conditions. let's get to meteorologist howard bernstein with the forecast. >> it is pretty good but car rides through this afternoon and early tomorrow across the region, a lot of sunshine, but as we look west, we are looking into iowa, and illinois, coming into kentucky and indiana, this is snow. some of this is moderate. and there is rain going down toward dallas. and heavy rain there. and some of the california energy from earlier in the week, and this could cause some problems for us as we go throughout the weekend. it looks like maybe just a few flurries here for christmas day or even west of town, perhaps a little light snow. sunday, the day to watch. we will talk about that in about 15 minutes. winds gusting at 28 in washington. and many wind gusts 20 to 25 miles an hour and we're dealing with that and not as bad as yesterday when the winds were blowing to 45 miles an hour and temperatures at 39. 34 in martinsburg. if we didn't have the winds, it would feel nice but pointing out the wind chills, still in the 20s and lower 30s. i will come back in about 12:15 and we will talk about the potential for some problems with snow and wind. as we head toward the end of the weekend. andrea, back to you. >> glad to hear the weather is cooperating today. because between last-minute shoppers and christmas travelers, the roads today are pretty crowded. aaa says 2.2 million people will travel 50 miles or more over the next week and for most of us, it will be by car. aaa says also nearly 94% of us will travel that way, 2.5% will fly and while 3.7% will go by train or bus. and all of those cars need gas to get around. and drivers are digging deeper to fill up. it is the first time gas prices have reached $3.00 a gallon during christmas. lindsey mass has learned it is taking a big bite out of the holiday budget. >> highway robbery. >> reporter: when you pull up to the pump and see these prices, it hurts. >> when what do you say when you pull up? >> eek. >> $3.09 to $3.19 and even $3.24. >> at first i didn't notice but you pointed it out to me, and it is not something i like, so to say. the gas prices are going up like this. it means the fill-up will be more expensive than it used to be. >> people that drive for a living like cabbies feel the pain at the pump every day. >> we spend $50 a day. and now i'm looking to spend over $60. it is $3.19 at the sunoco around river road in bethesda and for most drivers, that is just too much. so there is no one at the pumps. >> not good. >> it is pretty busy at this station. offering a lower price for cash. >> $2.98. and this is where i go to shop for gas. >> $3.38. i have to put premium in this car. >> it is christmas eve and it feels like the grinch is at the gas station. >> it hurts the budget. especially holiday time. because it is less that you can give to the family and kids. >> maybe it is time to rethink the gift cards. >> somebody can give us gas cards, please. >> that's all you want for christmas? >> that and a trip to vegas. >> in bethesda, i'm lindsey masstis, 9 news now. before you hit the roads, go to wusatv9.com and check out gas prices all the way down to the zip code by visiting our pump patrol page. after a year of fizzled and foiled terrorist plots there is both nervousness and extra vigilance at the nation's airports this holiday season. officials say there is no specific terror threat. however, there is a heightened alert over insulated beverage containers. even if they're empty. the primary concern is that terrorists can once again try to smuggle explosives aboard airplanes like last christmas day. >> i'm absolutely confident that the efficiencies that were found in the system and then the deficiencies, they have been addressed. we are in much better position today than we were last year at this time. >> since last year's botched attempt, the no fly list has doubled. more than 44 million travelers moving through u.s. airports this holiday season. they will face heightened security screening using new scanners and nor invasive pat- downs. you can call it a holiday gift from the district. washington's department of public works is letting everyone park for free. officials say no expired parking meters will be written today, or tomorrow. and residential parking restrictions and rush hour parking restrictions will also be suspended. drivers should still be careful. and the metropolitan police department can still write parking tickets for things like parking in emergency zones or in front of a hydrant. shoppers throughout the washington area are hitting the stores today. jessica doyle caught up with some of them to see what is on their christmas eve shopping list. >> we have a portable dvd player. >> yeah. >> are you excited about the portable dvd player? >> yes. >> i can't wait. >> 6-year-old mary is pretty excited about what santa and dad are getting her for christmas. doug gustafson came in for an 11th hour gift for his son. >> for table gift, he is getting a battery charger, he wanted a special kind and they had it here and i have been putzing about this for weeks and here i am. >> at a christmas eve morning, shoppers got out early to fill their trunks with gifts rather than staying in their warm beds and smaller electronics are going in shopping carts in the last dash. >> the last minute gadgets, a lot of music and dvd's going out. all of the last-minute shopping will be the electronic items. big items as well. >> more than 23 million americans, or about 15% of us, are expected to hit the stores on this christmas eve. according to the international council of shopping centers. and for folks coming to stores like this best buy here in bailey's cross road, they may not find everything on their christmas wish list. some of the hottest items are sold out. >> right now we're sold out of probably the electronic e- reader, especially the color and the kindle. hot-selling items. >> plenty of computers left. that's what eca reeves came to buy for herself. >> i am finishing up my degree and today is the day that i have to buy my commute computer, it just so happens. and not my idea of christmas shopping at all. >> and $400 off this 60-inch lcd tv,. >> and no surprise that so many shoppers are out today. consumer reports say we all spend an average of 15 hours just buying gifts. montgomery county hopes you will do some last-minute liquor shopping. alcohol stores will be open this sunday and store managers say the liquor of choice in the dc area is overwhelmingly vodka. and montgomery county board of liquor control supplied numbers showing that five of the top six selling brands in county operated stores are vodkas. and virginia's liquor control board reports similar tastes. >> it is the return of the cocktail culture, it has helped spur growth. some people blame it on the cosmo toll pan being popular again after sex and the city. >> it can get mixed with lots of things. >> according to a poll, 67% of americans say they enjoy alcohol, the highest number since 1985. still to come, when the news continue, find out why investigators warn motto jump to conclusions after a -- not to jump to conclusions after a woman's body is found in the arizona desert, just days after a former washington redskins cheerleader is reported missing. and the holiday is a mess for dozens of southern california residents. mud slides washed away homes, and gifts and probably their christmas spirit. we can soon learn the identity of a body of a woman found near las vegas. there is concern it could be former redskins cheerleader debbie flores, she was reported missing december 12. her former boyfriend, jason griffith made a court appearance on a past domestic violence incident and he denies the charge. officers reported bruises on the woman who they say told her at the time she was pregnant. and police are advising the public not to jump to conclusions and assume the body is that of the missing woman. tourist and pilgrims are gathering at the church of the nativity to celebrate what they believe was the birth place, at the birth place of jesus christ. marching bands filled the streets of bethlehem. however an israeli constructed separation barrier around the town is putting a damper on celebrations for some. it is estimated more than 10,000 pilgrims from around the world are spending the holiday weekend in bethlehem. christmas mass at vatican city is just a few hours away. and security will be especially tight after two mail bombings in rome. it is believed anarchists are behind the mail bombs that exploded in the swiss and chilean embassies two. people were hurt. authorities say a statement reportedly found at the scene claimed the italian anarchist federation is responsible for the attacks. holiday mass is scheduled for tonight and tomorrow at the vatican. it will be marked with especially tight security. right now the man hunt is on for four suspected pakistani militants in mumbai, india. police believe the men are plotting an attack during this holiday season. and they say the suspects belong to lashcar e-tiba, responsible for the 2008 attack in mumbai that killed 166 people. the lone surviving gunman was tried and sentenced to death earlier this year. howard is up next with the holiday forecast. >> now, andrea, sunny outside with nice blue skies but the clouds are going to be on the way. and perhaps some of that white stuff as well. we will explain our weekend issues, with the weather, when 9 news at noon returns. ice breakers mints with icy-cool flavor crystals. ice breakers. stay cool. it is a safe bet many in southern california will spend this holiday cleaning up as they count their blessings. walls of mud and floodwaters destroyed nearly 100 homes and for many the flood-washed christmas presents away and the holiday spirit. >> it is a mess. a mess. you can't see nothing. we had a christmas tree in there and due even know where it is at. all. all of the presents on the floor, they're gone. >> forecasters are also predicting another round of storms for the region come tomorrow, christmas day. sunday marks the 6-year anniversary of the disaster that struck indonesia and the tsunami early warning system is complete. and it is based on a combination of sensors and scientists say it will generate a warning five minutes after a submarine earthquake. the tsunami in 2004 killed tens of thousands of people. >> some people are doing shopping for something other than gifts. the snow shovels are sitting right out front. at some area hardware and improvement stores and the few had maybe left. since we had about a foot or more of snow sitting on the ground a year ago, people are taking the threat of a storm seriously this time around. >> very good, considering what we had last year. the snow shovels, ice melter, people are really picking out their favorite snow shovels. >> last year, during some of our snowstorms, people bought so much stuff at the same time that many stores ran out of the essentials. like snow shovels, and ice scrapers for their cars, and snow melt. and the forecast is confusing. >> up in the air. >> we have 48 and 60 hours out from a close call or being clobbered. >> it was so different earlier this morning. >> it was. and one of the models came in, and about an hour ago and said this storm is going to hug the coast. and we want to wait and see. we don't want to say oh, my god, but that just sort of piques one's interest. and let's get into it. let's get into the rest of the afternoon. no problems for today. except it is a little breezy and guests 20-25 miles an hour and that will be the case through the afternoon, and 3:00, we're looking at around 41 and sunny, and notice the clouds thickening up this evening and by 9:00, down to 32 and 31 at midnight and upper 20s here in town to around 30. and we won't be falling off that much, with the cloud cover in place, and then those clouds tomorrow, well, they may produce a few flurries. and we've got the breeze around today. and again gusting 25, and maybe 30 in one or two spots. and flurries possible for christmas day. and the best chance of flurries, even a period of light snow, will be out to the west in the shenandoah valley. and the southern shenandoah valley. going out of harrisburg for christmas, you may run into a few light flurries. the problem is the coastal storm. and nor koch, the eastern shore may see -- norfolk, the eastern shore, we may see a little snow. and if it hugs the coast, the rest of us will be kind of busy in a hurting day on sunday. and we have 36 in winchester. and coldpepper, virginia, you are the warm spot at the moment on the board at 43. locally, we're looking at mid- 30s on 270 from rockville to bethesda. and 35 centerville. 38 in laurel. college park is 39. bade en is 38. the naval academy is 35. and here in washington, reagan national airport, sunny and 39. and it is a little breezy. and northwest at 14. and we're gusting to 22, 23 right now and the air is still dry. and 19 degrees on the dew point, so only 45%, relative humidity. and let's talk about the snow. it is in the middle of the country now. and some of this is going to affect air travel in chicago. some light snow in chicago. but south of town, heavier snows, the darker blues out of northeastern missouri and problems there. and then dallas is getting heavy, and rain at the moment. that will delay the air as well. west of the mountains, we've got the clouds. and those clouds, they will be streaming in here slowly this evening, and still mostly sunny for the rest of the day, and we start a little clear early but the clouds move in overnight and 6:00 a.m., saturday morning, notice we've got snow here in parts of southwestern virginia, and southern shenandoah valley and we go through the day, saturday and not much of that really gets further east than that. and however, the carolinas have a stripe of some snow, by christmas afternoon, and christmas evening and then sunday morning, low pressure is going to try to come up from the south and east. and with a little upper air disturbance, i think we will see at least a little snow here sunday afternoon. a little snow. and that may be an inch, or two, if the storm goes out. and if the storm doesn't go out, if the storm doesn't follow the track a, no problem scenario, and it comes up the coast, and that is a big problem scenario. and this will be a major east coast storm. not just for us, but down into the carolinas, and up to philly and new york and boston, and all of these places, you go far enough west, you will be away from the storm but there is a potential for heavy snow, and gusty winds. we want track a. but unfortunately, i can't tell you with any confidence which one of those is going to happen. and that bugs me as a meteorologist. weather-wise, or snow-wise, i should tell you, at least looking through sunday morning, midday, and snow and norfolk 1- 3 inches and sunday afternoon and sunday night and as that storm starts to come up the coast. and the next three day, today, 41 and breezy and form a few flurries and 37 and sunday, 32. and we put a light snow icon in for now and hope we can keep it as light snow. but with the coastal storm, watch it carefully. windy and cold monday. and then milder wednesday and thursday. look at that. we could be 50 by next thursday. and we're going to the kitchen. a great treat for you when 9 news now at noon returns. welcome back to 9 news now. and the winter wonderland. let's take a look at this. it is absolutely fantastic and it wouldn't be a holiday season here at 9 news without a visit from jeff. charley redden -- chef chard- redden on this christmas eve, the first certified executive chef in the history of the white house. we welcome you back. and you make a party complete bringing entertainment. >> you have your guests lear. >> bill cruise on the keyboard. bj on the sax. >> and we will hear from them in a little while. >> bill and dj. >> talk about the spread that takes us from christmas eve to new years eve. >> and let's start with the wonderful appetizers would he appetizer we have right here. >> the appetizers are no more than a garden salad and cranberries and a lemon chicken. and i chose a chardonnay. to go with that. and along with a cabernet. >> it is all of the italian dishes. >> what is really nice is we say you are certified, the first certified in white house history. but the recipes you bring us are things that we can do ourselves. >> you can do it at home. >> all right. >> so we've gone from the great salad, which we can find the ingredients in our local stores, to our entree here. >> keeping it healthy. those are spinach wraps with cranberry and turkey. >> and i like the mozzarella. >> the tomato and the coup d'etat. >> and how do you know which wine is the right one, red or white? >> it depends on your palate. and a lot of the italians use red wines. >> were you in the clinton white house. we know that we have the coup d'etat and the fresh fruit. we can be healthy and have a great party. >> and we were interested in changing it here. >> and we did kris kringle last year. and this year i came up with a winter wonderland. >> egg nog is usually bad for our waistline. >> what is in it? >> we have egg nog with sliced tomatoes and pineapples? >> tomatoes? >> i'm sorry, sliced bananas and crushed pineapples and i will go with a champagne with that. >> or you can do a francesco if you wanted to do something a little cheaper. >> the cheese tray of course, and the strawberries, and we have the different wines. >> new years eve, wonderful chocolate strawberries. >> we have some of the ideas on our web site at wusatv9.com. but we also want to thank you, wish you the best of this holiday season and always a pleasure. and we would wish all of our viewers a very merry christmas. be safe out on the roadways, and let's leave you with the music of our wonderful guests, bill cruise, on keyboard, and dj on sax. merry christmas. we will see you again on monday. have a great weekend. ♪