friday -- on a wednesday so you earn 50 percent more cash. morning. it feels like a friday, and if you're not satisfied with 50% more cash, send it back! welcome to bedlam. i'm matt lauer. i'll be right here, waiting for it. >> and i'm ann curry. good morning, everybody. talk about fan devotion. who wouldn't want more cash? these people have been out here [ insects chirping ] for days, and you know what's i'll take it. i'll make it rain up in here. really remarkable is they've been braving heavy rains as you [ male announcer ] the new capital one cash rewards card. just mentioned and the nypd just the card for people who want 50% more cash. mentioned they blocked off 48th street because this line what's in your wallet? stretches for six blocks. >> with good reason, because at sorry i'll clean this up. 4:30 this morning, when i came shouldn't have made it rain. in, not only did the line go up 48th street to fifth avenue but then went as ann said, six or seven city blocks to the north. those people have now filled in 48th street and i have a feeling if you're commuting in this area this morning, you are out of luck. >> that's right. this is actually one of i think the biggest concerts ever for the "today" show. meanti meantime the crowds are also gathering on the airports and roads because this is a huge time for people to travel. the thanksgiving rush is beginning. we want to find out about what the weather is going to be like. keurig has a wide variety of gourmet coffee we'll go inside to al to talk about that. al, what can you tell us about and tea to choose from. the travel? >> ann and matt take a look. this is the pacific northwest, keurig is the way to brew fresh, that's our one big trouble spot. delicious coffee in under a minute. snoqualmie pass, i-90 closed way to brew. yesterday and they reopened it so with keurig, every cup for a bit but it may close again tastes like it's brewed just for you. today because we're expecting snow in that area. because it is. let's move a little further south to portland, oregon. snow not the problem but heavy winds and heavy rain, causing flooding, cars being forced to drive through standing water and they're looking at more rain again today. let's go to the radar, you'll see exactly what's going on, heavy rain stretching from northern california all the way on up into seattle. rainfall amounts along the coast with 40-mile-per-hour wind gusts, we're talking anywhere from one to four inches of rain, four to six inches of snow and as we move east airport delays in seattle, portland, san francisco for rain and wind. here in the east we've got rain stretching from florida, all the way up to boston, snow in new england, and we've got a l of snow to talk about, up to 12 inches of snow or more in parts of northern new england, and the rainfall amounts we're talking anywhere from one to three inches of rain, so not only are you going to have problems at the airports, boston, new york city, newark, philly, washington, atlanta, they're going to be looking at gusty winds. traveling along the i-95 corridor is going to be a mess, we're talking about heavy rain, possibility of flooding and of course the airports are going to be a big problem. ironically, everywhere in between, chicago, dallas, cincinnati, all of the big hubs, salt lake city, it's clear as a 7:56 is your time now on bell but if you're either traveling to or from the east this wednesday, november 23rd, coast to the pacific northwest, pack a lot of patience, as well 2011. good morning to you. as your bags. matt? >> al, thanks very much. i am eun yang. let's get the forecast from tom we'll have the rest of your thanksgiving forecast in a moment. kierein. >> we had multiple accidents first more on the weather's impact on the travel rush. because of the roads being wet nbc's mike taibbi is on the grand central parkway in queens, and as we dried out the rain ended locally. new york, good morning to you. right now we're mild and in the >> reporter: good morning, matt. the traffic is already building up here. the rain has been coming down in upper 50s and low 60s throughout sheets. there have been some flooding in some spots, we saw that so as al much of the region. said it's going to be a and we will begin to see sun nightmare. still, and even though the breaking out but a small chance economy recovery is coming slowly for so many people it looks like a lot of people choosing family over finances right now, because travel is going to be up about 42.5 million traveler this is thanksgiving weekend, 91% of those will be driving, 40% of those on thanksgiving day itself. the big volume is wednesday today and sunday, the end of the holiday weekend. some people know about the bad news of course having to do with gas prices up about 49 cents a gallon over this time last year. some good news, the roadworks guys are taking the holiday weekend off, too, so you won't have those obstructions at all and also the weather in the northeast as al said is likely ♪ going to clear this afternoon. [ female announcer ] have you ever seen a glacier while sunbathing? break out the long version of why not? "stairway to heaven" wait, i'm have you ever climbed a rock wall in the middle of the ocean? dating myself. or tried something really wild? >> mike taibbi in queens this morning, thank you. why not? happy thanksgiving as well. how are things looking at it's all possible in the n. the airports? royal caribbean's floating nation. nbc's tom costello is at reagan where you are free to do anything you want. international airport. >> reporter: good morning. which may be nothing at all. the rough economy, high jet fuel royal caribbean international. prices forced the airlines to why not cruise from baltimore? cut back on the number of planes visit royalcaribbean.com today. in service at any given moment. if you are flying right now or over the coming days expect the plane to be packed. sunrise in charlotte. >> charlotte, 4538 -- >> reporter: the second most trafficke eked airport on the e coast is coming alive. >> proceed to line 31.6. >> reporter: this is u.s. airways biggest hub operation with 600 flights, 50,000 passengers a day. >> as the volume increases the loads increase, the baggage loads increase. >> taxiway tango, pickup, echo. >> reporter: planes are flying 90% to 1% full and all airlines cut back, all of the more reasons to check at home, print your boarding pass at home, even pay for the bags before you leave home. >> thank you, ma'am. >> reporter: 400 miles to the north in pittsburgh. >> philadelphia west and vfr with an opt mat arrival rate. >> reporter: the command center watches all of the planes, passengers, pilots and crew members across the country. >> we just got advise runway one has opened up. >> reporter: with one icon assistantly trained on the weather. >> westbound internationals are on time. >> reporter: bob maloney is in charge. what do you most worry about going into the thanksgiving and good morning. christmas travel season? >> mostly weather w thunderstorm if you are traveling i-270 and/or snowstorms, particularly jammed at falls road, delays in the northeast that could start around shady grove and really slow us down. >> reporter: and today, weather continue as you head towards the is indeed the wild card. >> there's only one chance, only spur. and then delays as you make your way to river road. one thanksgiving dinner, we have if you are traveling on 395, to be really sharp around those delays are not so bad at thanksgiving and all the all and you are clear as you holidays. >> reporter: traveler also fly make your way over the 14th street b between today and monday morning, the average fare $212, about $40 higher than a year ago. a change to the controversial full body scanners at the tsa checkpoints. >> we've converted over half of our machines to have a privacy filter. >> the kickoff to winter and one of the biggest travel periods of the year now in full gear. so al talked about the airports to watch. if you go to fly.faa.gov, get a free update on what every airport in the country is doing. at this moment, minimal delays ♪ but as al suggested it's going to be a rough day throughout the 8:00 now on a wednesday morning. it's the 23rd day of november, country. back to you. >> tom, thank you very much, happy thanksgiving. 2011. not the most beautiful day here tom costello at reagan national in the new york area, but just tell that to me see fans of airport. gop presidential candidates will be back on the campaign justin bieber who are packing trail today after clashing in their 11th debate tuesday night. the plaza, packing this area for nbc's kristen welker has the about 24 to 48 hours, oblivious latest on this. >> good morning to you, ann. to the rain, and their efforts former house speaker newt will be paid off very soon, gingrich is currently at the top of several polls but the justin takes to the concert republican field has been volatile so it's not clear if stage. out on the plaza, i'm matt lauer he's just the current favorite along with ann curry, al roker. or something more. tuesday night he tried to solidify his spot. i'd say we've got, what, 6,000, republican candidates faced off 7,000, 8,000, 9,000. tuesday night on foreign policy >> i think more. >> all here for one reason, and national security. >> i think the patriot act is martha stewart coming up in this half hour. >> that's right, because yesterday we had a piece about unpatriotic. >> who would be profiled? going to her compound for thanksgiving and getting ready >> muslims obviously would be for thanksgiving. today we're going to sit down someone you'd look at. >> i'd support israel. and have a meal and look at how >> all eyes on newt gingrich, she decorates. the latest candidate to surge to she'll be in our studio to show the top of the polls he may have us last-minute tips for raised conservative eyebrows for thanksgiving and tell us the saying he would not expel all most important part about thanksgiving to her. long time illegal immigrants. >> if you've been here 25 years, >> good. >> right. >> after you've stuffed yourself three kids, two grandkids, with thanksgiving turkey, paying taxes and obeying the law, belong to a local church i pumpkin pie. we've got a preview of some of don't think we're going to the great movies coming out for separate you from the family, the holiday season. uproot you forcefully and kick >> we've got a lot to get to, you out. >> that in effect is amnesty. and let's start by going inside. >> amnesty is a magnet. natalie is standing by at the >> gingrich insisted he's not news desk with the headlines. >> good morning, matt, ann and talking about amnesty. >> i don't see how -- the party al and good morning, everyone. millions of americans are headed that says it's the party of the home for the thanksgiving famently is going to adopt an holiday today but both on the immigration policy which road and at the table, expect to destroys families that have been pay a lot more this year than here a 1/4 quarter century and last. gas prices in the average round i'm prepared to take the heat. >> reporter: he also drew sharp trip air fare for the country's contrast with challenges most popular routes are both up suggesting he would not rule out 20% for 2011, even as some 42.5 cuts in defense spending. >> would you be willing to say million people are expected to that our national security is so travel this year. pa paramount that cuts to the that's the highest number since defense budget are unacceptable? the start of the recession. >> no. and the price jumps don't end >> reporter: but texas governor there. the average turkey dinner with rick perry disagreed, and hit all the trimmings will cost you president obama for suggesting about 13% more than it did last he would allow cuts to go year. forward. >> even his own secretary of republican presidential hopeful newt gingrich may have defense said it was surprised some conservatives during last night's gop debate. irresponsible. as a matter of fact, if leon gingrich, who has been surging panetta is an honorable man he in some polls said he would not expel all illegal immigrants, should resign in protest. for instance, those who have >> reporter: there were a few moments of levity. been here 25 years, raised a herman cain seemed to forget family, joined a church and obey moderator wolf blitzer's name. the law. the texas judge whose >> no, blitz, that's videotaped beating of his teenaged daughter went viral has oversimplifying it. been suspended without pay while i'm sorry, not blitz, i meant the case is being investigated. judge william adams claims his daughter, who is now 23 years wolf. >> romney's election team old, uploaded the 2004 video critics say he used a quote for because he threatened to cut her president obama out of context. romney has been flirting with financial support after she dropped out of college. first place in the polls for months but has yet to solidify a former new jersey governor front-runner status. ann? and u.s. senator jon corzyn has >> kristen welker reporting this morning, thanks a lot. happy thanksgiving to you. been called to testify before let's go over to the news congress about the collapse of mf global, the financial firm he desk. natalie has a check of the top headed until its stunning stories of the morning. collapse last month. good morning to you. >> good morning matt and ann and courtney reagan is at good morning, everyone. massive protests continue in theisticistthe cairo's tahrir square. they have the country's military new york stock exchange. seeking an exit strategy this good morning. >> investors are holding on to morning. this as three american students are detained by officials there holiday shopping, from the for allegedly joining those failure of washington and protesters. fumbling in europe when it comes nbc's chief foreign to dealing with debts and correspondent richard engel is deficits. the markets are hoping for a in tahrir square with more. santa claus rally to accompany the expected 3% growth of good morning. >> reporter: good morning, natalie. u.s. embassy officials in cairo holiday sales. are meeting with them today and november and december are traditionally strong months for stocks but it's been a rough were present yesterday as they november so december has some were questioned by egyptian making up to do. authorities for allegedly natalie, back to you. >> we need a santa claus rally throwing molotov cocktails at security forces. on the ground, clashes are all right. courtney reagan, thanks. continuing today, as the a quick roundup of what has egyptian military is seeking to you talking joen line, damp, deescalate this crisis, offering chilly weather has done nothing to quiet the bieber fever here to hold early presidential on our plaza, some shivering elections. many political parties in this fans are even calling it country are accepting that compromise, but here in the square, the protesters say it's bieber-rrrr fever in their not enough. tweets. and jennifer lopez may have they want an immediate transfer lost some of her credibility on of authority to civilian rule, so a standoff continues. the block with her new ad for >> richard engel in tahrir fiat, shows her driving through square, thank you. in yemen, state tv reports home turf in the bronx, break that president ali abdullah dancers, graffiti artists and kids playing in a hydrant. sal saleh bowed to protest to leave but the smoking gun says she office. he's signing a power deal in filmed in los angeles, not the bronx. check out the video from exchange for immunity from prosecution. two new child abuse charges youtube sensation deejay lola, have been launched against jerry he may be super excited about sandusky. peter alexander, good morning. one particular thanksgiving >> reporter: good morning to you. dish. we are learning about two new ♪ some of you know how to do this, some of y'all don't ♪ child abuse sexual allegations against jerry sandusky. >> i guess he likes his sweet in both cases the victims are still believed to be under the potatoes. somebody tweet him a thanksgiving dinner invitation because i think he'll need it. age of 18. the "harrisburg patriot news" 8:04, let's go back to al with a reports this morning the two check of your weather. cases have been opened by child and youth services here in >> announcer: "today's" weather pennsylvania within the last two is brought to you by coffeemate. months. now if they are found to be get in the spirit picking up credible, this could raise some your favorite holiday flavors. serious questions about why authorities waited until the end >> i yam what i yam. of a three-year grand jury we have all of our bieber fans, investigation to arrest jerry they are ready to rock, baby. sandusky. today there are new indications we put up the countdown clock? the penn state scandal may include obstruction of justice, how much time until bieber fever? according to a source familiar wow. with the investigation, 14 minutes and 3 seconds. pennsylvania state prosecutors filed a secret motion in july to wow! hold sandusky's charity, it's let's check your weather. our picture of the day called the second mile, in let's check your weather. contempt, after the organization failed to turn over sandusky's our pick city today happens to be new york city, where we have subpoenaed expense records. the motion was later withdrawn but some of those documents that bieber fever. we have a lot of wet weather. may have contained details about sandusky's relationships with snow up in new england, heavy the second mile children, natalie, are still missing. >> peter alexander at state rain and mountain snows. in between everywhere else, college, thanks so much, peter. looking good. unbelievable accident caught we have fog in the central and on tape this morning in a busy area of auckland, new zealand. lower plains. that's what's going on around the country, and here's what's going on in your neck of the the helicopter was installing a woods. >> good morning. radar is showing a little band christmas tree, it got caught in of light rain coming into some cables, snapping the tail northern frederick county, the and crashing to the ground. you see that guy in a are rowly panhandle of shenandoah, and escapes. temperatures out that way are the pilot escaped with no major near 50. closer to washington it's near injuries. no one on the ground amazingly 60 degrees, is and we'll stay was hurt which is a huge relief. mild. 7:13, back over to matt and ann. it will get chillier this afternoon as we clear out a not sure why they're installing small chance of an additional a christmas tree with a helicopter. shower, and gusty winds later >> what's great is the blades today and into tonight, and a were not allowed to twist off and go through, it was caught. >> that pilot almost falls out >> and we've got more bieber the door. fever fans this way. the door opened. look at him. they're right next to the guitars, wow! he neerarly comes right out of mr. lauer? >> all right, mr. roker, thanks. when we come back, martha that. let's get a check of the stewart's home for the holidays. we'll enjoy a thanksgiving feast weather. let's go outside. with the queen of entertaining, hey you. >> how are you doing? and then, yes, justin bieber live in concert, but first, we are here with all of the these messages. bieber fans. this is the biggest crowd we've ever had. it goes all the way over to 50th ♪ street, down 49th street, down ♪ express yourself to fifth avenue. ♪ it is amazing, and they're still [ female announcer ] your favorite holiday flavors are here. coming in, still trying to get with some new ones to love. in. let's see what's happening. ♪ first of all we've got your we ♪ oh, do it ♪ oh, do it ♪ express