Joy with an unusual birthday day and wind and rain roll through the bay area as a massive winter storm. Now heads straight for the sierra. This is ktvu fox two news at 730, and a blizzard warning in effect for the sierra for the next several days. Good evening everyone, im heather holmes, people being urged to avoid travel and weve already seen several crashes on highway 80 near donner lake with several ski resorts closing up early today. The snow was really coming down in the sierra earlier today. This drone video comes to us from kevin cooper. Hes director of communications at kali pass resorts and you can see, boy, lots of fresh powder already blanketing those hills and valleys. And its just the first day of that storm. So lets bring in our meteorologist, mark tamayo, with a look at the Current Conditions and whats headed for the sierra. Hi there. Heather yeah, we have chain controls right now on both 80 and 50. So this is just the beginning of the snowfall rates will be intensifying over the next 12 hours or so compared to yesterday. Look at this a dramatic change. This was the scene yesterday in the sierra. Then today, of course, the storm clouds really moving in. The snowfall rates picking up. And as i mentioned, this is just the beginning of what will be a exceptional period in terms of extreme snowfall. We could be talking about snowfall rates on the order of 3 to 4in an hour. So we have that blizzard warning in place until 10 00 sunday morning. Whiteout conditions and dangerous or impossible travel. You know, were using the word blizzard, and theres actually an official definition that has nothing to do with the expected snowfall. Its linked to the least, the winds, and also the visibility. Visibilities down to below a quarter of a mile. And that will be the case as we head into friday and into saturday, showing you this, the rainfall expectations and the snowfall expectations, at least according to this forecast model. And take a look at those numbers. Really adding up in the sierra and also here in the bay area as well as the rainfall has been pushing in over the past few hours. Rainfall totals adding up in a few spots. Ken field, 0. 83. Napa 0. 31. San francisco 0. 09 and san jose, 0. 01. So heres whats happening for us. The cold system today, tomorrow and into the weekend. And rainfall expectations throughout that period could be about an inch to possibly over three inches of rain up in the north bay. Heres a live camera looking out toward the golden gate bridge. Still some scattered rain out there. So here is the radar imagery over the past few hours. Will come in closer to the bay area. It looks like the activity is kind of backing off in the coverage, but still some scattered rain as you cant pick out on our radar this evening as we back the map some out, the main focus in the Santa Cruz Mountains and in the south bay, but some more rain showers, some more thunderstorms in our forecast. Well have more on that with your full update in a little bit. Okay, mark, we will see you then. Thank you. And a reminder that you can stay informed about this storm with our weather app. It has Current Conditions here and in the sierra. Breaking down the forecast hour by hour. And remember its free to download. Well new at 730 tonight. Waste management workers in palo alto are proving their first ever collective bargaining agreement. 97 of green waste of palo alto drivers and mechanics voted to ratify this new contract. Union representatives say the contract gives workers a voice on the job. A substantial wage increase and enhanced benefits, including a defined pension plan. That agreement has been more than a year now in the making. All right. The clock is ticking for billionaire backers of a planned new city in Solano County to gather signatures for a November Ballot measure. Today is the deadline for the Solano County council to give the Ballot Initiative a title and summary. After that, the California Forever campaign will have about two months to gather 13,000 signatures for verification. Developers want to build the city that would include 20,000 new homes near Travis Air Force base. The plan has generated some opposition among local residents and lawmakers, who are critical of the secrecy that has surrounded the plans and lack of details. Well, happening now, a forum is underway for the public to hear from candidates up for the job of Oakland Police chief. The Oakland Police commission releasing its new list of four finalists earlier this week. And they include lisa davis, assistant chief with the cincinnati police. Fld mitchell, former texas police chief luis molina, an assistant deputy mayor in new york and formerypd ficer and san leandro policehief. Abdul idgen, who left the job just last week. Now, the commission sa it intends to giveayor shengtao this second list of finalists tomorrow. Candidates tonight, though, walking through their qualifications, owens understand the importance of not always. Having a police first type of response to issues related to Public Health or other drivers that may be driving someone to be justice involved, and how we can divert those populations to better resources and divert them away from the criminal justice system. Okay, thats just one of the candidates that people are hearing from tonight. That meeting, by the way, open to the public. And people can also participate through zoom. Mayor tao said that she will not be at tonights meeting, telling the commission that the public forum could put candidates at risk of losing their current jobs or put the city in a bidding war with their current employer. Mayor tao has already rejected at least one of the candidates, that being pridgen and two other candidates who were presented in december. That list included former police chief laurent armstrong, whom she fired more than a year ago. Now, the Commission Says it intends to give mayor tao, as i mentioned, that second list of finalists tomorrow. So we have a crew covering tonights public forum, and well have much more on the search for a new police chief here in oakland. Coming up tonight at ten. Okay. The effort to recall Alameda CountyDistrict Attorney pamela price has exposed what Officials Say is an antiquated county charter. When it comes to recalls ktvu henry lee tells us there is a measure now on the ballot next week that would change the recall election rules. Alameda county voters are not voting tuesday on whether to recall District Attorney pamela price, but what they will decide is whether to align the countys outdated recall procedures with those of the state. Is specifically about a recall procedure. Its not about any one recall at all that means if passed, measure b would raise the number of signatures needed to put a recall on the ballot. Give the registrar more time to count signatures, and set up a recall election supervisor lina tam says as it stands now, Alameda County has a ten day deadline to verify signatures. State law allows for 30 days. We need to, uh, be practical in our ability to verify the signatures, but also call for the recall election in tam supports the measure, but critics said now isnt the time to change recall procedures, as some recall efforts are underway. They were a concern about the timing and the potential for confusion. State law requires signature gatherers to be only 18 or over. As it stands now under the countys charter, those with petitions must live in Alameda County. But the Supreme Court has found similar requirements in other jurisdictions for circulating these type of petitions to be unconstitutional. Well, lets give a big hand to pamela price and an event thursday with local pastors, price said. If measure b passes and if shes recalled, then the board of supervisors would likely appoint someone to fill the rest of her terms. Price says. Not only would those who voted for her be disenfranchized, the entire electorate, every resident in this county who is a registered voter will have lost the right to choose how justice is administered in this county. Give this dear servant of the lord, this community servant. Give her an opportunity. Let us serve out her time. Let her complete what shes doing because her agenda cannot be accomplished overnight. The earliest any day recall election could be sent out could potentially be a month after election day. If this measure passes. Henry lee, ktvu, fox two news. I new at 730 tonight, officials in Santa Cruz County are monitoring an Infectious Disease outbreak there, particularly among the homeless. Officials say at least 27 cases of shingles have been recorded in the county since late january. 16 have been lab confirmed. 11 remain under investigation. Shigellosis is a bacterial infection that usually spreads by touching contaminated surfaces or swimming in contaminated water. Health Officials Say they are actively working with the city of santa cruz. The sheriffs office, as well as the countys Homeless Persons Health project to try to contain this outbreak. Coming up tonight, helping teens with children beat the odds. The Brand New School for young parents working to graduate high school and all birthdays, of course, are special. But those born today, well, they are in a unique leap year category. Weve got more on that coming up after the break democrats agree. Conservative republican steve garvey is the wrong choice for the senate. Our republican opponent here on this stage has voted for donald trump twice. Mr. Garvey, you voted for him twice. As your own man, what is your decision . Garvey is wrong for california. But garveys surging in the polls. Fox news says garvey would be a boost to republican control of the senate. Stop garvey. Adam schiff for senate. Im adam schiff, and i approve this message. Overflowing with ideas and energy. Thats the San Francisco chronicle endorsing democrat katie porter for senate over all other options. Porter is easily the most impressive candidate. Known for her grilling of corporate executives. With deep policy knowledge. Katie porters housing plan has bipartisanfriendly ideas to bring homebuilding costs down. And the chronicle praises her ideas to end soft corruption in politics. Lets shake up the senate. With democrat katie porter. Im katie porter and i approve this message. All in an effort to try to revive the retail space. The owners, trident pacific, announcing today that the mall will now be called Empire CenterSan Francisco. The company says this new name pays tribute to the First Department store that opened there back in 1896, which was called the emporium. The company says guests will start to see new branding soon, including a new logo. Theyre also working to bring in new food options and also increase the number of events theyre okay. February 29th. Today, only comes about once every four years, and so do birthdays for babies born on leap day. Katies crystal bailey spoke with some new parents who welcomed their very own leap day baby into the world today. Julia pearson and edward verhey welcomed their newborn baby girl, luna, just after one in the morning on february 29th. Were so grateful shes here. Julia went in on monday to be induced, but it wasnt until thursday that luna arrived and friends were joking like, oh, its going to be a leap day baby. And we didnt think it would be. We were like, oh, thats way too far out. Its going to be here tomorrow. And then it actually took the full three days. She was the first baby born on leap day at sutter healths california Pacific Medical center. The proud parents waited until they got to know her before they decided on a name. We wanted to see her first, to really make sure that the name suited her. Its going to be a sad for her, i guess. Not to be able to celebrate her birthday every year on the exact day, but then hopefully that fourth year will make up for it. The chances of being born on leap day are about 0. 068. That is about 1 in 1400 people, and theyre often referred to as leaplings. Our little leap ling yeah, roughly 5 Million People in the world are leaplings. Leap day began in 45 bc, when Julius Caesar added the extra day to keep the calendar in sync with the seasons. Because it takes 300 and 65. 25 days for the earth to orbit the sun, nats for when julia and edward will celebrate lunas birthday next year. Its going to be february 20th 8th or march 1st, probably 28th. Um, or maybe she gets both days as a bonus and do something proper every fourth year because its a very special day. Crystal bailey ktvu, fox two news. Sweet little girl, beautiful family. There all right. A new school in san leandro aimed at helping teen parents complete their high school educations. The Ribbon Cutting ceremony was held at the Carolyn Hobbs academy there on foothill boulevard earlier today. Hobbs is a retired principal who served Alameda County schools for more than 20 years. The academy in her name will provide on site childcare to support young parents as they work to receive their high school diplomas. A child comes into this world with a clean slate. Parents and educators have a responsibility to assist in building a childs slate, which will bring value to the child and value to this world. The Carolyn Hobbs academy is partnering with la placita preschool, which serves english language learners. New. At 730 tonight, Oakland Police implementing a new system to make its nonemergency calls a little more efficient when people die. Opds nonemergency line, a new auto attendant system will answer the call. People can then choose which department they would like to speak to based on why they are calling. Options include issues with abandoned vehicles, a request for Police Records or a request for a collision report, and also connection to animal control. All right. Measuring the california snowpack. Well tell you about the results of todays survey near echo summit and how much things have improved. And the San FranciscoPolice Department welcoming its newest members. What makes this group of newly sworn officers stand out . And in barrie, whether we have been watching the rain move in from the north over the past several hours, the front is moving through. But a lot more rain in our forec t. S we i launched our campaign at this union hall. Lets go win this thing then we hit the road and never stopped. You shared with me your frustration at working harder to barely get by and afford a place to live. Your fears for our democracy and freedoms and your dreams for yourself, your family, and the future. It is not too late to realize those dreams. Im adam schiff, and i approve this message because together we can still get big things done. Is it possible to count on my internet like my Customers Count on me . It is with comcast business. Keeping you up and running with our 99. 9 network reliability. And security that helps outsmart threats to your data. Moaire dida twoo . Your data, too. Theres even roundtheclock customer support. So you can be there for your customers. With comcast business, reliability isnt just possible. Its happening. Get started for 49 a month. Plus, ask how to get up to a 800 prepaid card with a qualifying internet package. Dont wait, call and switch today what do i see in peter dixon . I see my husband. The father of our girls. I see a public servant. A man who served under secretary clinton in the state department. Where he took on the epidemic of violence against women in the congo. I see a fighter, a tenacious problemsolver. Who will go to congress and protect abortion rights and our democracy. Because he sees a Better Future for all of us. Im peter dixon and i approved this message. The season today with that snowstorm thats on its way to the sierra. It measured the statewide snowpack snow water equivalent at 80 of average for this date. This is an improvement from 28 logged just back on january first. However, todays measurements are still just 70 of the peak. April first average. A critical marker for snowpack conditions. It will take several additional storms within the month of march to really get us from the current 70 of april 1st average, up to 100 of average by the 1st of april. The storm forecasted for this weekend is expected to bring massive amounts of snow. As mark was telling us, as we mentioned, this means drivers should use caution in the sierra where roads are expected to be slippery amid high winds and those bitter cold temperatures. So lets check in with mark now for more on whats expected up there. And obviously we are seeing these improvements in the snowpack. And boy theyre going to get some more snow. Itll be a game changer right over the next few days. And i was just thinking i was up that sierra that snow survey four years ago in 2020. And it was so disappointing because that february, before not really nothing in the way. And they were really concerned. And guess what happened right after that . At that point, they kick in. And so yeah, so this will be a big time snow producer. We cant overstate that enough storm impacts for here in the bay area. We do have this. Some periods of rain the thunderstorms gusty winds and also lower snow levels here in our local hills. We could have snow down around 2000ft by saturday morning. Just not much in the way of major accumulations but the higher peaks. Yeah, we could have maybe 1 to 4in now. The winds, a bit of a breeze today. Strong winds, a wind advisory begins tomorrow afternoon until 10 a