abuse is the reason. Disneys ceo says he suspects his decision to focus on his health and family. Also right now, it looks like sunday night football could be coming to your phone. The publication ad week reports nbc has acquired rights to stream sunday night football on all mobile devices and desktops last season. Twitter scrolling out strict rules on abusive content. Read the story on our website. One local Company HelpingPolice Find People who drive while high. The new technology in the works. As pot becomes legal in days. And mechanics damage a minivan during routine maintenance. Our consumer investigator finds out who pays . Only on today in the bay 4 30 to 7. The gift spirit in full effect. Gh happening now, the spir