the u.s. turns up the pressure on israel. defense secretary lloyd austin in tel aviv. what he said about protecting civilians as gaza s reported death toll nears 20,000. the major shift from pope francis on same-sex couples. what the vatican announced today. the governor of texas signing a controversial new border bill, setting the stage for a major showdown with the federal government. the verdict in the trial of marvel star jonathan majors, charged with assaulting his former girlfriend. new developments in the investigation into lead-tainted applesauce that sickened dozens of children. was it done on purpose? and harry smith on the tradition dating back more than a century in a place they call the christmas city. announcer: this is nbc nightly news with lester holt. good evening and welcome, everyone. much of the east coast recovering tonight from a massive storm that brought heavy rain, coastal flooding and high winds from florida to maine, killing at least
good morning to you on this very busy wednesday. i m reena ninan. and i m devin dwyer. glad to have you with us. a lot to talk about today. we re looking at the mid east closely and the weather here at home. we begin with the weather. we begin with the storms hitting millions of americans with soaking rains and dangerous flash floods right now. rescuers have been on the move plucking people from rising waters across the country. and in california there s not enough water to go around. here s more from abc s susan saulny. reporter: thunderstorms across the mid-atlantic states and in new england. flash flooding forcing lanes to close on i-95 in new haven, connecticut. cars plowing through watery streets in new jersey. a very similar scene in ohio, causing accidents like this for a family near cincinnati. their car hydroplaning in heavy rain, hitting a pole and then falling into a ditch before being washed away. dad and daughter straddling a
the water also overran a busy portion interstate 95 in new haven, forcing several lanes to shut down. wild weather also pummeling farms in wisconsin. take a look at this. hail came pouring down, covering the ground in sturgeon bay, 4 inches deep. the huge hailstones battered crops, damaging fruit, breaking branches and shredding leaves there. abc s ginger zee has more on the severe storms popping up from the southwest to the northeast. reporter: thunderstorms taking over the skies of new york city. major highways and airports shutting down for a time around the big apple. cars foolishly plowing through flash flooding in new jersey. very similar scene in ohio causing frightening accidents like this for a family near cincinnati. their car hydroplaning in heavy rain, hitting a pole and then falling into a flooded ditch before washing away from the road. dad and daughter straddling a downed tree for safety. the water sweeping mom another four miles away. remember, it only takes two feet
good morning to you on this very busy wednesday. i m reena ninan. and i m devin dwyer. glad to have you with us. a lot to talk about today. we re looking at the mid east closely and the weather here at home. we begin with the weather. we begin with the storms hitting millions of americans with soaking rains and dangerous flash floods right now. rescuers have been on the move plucking people from rising waters across the country. and in california there s not enough water to go around. here s more from abc s susan saulny. reporter: thunderstorms across the mid-atlantic states and in new england. flash flooding forcing lanes to close on i-95 in new haven, connecticut. cars plowing through watery streets in new jersey. a very similar scene in ohio, causing accidents like this for a family near cincinnati. their car hydroplaning in heavy rain, hitting a pole and then falling into a ditch before being washed away. dad and daughter straddling a tree. the water sweeping mom anothe