what can we expect? >> a good question very sometimes mother nature throws a curve ball and it is hard to pinpoint who will get what. a mix of rain and snow across the area. we have seen heavy accumulations harford county, northern baltimore, carol and even frederick. a some places can seat up to four in a suit -- inches of snow. the transition to rain will stop the snow from falling. but until that, watch out for ice. across the metro, the white shading represents snow and pink is ice and yellow and orange are heavier rain. it is a hard line to draw who is getting rain and snow but over all you can see the transition from the south. temperatures close to the freezing mark at bwi marshall, it has warmed by one degree, good news. temperatures mid 30's 4 baltimore this afternoon which could change to rain. but north and west of the city i would be careful. if you are a north and west of the city, if you do not have to be on the roads, i would say stay home. >> the other big story. police and anne arundel county investigate a deadly christmas morning shooting inside a store. kim dacey tells us it was part of a break-in and this time the store owner took matters in his own hands. >> police say it all unfolded when an intruder broke into a business and was confronted by the store's owner. christmas morning anne arundel cundiff please investigate the death of 30-year old by rental but chester was found shot to death in front of our rumble. and collectibles -- arundel points and collectibles. tuesday morning feliz brogan to the store not knowing someone was inside. cousel for the witness -- police a bet -- butler, would they identified as an employee, got into an altercation inside the business and philip was eventually shot. a lot of then ran out of the business and collapse in the park in jeppe. according to butler's lawyer, he has been having difficulties lately but people breaking into the store which police responded to but this time someone broke in and he was there. as far as philip, on line court records indicate a vast criminal record which included guilty pleas to second-degree assault, theft, and various drug offenses and court appearances for robbery and credit card fraud. police say so far no charges have been filed in this case. in the newsroom, kim dacey, wbal-tv 11 news. >> police and baltimore city are also investigating a pair of christmas morning shootings. the first happened around 1:30 a.m. 2100 block of wilhelm street west baltimore. police found a man suffering from a gunshot wound and he was taken to the hospital. about six hours later officers were called to date 7100 block of druid lake park drive and the suspect suffered a wound to the leg. with a less than a week ago until the fiscal cliff's daunting deadline, president obama is cutting his vacation short to return to the capital. hallie jackson has latest. >> congress will also return to town tomorrow, but with new year's just a few days away a plan to avoid the fiscal cliff may come down to the wire. president obama spent part of this christmas greeting troops and how why he. >> not only do we have the finest military in the world -- >> but tonight he will leave the state for washington, and a state of gridlock, calls it -- as they struggle to come to a compromise to avoid tax hikes and spending cuts. members of both the house and senate are also heading back to capitol hill tomorrow. after the holiday break the president hopes will provide perspective. >> everybody can cool off, everybody can drink some eggnog and have some christmas cookies. >> and return to washington after speaker john boehner failed to get enough support for muslim party for a plan b that the bill that would raise taxes for those making more than a million dollars a year. >> what the president has offered so far simply would not do anything to solve our spending problem and begin to address the nation's crippling debt. >> so are still a stalemate. with the january 1 deadline quickly approaching, some were very we might fall off. >> if we allow that to happen it would be the most colossal consequential act of congressional irresponsibility in a long time. >> the president is expected to arrive here in d.c. early tomorrow morning. the house and senate convened later that day. in washington, i'm hallie jackson, wbal-tv 11 news. >> coming up, a former major- league baseball player arrested for battery. and we bid farewell to one of hollywood that a great character actors. those stories next as we cover the nation. the nation. it's about getting fios. that moment after you finally got it that you actually get it. the difference 100% fiber optics makes and you say "woah we are not on cable anymore." when online videos aren't herky jerky, you get it. or when a movie downloads in two minutes, you get it. [ female announcer ] switch to fios internet, tv, and phone for this amazing price online, just $79.99 a month guaranteed for two years with a two-year agreement. plus get $300 back. hurry, last chance to get this incredible deal. offer ends january 5th. fios brings you internet ranked the fastest in the nation. and unbeatable picture quality. it's 100% fiber optic, 100% different from cable. so get fios for this incredible price online, just $79.99 a month guaranteed for two years with a two-year agreement. plus get $300 back. or get this great price with no annual contract. hurry, this offer ends january 5th. go to verizon.com/holidaydeal. call the verizon center for customers with disabilities that's verizon.com/holidaydeal. at 800-974-6006 tty/v. and see why millions have switched to america's fastest, most consistent, most reliable internet -- verizon fios. >> it was silver bars rather than silver bells for former major leagues -- leads baseball star andruw jones who was arrested on battery charges stemming from a domestic dispute. he is out on $2,400 bond. he rose to fame playing for the atlanta braves in 1996-2007. he signed a one-year contract with the eagles of japan's pacific league. a first jack klugman past business even for the second time in as many days hollywood has lost one of the great character actors. a career that spanned six decades, charles durning was known as the king of the character actors. his career was long and varied with memorable roles and classics like "tootsie" and "the muppet movie" all the way to recent shows like "family guide." prior to hollywood he was a decorated world war ii hero who barely lived through the day and was taken prisoner at the ballot -- battle of the bold. his family is planning a burial at arlington national cemetery. tornadoes ripped through parts of alabama, bringing christmas to an abrupt and frightening and. incredible twist is caught on camera. later, a little time spent exercising outside can do more than help shed extra holiday pounds. how the great outdoors can empower your mind. >> after starting out today with snow and ice, we are starting to see a transition to rain. that is good news as the green is starting to creep up from the south. that means the roads should be a little bit better for some. here is a look at 95 add white marsh. you can see the roads are what. there could still be slick spot and travel is still slow at times. 32 degrees at bwi marshall, inner harbor also a above freezing. freezing. a change to rain waiter: here's your check. oh! you--you got it. you know, since i got rid of my car, i really enjoy walking. ok. got it? no, i'm good. announcer: getting pulled over for buzzed driving could cost you around $10,000 in fines, legal fees, and increased insurance rates. oh, you're home early. you live with your mom? announcer: that'll set your game back a few years. buzzed, busted, and broke because buzzed driving is drunk driving. >> we are getting a look at the damage caused by a rash of christmas tornadoes. thousands without power in the midwest and south. and look at some of the most traumatic images from alabama. >> oh, jesus, look at that tornado. >> in mobile, alabama, a christmas surprise no one was for. a tornado caught on video as a touchdown in the city center. it left lots of damage in its wake, blowing up first and second floor windows of the medical center and tearing off the roof at murphy high school. so far no reports of major injury or death but with countless trees and power lines down, tens of thousands are without a lecture city. the storm sent people scrambling for cover. >> one of the customers looked up the window and said there was actually a tornado coming and i looked out and you could see the sparks flying and all the debris. i got everybody together, about seven customers, and i said, we need to get to the room in the back. >> i probably heard my baby grabbing her so long running for protection. >> the twister sprung from a massive storm system that stretched along the nation's mid sector -- its second. earlier a tornado touched down near mcneil, mississippi, and more than 100 -- a dozen homes and damaged. one street tornado that destroyed a livestock feed store and high winds toppled a tree in texas killing a driver who was trying to remove another limb. it caused a rare white christmas in the dallas area, making driving treacherous. and in west texas, lubbock look like a winter with the land. it could cause more travels problems later in the week as it moves east. abc news in birmingham, alabama. >> it is days like today we must remember who is really boss -- mother nature. she throws us curveballs all the time. colder air sunk in an lingered. when we thought we would transition to rain a lot quicker we were still getting snow and that is why some of you are seen heavier amounts then what was our originally forecast. but we are starting to see the transition finally from the snow, to the piece, to rain across the southern part of the metro area. everywhere you see blue, it is the snow along cecil county, parts of 95, harford county, carroll county, back to frederick and falling in the mountains. but as he gets a garrett county it as an icy mixture. look in the green starting to cregan from the south. a very good news as we see a transition from the ice into the rain around downtown baltimore, airport, catonsville, colombia. -- columbia. it is a very good transition for everyone trying to get on the roads. you still have to watch out for the icy conditions especially north and west of the city. still hovering near the freezing mark near cockeysville -- anywhere in this thing colder longer you have a chance for ice. to the north -- 30 degrees and parkton, 28 in hagerstown, and that is why those areas are sticking with the snow. annapolis, 37. even if 40's across the lower eastern shore. such a wide range of temperatures across the state and it really depends on what temperature you are seeing what kind of precipitation you will get. here is a general overview of what we expect in the afternoon. general being the key word. it could very depending on what now but you will exact a live on. we expect the transition of rain from baltimore down to the south, while areas north and west of baltimore, even toward frederick county, could possibly stick with a little bit of piece even through the afternoon. if you have to be out on the roads be very careful. could still be ice even as a transit fit -- transitions to rain. the mountains will stick with the snow and the majority of the afternoon, anywhere from 3 inches to 6 inches on the ground. be careful through the afternoon even as we transition to rein in some areas. there could be a little ice to the north and west. temperatures should be in the mid to upper 30's through the afternoon. tonight, periods of rain tapering off and maybe light snow shower but nothing like we saw throughout today. today is the worst of the conditions on the road. just a light mix possible into tomorrow morning. again, not a major concern. we are drive friday and then another storm system saturday. this looks a lot colder. we will keep you up-to-date. >> in today's consumer alert -- now that the gifts are unwrapped retailers are expecting another round of holiday frenzy. many people are headed to the malls to return the not quite right presence. as the gives our exchange, many, armed with debit cards to buy what they really want and shoppers tend find deep -- steep discount of merchandise that the not sell over the holiday. fliers may have an easier time getting through security checkpoints at airports in 2013. tsa managed -- launched a pilot program that lets travelers are rates without having to remove their shoes or take liquids out of the luggage. but that could be a hurdle. yeb to get past a bomb sniffing dog and an agent who is specially trained to detect suspicious behavior. no word it bwi marshall will be part of the expansion in the new year. this time next year, leaving out milk and cookies for santa could become quite an investment because dairy prices could double in just a few weeks. sarah simpson explains why. >> soon shoppers could be taking a detour around the dairy aisle. that's because prices could double if congress does not pass the farm bill by the end of the year. it includes a dairy subsidy that sets the price farmers are guaranteed to get for wholesale milk. >> the old price subsidy was based on 1949 production processes of milk production. >> according to towson university economic experts, if lawmakers cannot, with an agreement washington will be forced to pay farmers based on very dated calculations. >> it will go into $38 per 108th, which would be about $8 per gallon sometime after -- refers. >> as lawmakers grapple with the fiscal cliff, the repercussions of the so-called dairy cliff has some souring when it comes to buying milk. samantha, who already splintered card with the dairy milk and soy milk third >> would get milk still because i have a son and he likes it, but i am not going to continue buying it because of going up. i will start getting only soy milk. >> it could be those customers to gravitate toward alternatives that could spell trouble for the dairy industry. been a challenge for the market as a whole. in the short term, dairy farmers will see an increase in the income of the long time it could force individuals to find alternative substitutes. >> it impacts other items like cheese and ice cream. >> cheeses began my house. -- is big in my house. >> i am not a major consumer but i will continue to buy them. >> one thing everyone can agree on. >> we don't need one more thing going up in price. >> sarah samson, wbal-tv 11 news. >> in today's medical alert -- with christmas in their rearview -- in the rear view, if you are hoping to get healthier there are small changes to lower your blood pressure and was your a means system. how to do it without stepping inside a gym. >> is 2013 the year you will improve the way you feel? doctors say it really does not take much. laugh. doctors at the university of maryland studied what laughter does to circulation and down when people laugh, their blood vessels expanded, causing it help the blood flow. love your pet. according to researchers, pets can work of mental illness and other diseases and help cut out our stress. some animals are better than a treadmill. university of missouri columbia researchers found when obese and sedentary people were given a dog they lost an average of 14 pounds a year without dieting. move -- no, it does not mean a marathon. it means taking the stairs, going out for a morning stroll. things to get you off the couch. the centers for disease control and prevention said 30 minutes of light exercise five times a week can fight diabetes, back pain, heart problems, even cancer and help you feel younger. listen to tunes. researchers in montreal found listening to pleasurable music brought on musical chills which triggered the release the release of feel-good chemical dopamine which cuts stress. get shot by. the national heart, lung, and blood institute says a good night's sleep can fight infection, help your memory and regulate sugar levels. wishing you a happy new year. >> boasting your outboard time can also help keep your brain health. the new study, researchers said mustered a creativity test to 56 people, have to go before the trip and the test the same test -- after four days of doors. those taking the test at the end of the trip perform better in decision making, creativity, and problem solving. but all of the participants spent the four days of wired from the smartphones and laptops. a tall task. up next, in maryland lottery mid-day pick three and before numbers and the forecast with ava marie. but first, how wall street is performing this hour. beep-bop-boop-bop boop-beep. 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