ABC11 Eyewitness News - Eyewitness News at Noon - December 24, 2025

Episode Date: December 24, 2025

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Now at noon tracking Santa as he makes his long journey across the globe. The un-Christmas-like temperatures he'll face when he gets to North Carolina. And the rush to get home just in time for Christmas. We're live here at RDU coming up, those last-minute travel tips. And new at noon hospital restrictions, another local hospital taking steps. protect patients and staff from an increase in respiratory illness. Right now, live coverage from your local news leader. Today's top stories you need to know and your first alert forecast.

Here's what's happening where you live. This is ABC 11 eyewitness news. Good afternoon. Thanks. You're joining us in just in time for Christmas. The temperatures are rising. Meteorologist Quailan Murphy tracking the holiday warm up. Quailan, it sounds like the odds of a white Christmas, they're worse than winning tonight's powerball. Absolutely zero. No chance of any snowfall for us today. But if you play the powerball, at least you have a chance. We're tracking some warm weather for today. I've actually bumped the numbers up a little bit higher for this afternoon based on where we're sitting right now at the airport. So we're looking at high temperatures in the upper 60s, low 70s today. Temperatures will be in the 50s by 7 p.m. Low 50s at 9 o'clock tonight, upper 40s at 11. So very mild evening for Christmas Eve. The cold front is now through. And so we're looking. at still a few clouds working overhead, but you see they're starting to thin out a bit more,

leading to more sunshine. This front to the north, that's the one that's going to be backing in on Friday. That's the backdoor cold front. So that will bring us a cooldown at the end of the week. It's 69 degrees right now in Raleigh under mainly cloudy skies. A big warm up compared to yesterday, 15 degrees warmer. Winds now from the north behind that front, up to almost 10 miles per hour. Low 70s are ready for Fayetteville and Southern Pine. 69 in Durham, Lewisburg, 68. It's 64 degrees in Oxford. These are the dew points with some really dry air also in place too behind the front and a big time warm up nearly 20 degrees warmer in faithful 21 degrees warmer than yesterday in Clinton a few gusts out there too teens and 20s

which will continue through late day we'll have winds in from the south later tonight that's going to keep temperatures in the 40s and 50s into early tomorrow morning if you're heading to lantern fest you picked their really great evening we'll have temperatures in the 50s starting at 6 p.m and still near 50 degrees at 10 o'clock tonight those clouds starting to build back in a little christmas climatology our average high is 50 The average low is 33. Our coldest, 1983, down to 4 degrees, the warmest 75.

We're going to be closest to that record high heading into tomorrow for Christmas Day. I have the high temperature right around 70 degrees. Just an isolated shower chance on Christmas. I think one shot early in the morning, the other later in the day. Heading into Friday, we will be trending cooler actually drop the high temperature down a couple

more degrees on Friday. So some of us will struggle to get to 50 degrees Friday afternoon. Your first alert that will look looking at another cold air surge early next week. It takes our morning lows from the 40s through Monday down into the 20s early Tuesday morning. I'll first alert you to that and of course

we're getting closer to New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. That's a crucial forecast. I'll have that coming up in my extended. Diane, back to you. Kuelan, thank you. Now to the holiday travel rush ahead of Christmas. Artemis Price is live at RDU where there's been a steady volume of passengers all day.

Jemis, what are you seeing now? Good afternoon to you on this Christmas Eve. Good afternoon, Diane, still a steady full of folks coming in trying to catch that flight. Listen, TSA projects 44 million people to travel between December 19th and January 4th. So Christmas Eve in the middle of all of that. And I met some of those travelers today, people coming in from San Diego, Philly, other folks who are traveling to the Bahamas, even Peru, and they're doing this all in the name of family and traditions.

With one day until Christmas, RDU welcome travelers rushing to get home for the holidays. So I've been flying all morning. Tosh Bell took a red eye out of San Diego to get to North Carolina just in time for Christmas. It's long, five hours straight flight. My back hurt. My head hurt, my neck hurt. All worth it, though, to be with family. A lot of people probably don't have family for the holidays or things to do.

So, but I'm excited to see my family, excited to be here. And family is what brought Anthony Barone back home. But last minute changes to his itinerary kept him grounded longer than planned. I just had to switch my flight. I originally had a flight. The flight was full. They asked if anybody would stay back overnight, so I did. But it was nice because I got to spend the night with my best friends in Philly.

And now he gets to spend Christmas with his family. And this year, it's extra special. It's my first Christmas with my youngest son and second with my oldest, so just really excited to start these holiday traditions. A holiday tradition many families are taking part in, traveling out of the country for the holidays. This family of 16 out of Roanoke Rapids is headed to the Bahamas and these two families out of Kerry going to Peru. We're all in different areas and different states, so it's really nice to come together. We've been doing it since you're kids a little grown up. So it's nice to see each other, make memories, eat out, take nice photos.

Creating new memories to last a lifetime. We are about to have fun. It means love and care and we just get to share the times with us and memories. All right. So if you are traveling this holiday season and you need to come to RDU, here are a few tips to help make your trip seamless. plan your parking before you get to the airport also don't forget that photo ID and make sure that you are packing your medication your valuables those items and your carry on just in case

that check bag gets lost so safe travels and merry christmas yes jemise i was going to say you've been great for us all morning at ardu can't she just slip away to perdu or the bahamas i know you're done for today so merry christmas to you give yourself a gift Meantime today is expected to be a calm day on the roads. Trip away expecting minimal holiday traffic today. But if you are driving, the agency says the good news is gas is cheaper than it was last year. The NCDOT has paused road construction to try to reduce delays and the annual booze it and lose it campaign is in effect cracking down on impaired drivers. A reminder, if you still have some holiday shopping to do, local malls are closing earlier today on Christmas Eve in Raleigh, both Crabtree Mall and Triangle Town Center.

will be open until six o'clock in Durham. The streets of South Point will also shut down at six. And in Fayetteville, Cross Creek Mall will close a bit earlier, just at five o'clock. All four malls will be closed tomorrow Christmas Day. New at noon, another local hospital restricting visitors as respiratory illnesses continue to rise. Starting Friday, Cape Fear Valley Health

will not allow visitors under 12 years of age. Masks will be required for all patients and visitors in waiting room. Visitors who are not feeling well or who have respiratory symptoms, they will be asked to postpone their visit. And visitors will not be permitted at all in the emergency department's waiting room unless the patient is 65 years or older or has special needs. Cape Fear says the steps are being taken to protect patients, visitors, and staff.

In Durham, an investigation is underway after a vacant house went up in flames. It happened just before 6 o'clock this morning at a home on Bertland Avenue. authorities confirming it is an abandoned home in a heavily wooded area there are no reports on injuries happening now in urgent investigation in southeast raleigh after three people are seriously hurt in a shooting the way county sheriff's office says the gunfire happened around eight last night on moon glow drive off pool road two men and a woman all rush the hospital investigators are now trying to figure out what led up to the shooting and to find any suspects the other major story this noon a deadly blast killing two people and injuring 20 others at a nursing hospital home outside Philadelphia. Staff members say they smelled gas days before the catastrophic explosion. ABC's Olivia Rubin has more. Today, new pictures from above

showing the power of the blast that tore through the nursing home near Philadelphia. Tons of twisted metal tossed on the roof, collapsing into the building. The explosion was really quite catastrophic. Firefighters were already on scene investigating reports of a gas odor at the Bristol Health and Rehab Center.

when the blast happened. Silver Lake Nursing home reporting an explosion. Emergency crews racing into the building to evacuate the 120 residents and staff as thick black smoke and flames filled the sky. We got everyone out that we could, that we could find, that we could see, and we exited the building.

Within approximately 15 to 30 seconds of us exiting the building, there was another explosion and fire. First responders pulling residents from windows, stairwells and elevators. I have a brother-law over there. I have some friends that works there. This guy to keep praying for them. Officials also confirming two people died.

It's so devastating, and we all, it's like a big family in there. Officials also saying at least 20 people were injured here too. Olivia Rubin, ABC News, New York. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the nursing home was inspected in October and was not in compliance with several state regulations, including missing fire extinguishers and parts of the building. Governor Josh Stein is inviting the public to sign a book of condolences for former Governor Jim Hunt. The book is lying at the North Carolina State Capitol in the rotunda. Hunt passed

away last week at the age of 88. He was North Carolina's longest serving governor. You can write a brief message to Hunt's family from now through next Friday, January 2nd. Governor Stein will then present the book to Governor Hunt's family on behalf of North Carolina residents. Meantime, funeral services will be held for Hunt this Friday at First Presbyterian Church in Wilson. Before taking off on their flight around the world, tonight one of Santa's reindeer made an early stop at Duke's Children's Hospital in Durham to make a Christmas wish come true. Look at that there. This special visit came about after a 10-year-old patient who's been in the hospital for more than three months wrote a letter to Santa. In that letter, he asked Santa

if he could meet a real reindeer. The reindeer arrived at the hospital just some time before it's busy night with Santa, of course, bringing white eyes, big smiles, and a little Christmas magic to patients and families there. And happening now, NORAD is once again tracking Santa as he delivers presents across the globe.

A live look at the map shows jolly old St. Nick was last spotted over Russia and has already delivered more than two billion gifts. Many children here, they're excited for him to get to the trying to. tonight. And one lucky person could get the ultimate Christmas gift. The Powerball jackpot sitting at a whopping $1.7 billion for tonight's drawing. That's a fourth largest prize in game history. Watch for tonight's numbers on IWitness

News and 11. A health alert this noon the food that is making dozens sick across the country and holiday storms creating havoc for people traveling for Christmas. We'll show you the hardest place is hit. And let's take a live look at North Carolina Mountains. This is down to downtown blow uh let me see there i think that's downtown blowing rock uh no white christmas for them temperatures will be near 60 with rain watch lauren johnson tonight on a bc 11 eyewitness news now to the nation's most serious weather threat taking aim at california right now the state has seen flooding rain mostly in the northern part of the state over the last few days now

Southern California, people there are being asked to think twice before any holiday travel. ABC Sophie Flay has the latest. Officials in Southern California are urging residents to reconsider Christmas travel as the region braces for life-threatening flooding. The last thing we want to do is ruin anybody's Christmas plans, but we have an obligation as a county family to wave the flag and say there's a threat, a real threat out there. Rounds of torrential rain and mountain snow are expected through Christmas, with showers extending into the weekend. Up to a foot of rain could fall in some spots.

The greatest risk is for areas badly damaged by wildfires. Here in Altadena, you see these empty lots from January's deadly wildfires. As families work to rebuild right now, they're trying to protect what they do have because the threat of mudslides and debris flow is a huge concern from hillsides like this where you see these blue tarps. And days of heavy rain have already drenched northern. California with more on the way when gusts could reach as high as 60 miles per hour. Across the country, snow falling in parts of the northeast from Pennsylvania through New England. In Rhode Island, police rescuing this dog that fell through an icy pond. And a post-Christmas storm could bring even more wintry weather, making for treacherous travel

across the Midwest to the east coast. But other parts of the country could experience one of the warmest Christmases on record. Temperatures in Denver and Kansas City are expected to reach the 60s. while Houston and Orlando could approach 80 degrees. Sophie Fleigh, ABC News, New York. Keeping your furry friends safe this holiday, the Christmas items your pets should avoid. Plus, why a battle over Christmas lights

is moving from the rooftop to the courtroom. Merry Christmas, a live look from the control room. Right back at you, waving there. This holiday season, your support can help CAMH transform mental health care. From now until December 31st, every donation will be tripled for three times the impact. That means your generous gift goes even further to help create a future where Canadians can get the help they need, when they need it, no matter who or where they are. Together, we can forge a better path for mental health. Make three times the impact with a donation today at camh.ca.ca.com.com.ca.com.

we're back now with your health check and we start with a new warning from the cdc raw oysters have reportedly been linked to an ongoing salmonella outbreak so far 64 people across 22 states have gotten sick with the same strain of salmonella at least 20 people have been hospitalized both the cdc and fda are investigating to determine if a common source of oysters can be identified so far no recall notices have been announced in some medicare's recipients may soon have access to weight loss drugs under a new voluntary program. Medicare is currently banned by law from covering weight loss medicines, but the Trump administration and the previous Biden administration argued these drugs are necessary to combat chronic

disease. The agency that oversees Medicare and Medicaid will work to negotiate lower prices with the weight loss drug makers. It is expected eligible beneficiaries will only have to pay $50 a month for the drugs. Medicare recipients should be able to access. of weight loss drugs by July. And state Medicaid agencies can join the model program by May. The pilot program is expected to end in December of 2013. The American Humane Society is out with tips to help keep your pets safe over the holidays. First, they are reminding you to keep an eye on holiday foods that could make your pets sick if consumed.

Many popular seasonal ingredients including chocolate, grapes, raisins, alcohol, sort of nuts and onions are toxic to pets. Be sure to keep plates and leftovers out of reach and remind guests not to feed pets table scraps. Also be sure to secure decorations and ornaments, tinsel ribbon ornaments, and string lights can pose choking hazards if ingested. Several holiday plants such as Ponceidias, mistletoe and holly can also be harmful if eaten up for pet safe alternatives or keep plants well out of reach. And you should, of course, be cautious of your candles and fireplaces. open flames can easily be knocked over by curious pets. Experts recommend you try using flameless candles whenever possible. All right, well, it is Christmas Eve.

It does not feel like a Christmas holiday here, but you know what, look at that. Yeah, that does not stop people from enjoying the holiday fun. It doesn't. You know my favorite thing, t-shirts and an ice rink. That's my favorite thing about North Carolina. That's what we have right now at the Rink. ABC 11, a proud sponsor of the ring.

The kids are out about the families enjoying all of this great weather for today. So have added today. We also have Coco Booth later this evening, which is a sold-out event for this evening. Temperatures will be in the 60s later on. We're at 73 for the high today, 70 degrees on Christmas Day. A little bit cooler into Friday, the high 50. I've dropped that down a few degrees. And then Saturday into Sunday back to around 60s and 70s before another cooling trend that takes us into the start of next week. Rain chances through the next seven days will be limited. Have a 20% chance of rain for Christmas Day. There won't be much overall. Friday, the same deal. And then Sunday we'll have a shot at a few showers. at 20% as well. But this is it for the rainfall potential. So we're talking a tenth of an inch or less in terms of accumulation. Temperatures right now, low 70s in Raleigh and Rocky Mountain Wilson, low 70s in Fayetteville, Southern Pines, Siler City at 70, mid-60s in Oxford, 69 degrees in South Hills. So a big increase from yesterday at this time by 15 to 25 degrees. In most locations, clouds starting to break up at this point after we saw the clouds rolling through this morning with the cold front. So 72 at 1 o'clock today, 70 degrees at 3. And then those mid-60s,

towards 5 p.m. We'll be in the 50s later on this evening and still close to 50 degrees at 11 o'clock tonight as clouds build back in. And we're going to see temperatures on the warm side tonight because the winds will switch directions later on from the south. That's the warm moist flow. A little breezy at times even early tomorrow morning. In the mountains, wrapping up that shower, sprinkle potential temperatures near 70 degrees around Bryson. Looking at Oak Island today at the beach upper 70s or upper 60s in those 70s with a lot of sunshine. Christmas this past. We've had some really warm Christmas days. and also some cold ones too. 74 degrees in 2015. That was the second warmest on record. Last year we were at 54 degrees. So once again tomorrow near the record high, which is 75, the high tomorrow, 70 degrees with partly cloudy skies.

Just a stray shower chance. That is it for the day. So we have one front to the south of us that lives back north as a warm front tonight. But the next front we're tracking is just to the north and that one's going to move in on Friday. That's going to drop those high temperatures down into the upper 40s, low 50s here.

And the mountains warmer, mountains warmer because they'll be south and west of the front it land is 72 behind that front as well looking at temperatures in the 60s and 70s today as we head into tonight 40s so some great weather as Santa arrives partly cloudy skies here's that first alert 70 forecast powered by acu weather back to 50 degrees Friday cloudy skies maybe some spotty drizzle in a few areas 47 degrees Friday night back to 70 degrees on saturday and partly cloudy we're down into the 40s Saturday night 60 on Sunday as the front starts to work through Monday cooler but seasonably cooled down to 54 and then that cold air surges in 20s

Monday night Tuesday's high only 42 Tuesday night will be down into the low 20s as well as we finish out 2025 expect some colder air for New Year's Eve we're looking at temps in the 40s New Year's day right around the upper 40s as well with 20s at night and then by the second of January still around the low 40s so as we head into a 2026 expects some really cold conditions and keep that in mind as you make your plans for new year's eve you may have to dress a bit warmer for those late night temperatures down into the 20s diane back to you all already we are going to enjoy the 70s hopefully thank you quailin well we are following breaking news in wilson chopper 11 over the scene there a police response at a wilson walmart the super

center in wilson this is off the 2,500 block of forest hills road what we know so far are they responding to some type of emergency call we are working to learn more but you can see several police vehicles are there on the scene it does appear that looks like a lot of the shoppers are already out of that store as the police investigate that response there of the call that did come in an emergency response that is it's a super center of walmart a course a very busy shopping day with last minute shoppers on christmas eve so as we learn more information we will bring you it as soon as we have that is a super center Walmart in wilson we are counting down to Christmas and how the site of the very first Christmas is celebrating the holiday this

year and a family told to take down their holiday lights by their HOA but fighting back what is sparking this Christmas spat the site the site of the first Christmas preparing to celebrate the holiday again the mayor of Bethlehem delivering a message of hope and peace on this eve of Christmas. The Palestinian city revered by Christians as a birthplace of Jesus had refrained from public Christmas celebrations over the past two years as war raged in Gaza.

This year will mark the return of worshippers from around the world celebrating Christmas from the Holy City. A battle over Christmas lights in Maryland is moving from the rooftop to the courtroom. A family says their homeowners association is trying to find them into submission. But for now, the lights are staying on.

ABC's Sophie Flay has more. Nothing says Christmas like holiday lights. Everybody come out quick, look at the lights. But who decides how many lights are too many? It's definitely like a jaw-dropping scene, like, how why are we getting fine for Christmas lights? Supoli and Pahan Salgado tell us they look forward all year to decorating their German town, Maryland home.

Right around Thanksgiving is when we start decorating the outside of our house. And last year, we had a, Big, big, like each year we have big displays called the Salgado Family Christmas display. But their homeowners association, Middlebrook Manor South, is saying bah humbug, ordering them to take the lights down or receive a fine of $50 a day. It's out of this world. It's a holiday that's celebrated across the world. How was the HOA supposed to stop that? The fine started last Christmas when the Salgado's admit they had a much bigger display. They say this year they toned down the display significantly, but it still was too much for the HOA.

They warned that if the decorations don't come down, the fine will be going up. And what they're doing is just hate. But the Salgadoes are not backing down and have hired a lawyer who says the enforcement appears inconsistent and unfair. He says they're going to challenge the fines and is confident they will win. Sophie Fleigh, ABC News, New York. Oh, the Ochoe's lawyer says rules are enforced uniformly and in compliant with Maryland law. Well, the holiday shopping rush, we will check in on people looking for those.

last minute gifts, plus protecting from the Grinch, the local police department that will check in on your house if you're away this holiday.