A high surf advisory has been issued this weekend for some Southern California beaches, the National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed.

The advisory is in effect through 3 p.m. Sunday, with high surf expected north of Newport Beach and south of Encinitas. The NWS says waves are expected to hit six to nine feet, with some sets at 11 feet.

Other beaches may see surf between four and seven feet through Sunday afternoon.

“We could see some sets of up to eight feet at west and northwest-facing beaches, but not as big as earlier in the week,” explained NBC 7 meteorologist Greg Bledsoe.

The NWS says the highest tide is expected around 8:54 a.m. Sunday, coming in at about 6.4 feet.

The high surf will result in dangerous swimming conditions and strong rip currents. Minor coastal flooding and some beach erosion during high tide are also possible, according to the NWS.

Weather-wise in San Diego, Bledsoe says there’s a slight chance for showers Saturday afternoon, increasing to a 50 percent chance of light rain later in the night.

The NWS has also issued a wind advisory for parts of San Diego County from 6 p.m. Saturday to 2 a.m. Sunday.

Get your weather updates and alerts here, on NBC 7.
 

One of three escaped inmates from the Orange County Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana lived in San Diego for more than a decade, according to records obtained by NBC 7 San Diego. 

Hossein Nayeri, 37, Jonathan Tieu, 20, and Bac Duong, 43, were marked unaccounted for at about 9 p.m. on Friday prison officials discovered, according to Lt. Jeff Hallock of the Orange County Sheriff's Department. Authorities conducted a search of the Central Jail Complex, the nearby Civic Center and surrounding areas, but did not locate the three inmates.

The men were last confirmed to be seen at 5 a.m. Friday, Hallock said Saturday morning.

All three inmates were in custody for violent charges, the Sheriff's department said. Nayeri, who had been in custody since September 2014, faces charges of kidnapping, torture, burglary and aggravated mayhem. He was being held without bail.

Tieu faces charges for murder, attempted murder, and shooting at an inhabited dwelling. His case is believed to be gang-related. He had been held on a $1 million bond since October 2013.

Duong, who is ineligible for bail due to an immigration hold, had been in custody since December 2015 on charges of possession of a firearm, possession of stolen property, vehicle theft, attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and shooting an at inhabited dwelling. Duong appears to have a criminal record in San Diego and a civil case against him in the city. 

Duong was a resident of San Diego County for 11 years, documents show. Nayeri has no San Diego ties, according to records, and it is unclear whether Tieu has any San Diego ties. 

Hallock said Saturday afternoon investigators believe the three inmates cut through steel bars, made it to the roof of the jail and then rappelled down using sheets in what he called a "very well thought out" escape plan.

"I want to emphasize that the Sheriff's number one priority in this is the safety of our community," Hallock said. "We have dedicated all available resources to this search and investigation so that we may bring all three inmates back into custody."

Anyone with information about the three inmates was asked to call the Sheriff's Department at (714) 647-7000.

A Turkish Airlines flight from Houston to Istanbul was diverted to Ireland on Sunday after crew members found the word "bomb" written on a napkin in the plane's bathroom, according to Irish police and an airline spokesperson.

Turkish Airlines flight TK34, carrying 209 passengers, was met by emergency services upon landing at Shannon airport, NBC News reports.

U.S. Passenger Erez Lieberman Aiden told NBC News that he was awoke mid-flight and asked to check his luggage for suspicious objects, but was not told why. After checking passengers' luggage, flight attendants then ripped the covers off the seats, "as if they were looking for something," he said.

The BBC reported the plane would remain parked until its scheduled flight time elapsed, when authorities would search the aircraft and speak to the crew.
 

The tri-state region is digging out of more than 2 feet of snow deposited by a historic blizzard that was blamed for at least 10 deaths and the near shutdown of the area's bustling network of roadways, mass transit services and airports.

Approximately 26.8 inches of snow had fallen in Central Park by Sunday morning — the second highest snowfall there since record-keeping began in 1869. The amount was one-tenth of an inch away from breaking the all-time record of 26.9 inches set in February 2006. 

Other areas of the city got even more snow. John F. Kennedy Airport was walloped with 30.5 inches; Williamsburg in Brooklyn got 29; Port Richmond, on Staten island had 31.4 inches. Jackson Heights, in Queens, meanwhile saw the region's highest snow total with a whopping 34 inches of powder.

"It was this close to being the worst storm we've ever had," Mayor de Blasio said Sunday ahead of storm assessment tour exclusively captured by NBC 4. 

The unrelenting snowfall claimed the lives of nine people in New York City and the surrounding areas.  Nationwide, at least 29 deaths were blamed on the storm that pummeled the East Coast from the Carolinas to Cape Cod, Massachusetts. 

Snow stopped falling in New York City at about 10 p.m. Saturday, but winds continued to blow snow around as plows took to the streets. Blizzard warnings had been lifted for the tri-state by Sunday morning.

A road travel ban was lifted at 7 a.m., but conditions on the streets and highways around the region were tenuous at best. Some roads in the city were covered in packed-down powder and narrowed by the sheer volume of snowfall, while others had already been scraped back down to the blacktop. 

Most cities have suspended alternate side parking and garbage collection Monday, many at least through the week (see specific suspensions by region below). 

The region's mass transit network was also heavily impacted by the storm but started chugging along again. Almost all subway trains were running by Sunday afternoon, including trains on the Staten Island Railway. Crews continued work on the Q train in Brooklyn and the Franklin Avenue shuttle.

All local and express MTA buses began running again on Sunday morning.

Seven of the Long Island Rail Road 's 12 branches were to be fully operational at 5 a.m. Monday, in time for the morning rush hour, MYA officials said. 

The Metro-North railroad resumed on a limited basis at noon Sunday after it was shut down Saturday. All trains were running to and from Grand Central Terminal by 3 p.m., the MTA announced.

NJ Transit trains, buses and light rail all started moving again at noon. Regular weekday service is expected in time for the workweek, Gov. Chris Christie told NBC 4. 

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey reopened the George Washington Bridge, Lincoln Tunnel, Holland Tunnel, Bayonne Bridge, Goethals Bridge and Outerbridge Crossing at 7 a.m. on Sunday.

Prior to the vehicular travel ban, the NYPD responded to 312 crashes and assisted 343 other motorists, police said. In New Jersey, the state police had responded to over 300 wrecks and helped out over 1,500 motorists by Sunday afternoon. 

Only one driver was arrested during the travel ban, according to the NYPD. That suspect was booked on DWI charges after he was caught allegedly speeding and running red lights. 

On Sunday, Cuomo urged people to stay off the road unless absolutely necessary.

"If it is essential travel, necessary travel, that's one thing, but if you do not need to be on the roads you shouldn't be on the roads," he said.

In New Jersey, Gov. Christie urged drivers to exercise caution if they have to head out. 

"If you go out on the roads, please respect the speed limits," Christie said. "It's very important."

Newark continued to struggle with the snow. Mayor Ras Baraka suspended all city services and closed all public schools Monday.

In New York City, Mayor de Blasio urged motorists to stay off the roads if they can. The city suspended alternate side parking until Feb. 1 and urged drivers not to dump snow from their cars into cleared roadways.

De Blasio also urged residents to take it easy when they go to clear the snow.

The storm-related fatalities included two men, ages 78 and 80, in Queens and a 67-year-old man on Staten Island died while shoveling snow, police said.

Five died on Long Island: a 61-year-old West Hempstead man, a 75-year-old woman in Huntington Station, a 94-year-old Kings Park man, a Locust Valley man all of whom were clearing snow from their properties, and a 66-year-old Oyster Bay Cove man who was struck by a privately owned snow plow on Sunday.

In New Jersey, a 23-year-old woman and her 1-year-old son both died from carbon monoxide poisoning as they sat inside a running car in Passaic, authorities say. The child's father had worked to clear the snow from around the vehicle while the mother, baby and the her 3-year-old daughter climbed inside the car to stay warm. But the snowfall blocked the car's tailpipe and caused the noxious gas to seep into the car.

The 3-year-old girl is in critical condition, authorities say.

After more than 3,000 flights were canceled at Newark-Liberty, John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia airports because of the storm, the three airports resumed normal activity and reported no delays for arriving and departing flights Sunday evening, according to FlightAware, 

All Broadway performances were canceled Saturday, but the shows reopened on Sunday, The Broadway League said. However, Bruce Springsteen postponed a performance scheduled for Sunday at Madison Square Garden.

Areas in Westchester and northern New Jersey were pounded with 15 to 22 inches of snow, Storm Team 4 said.

Heavy snow caused the roof of a Trader Joe's grocery store in Westfield, New Jersey, to collapse. No injuries were reported. The storm had covered Westfield with 22 inches of snowfall. In Morris Plains, 33 inches of snow fell. 

Parts of Long Island were buried in snow. Hicksville was walloped with more than 29 inches of snow, Commack had 26.6 inches and Islip had more than 23 inches.

Residents of the Jersey Shore and parts of Long Island worried that a dangerous cocktail of snow, astronomical high tides and a wind-swept storm surge could cause significant coastal flooding and beach erosion.

Utility workers restored power to more than 25,000 customers whose service was knocked out by the snowstorm in New York City and Long Island. Hundreds of residents on Long Island woke up Sunday morning without power, PSEG said.

Power has been restored to 130,000 homes and businesses that lost power in New Jersey after the storm, and final restoration is expected to be completed by Sunday night, according to utility JCP&L.

Download the NBC 4 app to track the storm and get weather alerts

Here's a breakdown of current conditions:

MASS TRANSIT 

• Above-ground subway lines began running again at 9 a.m. Service on portions of the system that were exposed to the elements had been shut down at 4 p.m. Saturday, while other service was significantly curtailed. See the latest service updates here.
   
• All scheduled weekend work on the subway was canceled, including the planned 7 train shutdown. Stations that would have been closed for planned weekend work will be open. This does not include the longer-range outages like the N train stations in Brooklyn, which remain closed. 
   
• MTA bus service is running again on a limited basis. It had been shut down Saturday afternoon ahead of the travel ban.
   
• 7 Long Island Railroad branches open for Monday rush hour. Branches at Port Washington, Oyster Bay, Port Jefferson, Ronkonkoma, Huntington, Babylon and Greenport will be fully operational at 5 a.m. Partial service will be offered on the Montauk branch as far as Speonk. See the latest LIRR alerts here. 
   
• Metro-North Railroad service resumed at noon. The rail system returned to full service at 3 p.m. See the latest Metro-North advisories here. 
   
• NJ Transit rail, light rail and bus service all resumed at noon. Buses, trains and light-rail will run on a Sunday schedule and delays could be possible. But Christie said that the system should be ready for a normal schedule to start the workweek. The transit service is cross-honoring tickets and passes system wide all weekend.   See the latest NJ Transit alerts here. 
   
• PATH train service will be available for Monday morning commuters, with the exception of the line between Newark's Penn Sation and Journal Square. Trains will run between Journal Square and the World Trade Center. Service continued to run from the Grove Street Station to West 33rd Street in Manhattan via the Hoboken line.  See the latest PATH advisories here. 
   
• NY Waterway canceled ferries after 7:10 p.m. See the latest NY Waterway advisories here. 
   
• The Staten Island Ferry was running normally.
   
• The Seastreak Ferry will resume full service Monday after a weekend suspension. See the latest Seastreak Ferry advisories here. 
   
• Amtrak has announced several changes to rail service. Acela Express, Northeast Regional and several other lines that run to and from New York City were operating on modified schedules on Sunday. See the latest Amtrak alerts here. 
   
• Westchester's Bee-Line Bus System is expected to be running on or close to schedule.

Upload your storm photos on our NBC 4 app or at this link for a chance to be featured on air

SCHOOLS

• New York City schools will be open Monday, Mayor de Blasio said.
   
• Check all school closings and delays here.

• Newark public schools will be closed on Monday.
   
• Jersey City public schools will be closed on Monday.
   
• All New York City public school events were canceled Saturday and Sunday. 
   
• Other after-school and weekend programs at districts around the region have been canceled. Check with your district for the latest announcements.

• SATs have been postponed at some test centers in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
   

AIR TRAVEL

• There were no flight delays as of Sunday evening at the region's airports. 
   
• Several airlines have waived flight change fees. United, Delta, American Airlines, JetBlue and others allowed passengers to switch their flight for free ahead of the storm.
   

ROADS

• The NYC travel ban has been lifted.
   
• Roads remain treacherous.  Gov. Andrew Cuomo warns that it's imperative that people stay off the roads unless it's an emergency. 
    
• Plows are still out. Kathryn Garcia, New York City's sanitation commissioner, tells NBC 4 New York that plows headed out at 5 a.m. Saturday, with 15,000 tons of salt on hand. Check here to see when a location was plowed.
   
• Alternate side parking in New York City is now suspended through Feb. 1, de Blasio said Sunday. The city is also allowing cars currently parked next to schools in "No Standing - School Hours" zones to stay parked until Feb 1. 
   
• Jersey City officials say alternate side parking is suspended Monday and is asking residents to move their car from snow routes to allow for snow removal through Thursday, or else they'll be subject to ticket and tow. Residents may park their cars in the lots of Dickinson High School and PS 11 overnight beginning at 5 p.m. Monday through 6 a.m. Tuesday. 
   
• Barnegat, New Jersey, issued mandatory evacuations for homes near Bayshore Drive. Voluntary evacuations have been suggested elsewhere as well.
   
• Brick, Manasquan, Toms River, Union Beach and Tuckerton Beach, New Jersey, also issued voluntary evacuations.
  

OTHER CHANGES
 

• Power outages impacting more than 50,000 customers were reported in southern New Jersey, especially Ocean County. Hempstead Village on Long Island experienced a sizable outage, but most customers were soon restored.
    
• Trash and recycling pickup was canceled in New York City on Saturday.
   
• New York City's Winter Jam, planned for Saturday in Central Park, was canceled. 
   
• Broadway shows were canceled Saturday but were back open Sunday. Check for updates here and on each individual show's website. 

• Public Libraries in New York City were closed Saturday, as was the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian in Manhattan, the Brooklyn Museum and other institutions.
   
• The 9/11 Memorial and the observatory atop One World Trade Center were closed Saturday.

Police arrived at the scene of a deadly bar brawl in suburban Illinois early Saturday to find at least 100 people shouting and fighting in a melee that spilled into the parking lot and street.

Authorities are offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to any arrests in connection with the case.

Officers flocked to the parking lot behind La Quinta de los Reyes at 36 E. New York St. in Aurora around 1:40 a.m. Saturday, according to police. Authorities believe two groups of people began arguing and fighting following a large party inside the bar.

They arrived to find dozens of people brawling and a man lying dead in the parking lot of gunshot wounds. Investigators identified the man as Marcus Holland, 36, of Aurora. He was shot more than once by a suspect who fled the scene after the shooting. Holland was pronounced dead at the scene.

Moments after the deadly shooting, police were notified that a 22-year-old man had been stabbed outside the bar, authorities said. The man, from Batavia, was treated for non-life threatening injuries to his back, and released from the hospital.

The suspect believed to be involved in the stabbing was described as a man in his early 20s standing 5-foot-10 and weighing 170 pounds, according to police. He was wearing a black, white and red hooded sweatshirt with a white shield on the front.

Investigators are unsure whether the shooting and stabbing were related. Most people at the scene were "uncooperative and hostile with police," authorities said.

The bar was not immediately available for comment. 

Anyone with information is asked to call Aurora police at 630-256-5500 or Aurora Area Crime Stoppers at 630-892-1000. Callers to Crime Stoppers are anonymous and qualify for a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to any arrests. Tips can also be submitted through the Aurora Police Department’s free app.

As the Iowa Caucuses near and the Republican presidential field enters cage-match mode, there has been some movement in "the three lanes" — the social conservative lane, the establishment lane and the Donald Trump lane — within the party, and according to the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll the GOP frontrunner is the biggest beneficiary.

Voter groups that have long supported the GOP's main establishment candidates are beginning to peel off to join other candidates, particularly Trump.

Between December and January, Trump saw a five-point increase in support from tea party voters. At the same time, the "establishment lane" saw a five-point decline in tea party support. In the social conservative lane, meanwhile, it looks like voters simply moved from Carson to Mr. Cruz.

Bernie Sanders said Sunday that "there would be nothing more in this world that I would like" than to face Donald Trump in a general election fight, and that he would "beat him badly."

"I would very much look forward to a race against Donald Trump, a guy who does not want to raise the minimum wage, but wants to give hundreds of billions of dollars in tax breaks to the top two-tenths of 1% who thinks wages in America are too high and who thinks that climate change is a hoax, invented by the Chinese," he said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

His comments to "Meet the Press" moderator Chuck Todd comes as polls have shown him narrowing Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton's lead in Iowa and opening up his own lead in New Hampshire.

A reward of up to $50,000 has been offered for information leading to the recapture of three "dangerous" inmates who escaped from a jail in Orange County, California, authorities said Sunday.

Hossein Nayeri, 37, Jonathan Tieu, 20, and Bac Duong, 43, were discovered missing from the Orange County Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana around 9 p.m. Friday, according to the the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

Investigators believe the three inmates cut through steel bars and plumbing ducts, then made it to the roof of the jail and rappelled down multiple stories using a "makeshift rope" in what sheriff's Lt. Jeff Hallock called a "very well thought out" escape plan.

At a press conference Sunday, Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens said there have been no sightings of the fugitives and there is no reason to believe the inmates have left the country. She also said investigators had received several helpful tips and were contacting people who know or are related to the inmates to find out if they got any help.

Hutchens said it was believed the inmates had tools to get through three secured areas in the jail and described the escape as a highly "sophisticated operation."

"The reality is from time to time, we will have escapes," said Hutchens. "We will not stop until these individuals are in custody."

Sheriff's officials released images and surveillance video of evidence connected to the escape of the three inmates, including a photos of a makeshift rope believed to be used in the escape.

"I apologize for the lack of quality in the video, but if you look in the upper left hand corner of the video, what you're seeing is a small amount of movement and a little bit of light," Hallock said.

Authorities conducted a search of the Central Jail Complex, the nearby Civic Center and surrounding areas, but did not locate the three inmates. The exact time the inmates escaped was unknown, but Hallock said the men were last confirmed to be seen at a 5 a.m. count on Friday.

They were discovered missing at about 9 p.m., giving them a 15-hour head start. 

All three men are to be considered dangerous, authortities said.

Nayeri, who had been in custody since September 2014, faces charges of kidnapping, torture, burglary and aggravated mayhem. He was being held without bail.

Tieu faces charges for murder, attempted murder, and shooting at an inhabited dwelling. His case is believed to be gang-related. He had been held on a $1 million bond since October 2013.

Duong, who is ineligible for bail due to an immigration hold, had been in custody since December 2015 on charges of possession of a firearm, possession of stolen property, vehicle theft, attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and shooting an at inhabited dwelling.

The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a $30,000 reward- $10,000 for each inmate and the FBI is offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to their arrest, the sheriff’s department said.

Residents were on high alert ever since the news of the inmate escape broke. 

"I'm always making sure that the kids rooms, the windows, are always locked," Jeannette Trevarthen, Orange County resident, said. "It's creepy, you don't know if they're still in the area."

Anyone with information about the three inmates was asked to call the Sheriff's Department at 714-647-7000 or 714-628-7085.

A U.S. Capitol Police officer was among two dozen people whose deaths were linked to the blizzard that bared down this weekend on the mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

A spokesperson for the chief's office said Officer Vernon Alston, 44, suffered a heart attack Saturday while shoveling snow at his home in Delaware. Alston joined the force in 1996 and most recently served with the House Division.

"The death of Officer Alston is truly a tragic loss for the Alston family and the United States Capitol Police, which in fact is one in the same," said Chief of Police Kim Dine said in a statement Sunday. "Officer Alston was someone who loved his job, and his loss leaves a huge void in the hearts of all of the men and women at the USCP."

U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, a Democrat from Nevada, expressed sadness over Alston’s passing and sympathy for his family.

"I'm saddened to learn that the U.S. Capitol Police has lost one of our own over the weekend as a result of the storm. For twenty years Officer Vernon Alston was a fixture on the Capitol grounds while keeping the community safe. I am always grateful for the dedication and sacrifice of the Capitol Police force and Officer Alston was an exemplar of that. My thoughts are with Officer Alston's family during this difficult time."

According to Politico, Alston was taken to Kent County Hospital, in Dover, Delaware, where he died.

The storm's snowy aftermath turned deadly for one New Jersey family when carbon monoxide from a blocked tailpipe killed a woman and her 1-year-old son and left her 3-year-old daughter in critical condition.

It happened while the children's father was steps away shoveling out the car, authorities said Sunday.

Sasha Bonilla, 23, and her two children had taken refuge from the chill inside the family's car on a New Jersey street while the kids' dad, Felix Bonilla, worked to clear the snow, Passaic Police said.

The vehicle's tailpipe was blocked by powder, and carbon monoxide backed up into the car, police said.

"The gas couldn't go out and it had nowhere to go except inside the car," said Passaic Mayor Alex Blanco.

When the father looked up, still shoveling, he found his family unconscious. Neighbor Isabel Carmona said he became hysterical, "crying and jumping." 

Emergency responders arrived on the scene on Sherman Street to find people performing CPR. But the mother and son could not be saved.

Carmona, who was among the neighbors who tried to deliver CPR, said the arriving paramedics were brought to tears by the scene. 

"The paramedic, he cry, and the police cry. Everybody cry," she said. 

The girl, Saniyah, described by authorities as in very critical condition, was transferred to St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center in Paterson.

The children's paternal grandfather told NBC 4 outside his son's family's home Sunday night he was heartbroken.

"I can't even express how I feel right now. I got no words," said the grandfather, also named Felix Bonilla. 

He said his son was in shock. 

"My son, he can't even say nothing, he can't even move, he can't even talk," said Bonilla. 

This weekend’s blizzard packed a punch, but it couldn't keep one couple from celebrating their engagement in the capital region.

"When your clients are just as crazy as you are, they defy the blizzard warnings and show up for a shoot while it’s actually snowing," Washington-based photographer Dotun Ayodeji wrote on Instagram Saturday.

Felicia Sam and David Nartey, of Baltimore, braved the elements Friday afternoon to take their engagement photos in Fort Meade, Maryland, amid driving snow and blustery winds.

Sam said she texted Ayodeji after checking the weather Thursday night. They agreed the shoot would continue as planned despite the ominous forecast.

They headed to Fort Meade Friday afternoon and hoped to finish quickly before the storm set in. Its early arrival caught them off guard.

"We were exhausted as the winds and frigid temps came down on us like a ton of bricks but we made the shoot work," Ayodeji wrote in an Instagram post. "Kudos to my awesome clients!" 

Sam said cold was an "understatement" but the excitement of the moment made it bearable.

"You're having fun so you’re cold but you’re not concentrated on it," she explained.

They endured, and the result was a set of enchanting images that have won the praise of people around the country.

"I really overwhelmed. I don’t have any other words. That’s all I can say. It’s getting crazy," Sam said of the attention her photos have garnered. "I cannot believe it. It's like I’m dreaming."

The couple — a pharmacist and nurse who met while attending Johns Hopkins University — are set to marry this year.

In several feet of icy bay water, John Hicks clung to a window-jamb, half in and half out of his West Wildwood, New Jersey, apartment. The first floor home had become part of the Richardson Sound and the 31-year-old wondered if he and his 26-year-old fiancée, Carrie Ensle, would make it out alive.

"The water almost freezes you up when it hits you," he said.

With floodwaters continuing to rise and first responders struggling to get a military vehicle to them because of debris and a snagged boat, the couple jumped into the water. They waded through the chest-deep storm surge, clinging onto a piece of dock at one point, as rescuers pushed away other trash and sea grass swept up by the storm to get to the couple.

A walk around the two-story apartment house on the 700 block of West Glenwood Avenue that’s typically measured in seconds labored into minutes. The closer to safety the couple got, the deeper the water became.

"Right before we got to the truck [the water] went up to our shoulders," Hicks told NBC10 in an interview Sunday. "I almost didn’t think I was going to make it."

Luckily, they did.

Sopping wet, they were pulled into the back of the covered surplus truck and shivered on metal benches along with other rescued residents.

"I’m sore. My body’s sore," Ensle recalled. "We didn’t even get a blanket when we got to the truck."

Hicks and Ensle were among hundreds who fell victim to severe coastal flooding brought on by the Blizzard of 2016, which pounded the Jersey Shore with snow, rain and close-to hurricane-force winds for hours Saturday. Flooding in The Wildwoods and neighboring Stone Harbor broke records set during Superstorm Sandy. Flood gauges in the Great Channel at Stone Harbor recorded a historic surge of 10.52 feet — more than a foot over the previous record.

The strong storm, which dumped more than two feet of snow on parts of Pennsylvania, knocked out power to more than 38,000 customers in South Jersey at its height.

The couple thought their stormy Saturday would’ve been much different. They said city officials didn’t expect flooding from the Blizzard of 2016 to be so severe, so they opted to stay in their bayside apartment. The couple rode out Superstorm Sandy (in a different apartment on the island) without issue.

"Sandy didn’t even come close to this," Hicks said.

Hicks woke up around 6:30 that morning to check on the water level. There was nothing, he said. But within an hour, the tide began to rise, pushing salt water under their doors. They called 911 for help and spent the next hour collecting clothes, keepsakes and documents. The water had risen to their windows by the time rescuers got there.

Now, the couple is staying at a Wildwood motel, after being taken there by the rescuers, they said.

"We paid with wet money. The only money we have, we paid to stay here," Ensle said. They said they’ve been having trouble getting an answer about temporary housing assistance.

West Wildwood police told NBC10 a shelter at Wildwood High School has been closed and some residents have returned to their homes.

Hicks and Ensle said they haven’t been able to get to their home yet, but are bracing for the worst.

"At this point, we’re trying to figure out how much damage was done," Hicks said. Ensle believes it’s a total loss.

"Now, we don’t have a home," she said.

The massive storm that paralyzed the East Coast this weekend left behind mounds of snow, happy sledders and frustrating travel delays. Here's a look at what's moving and what isn't.

Airports in New York and New Jersey — LaGuardia, John J. Kennedy and Newark Liberty — were open, but only a limited number of fights were expected Sunday, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. LaGuardia had 693 cancellations, while Newark Liberty had 597.

AirTrain JFK and AirTrain Newark were both temporarily suspended, replaced with bus service.

Flights throughout the country continue to be canceled. More than 3,500 were scrapped Sunday, with another 1,154 delayed, according to online flight tracking service FlightAware. Additional cancellations were expected for Monday.

In all, more than 12,000 flights were canceled after the storm began Friday, as states from North Carolina to New England struggled to clear the snow.

A ban on driving was lifted Sunday as expected for New York City and Long Island, and bridges and tunnels to New York City reopened. Metropolitan Transportation Authority buses resumed their routes, while service on subways and commuter railroads — New Jersey Transit, Metro-North Railroad in New York and Connecticut and Long Island Rail Road — was being restored throughout the day. Alternate side of the street parking regulations were suspended for the week.

The Long Island Rail Road was especially hard hit, with many of its yards buried under more than 2 feet of snow and stalled trains blocking tracks. Seven of its 12 branches would be fully operational by 5 a.m. Monday, the Port Authority said.

Officials at the Washington, D.C., Metro plan to restore limited service Monday. Meanwhile, the Metro extended free parking at its garages until Tuesday. Buses were resuming service as conditions on the roads improved.

In Maryland, where some western parts of the state received up to 3 feet of snow, Gov. Larry Hogan warned residents that driving was still treacherous and he urged anyone who could stay home to keep off the roads. Digging out will several days at least, he cautioned.

Runways at Reagan National and Dulles International airports near Washington, D.C., were closed Sunday for snow removal. Baltimore-Washington International Airport was expecting to resume service gradually over the next 24 hours, officials tweeted on Sunday. 

In Philadelphia, all of SEPTA Regional Rail service remained suspended on Sunday. Service was expected to resume with delays Monday morning.

The city's trolleys were operational and bus service was returning on a route-to-route basis.

Philadelphia International Airport was expected to resume its operations gradually on Sunday, it said in a statement. A number of airlines were planning to reduce their schedule of arrivals and departures.

A section of the Pennsylvania Turnpike were hundreds of vehicles were stranded during the storm reopened on Sunday, state officials said.

Amtrak was running a modified service along the Northeast Corridor.

At Boston's Logan Airport, most of the flights affected on Sunday — nearly 150 flights canceled and another 76 delayed — were to and from airports in Washington, D.C., New York City and Philadelphia, the AP reported, citing Massport, the state's port authority. 

A woman in eastern Indiana allegedly stole a deputy’s squad vehicle after being handcuffed and placed in the backseat.

At approximately 11 p.m. Friday, Indiana State Police responded to a call to assist the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department with a report of a stolen vehicle, according to state police.

Officers pulled over the vehicle after it entered a McDonald's near Pendleton, located about 30 miles northeast of Indianapolis. The driver along with two passengers were handcuffed and placed into police vehicles, according to ISP.

One of the passengers, identified as 21-year-old Tori Schadene Hostetler, was placed into the backseat of a Hamilton County Sheriff's Department patrol SUV, according to investigators.

Authorities say while the deputy was speaking with officers on the scene, Hostetler somehow slipped the handcuffs off of her wrists and fled in the deputy's Chevrolet Tahoe. Officers were then led on a high-speed chase.

The woman eventually jumped out of the moving SUV before it rolled and crashed, according to The Star Press. She then fled on foot, leading investigators in an all-night search, partly because the cold temperatures posed a risk to the woman’s life.

Hostetler was found Saturday at about 10:30 a.m. after a homeowner reported that she was at another residence, according to ISP.

Hostetler faces several charges, including auto theft and resisting law enforcement, according to the report.

 San Diego Police and La Mesa Police have a suspect in custody following an incident involved an armed suspect, the City of La Mesa said. 

The suspect, armed with a knife, was at the 4600 block of Date Avenue, officials said. 

San Diego Police (SDPD)'s helicopter ABLE assisted. 

It is unclear what exactly happened. 

No further information was immediately available. 

Refresh this page for updates on this breaking news story. 

 A bicyclist fatally struck by a car on State Route 54 Saturday evening has been identified, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner's office. 

The 44-year-old man, identified as Raymond Arthur Brown of Spring Valley, was riding on SR-54 when he was hit by a car heading west in the number two lane of the route near San Miguel Street. 

Someone called 911 and the bicyclist was taken to Scripps Mercy Hospital's emergency department. He was pronounced dead shortly later. 

No further information was immediately available. 

Refresh this page for updates on this breaking news story. 

Here’s a preview of what is going on in San Diego sports for the week of January 25th-31st.

SOCKERS: There’s a double dose of Sockers this week. Thursday they host the Las Vegas Legends at the Valley View Casino Center at 7:05 p.m. before heading to Ontario on Sunday to face the Fury at 2:05 p.m.

GULLS: Friday night the Gulls host the Ontario Reign at 7:05 p.m. at the Valley View Casino Center.

CLUB TIJUANA XOLOS: Tuesday the Xolos host Murcielagos at 7:00 p.m. before heading to Veracruz Friday for a 5:30 p.m. match.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO TRITONS:
-BASEBALL: Tuesday vs. San Diego Christian (exhibition) 6:00 p.m. at UCSD.
-WOMEN’S TENNIS: Wednesday vs. San Diego Christian 2:00 p.m. and Saturday vs. Concordia 12:00 p.m. both at UCSD.
-MEN’S VOLLEYBALL: Wednesday vs. Princeton 6:00 p.m. at UCSD and Sunday at Hawaii 7:00 p.m.
-WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Thursday at Humboldt State 5:30 p.m. and Saturday at Cal Poly Pomona 5:30 p.m.
-MEN’S BASKETBALL: Thursday at Humboldt State 7:30p.m. and Saturday at Cal Poly Pomona 7:30 p.m.
-FENCING: Saturday and Sunday at the Northwestern Duals 6:00 a.m. at Notre Dame, Indiana.
-MEN’S TENNIS: Saturday vs. Concordia 10:00 a.m. at UCSD.
-SWIMMING: Saturday at University of San Diego 12:00 p.m.

UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO TOREROS:
-WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Thursday at Pepperdine 7:00 p.m. and Saturday at Loyola Marymount 2:00 p.m.
-MEN’S BASKETBALL: Thursday vs. Pepperdine 7:30 p.m. and Saturday vs. Loyola Marymount 1:00 p.m. both at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.
-SOFTBALL: Saturday Alumni Game 10:30 a.m. at the USD Softball Complex.
-WOMEN’S TENNIS: Saturday vs. Kentucky 11:00 a.m.
-WOMEN’S SWIMMING: Saturday vs. UCSD 12:00 p.m.

POINT LOMA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY SEA LIONS:
-MEN’S BASKETBALL: Tuesday vs. Bethesda 7:00 p.m. and Saturday vs. BYU Hawaii 4:00 p.m.
-WOMEN’S TENNIS: Saturday vs. San Diego Christian 11:00 a.m.
-BASEBALL: Saturday Alumni Game 12:00 p.m.
-MEN’S TENNIS: Saturday vs. San Diego Christian 1:00 p.m.
-WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Saturday vs. BYU Hawaii 2:00 p.m.

SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY AZTECS:
-MEN’S BASKETBALL: Tuesday at Nevada 8:00 p.m. and Saturday at UNLV 5:00 p.m.
-WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Wednesday vs. Nevada 6:30 p.m. and Saturday vs. UNLV 2:00 p.m. both at Viejas Arena.
-WOMEN’S TRACK: Friday and Saturday at UW Invitational 1:30 p.m. in Seattle, Washington.
-WOMEN’S TENNIS: Friday vs. Kentucky 2:00 p.m. at the Aztec Tennis Center and Sunday at Pepperdine 1:00 p.m.
-MEN’S TENNIS: Saturday vs. Stanford1:00 p.m. in Burlingame, California.
-WOMEN’S WATER POLO: Saturday and Sunday vs. TBD in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

A woman has been arrested after a dog with a serious head injury was found abandoned and left in a zipped up camping bag in southern Wisconsin, according to a report.

In a Facebook post shared Friday, the Columbia County Humane Society explained that the dog was found Thursday in the bag near hunting grounds in Fort Winnebago, located approximately 100 miles northwest from Milwaukee.

The dog appeared to have suffered some kind of head injury and was left in the bag, according to the post. She needed 19 staples to close her head wound.

A veterinarian also discovered a large mammary tumor, according to the organization’s post. The veterinarian scored the dog’s overall condition as a “1 out of 9.”

“We are furious this dog suffered whatever trauma she suffered and was discarded like trash,” wrote the Columbia County Humane Society. 

The black lab’s owner, identified as 56-year-old Terri Lynn Benson, was arrested Friday, according to NBC affiliate WMTV. She is facing charges of mistreating animals as well as abandoning animals.

The dog, named Misty, has gained 1.7 pounds since being in the care of the Columbia County Humane Society, according to the organization.

In an update posted to Facebook on Sunday, the group wrote that Misty was doing well.

“She seems to be strong willed about where she wants to go and she loves to take charge and pull ahead on the leash,” the post read.

Benson is due back in court on Monday. It was unclear whether she had an attorney.

More than 20,000 gray whales will migrate from Alaska toward Baja California this winter to give birth before heading north in the spring.

San Diego has 70 miles of coastline directly on the migration path, a perfect opportunity for whale watching.

Birch Aquarium at Scripps, Cabrillo National Monument and Torrey Pines State Reserve are all excellent viewing spots from land with sweeping panoramas of the Pacific.

Cabrillo National Monument’s annual Whale Watch Weekend takes place February 20th and 21st and includes whale watching from the recently redesigned Whale Watch and Kelp Forrest Overlook, tide pool exploration and a presentation on the Marine Protected Areas.

For a closer look San Diego Whale Watch, Hornblower Cruises, H&M Landing, Sail San Diego, Flagship Cruises and a host of other local companies offer whale watching tours.

Hornblower Cruises sail on large yachts and visitors receive live narration on whales from the captain and trained naturalists from the San Diego Natural History Museum. Their 3.5-hour cruises offer hot food, a full bar and souvenirs. They give free cruises for visitors who don’t spot a whale the first time.

San Diego Whale Watch takes guests out to sea on the Privateer, the only boat in San Diego used solely for whale watching. They are the only San Diego company to gives whale tours all year long, and they give a free cruise if guests don’t see a whale or dolphin on their initial trip.

H&M Landing, in the whale watching business since 1953, offer three and five-hour tours with a hot food and beverage service while guests listen to a narrative on whales.

Sail San Diego’s captains are trained naturalists. Their three and a half hour tours accommodate small groups and they offer hot beverages during the journey.

Flagship Cruises gives educational tours led by an expert naturalist from Birch Aquarium. They guarantee a whale sighting or guests ride free again.

Whales generally travel alone or in pods of two or three, but may be seen in groups during peak migration times according to the Birch Aquarium.

The Gray Whales' migration season lasts from mid-December until April with peak migration in the middle of January.

Blue Whale Watching is from the middle of June until September.
 

The Boston Globe said Sunday it was throwing its support behind Hillary Clinton for the upcoming primary in New Hampshire.

The newspaper said it “enthusiastically endorses” Clinton, calling her “seasoned” and “more grounded.”

“The best reason to support Clinton isn’t the weaknesses of her opponents; it’s her demonstrated strengths and experience,” the newspaper wrote.

Clinton and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders have been running a tight race, with former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley trailing in third place for the Democratic nomination.

According to an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll published on Jan. 7, Sanders was leading in New Hampshire with 50 percent support, just four points ahead of Clinton, who had 46 percent. O'Malley had only gained 1 percent in the poll 

Sanders’ place in the race, though, isn’t a problem for Clinton, according to the newspaper’s editorial board. Sanders' emphasis on income inequality in this year’s race, it said, gives Clinton a chance “to champion for working people who are struggling in a changing economy.”

The newspaper also referenced attacks over her e-mails, Benghazi and Bill Clinton’s sex life made by her Republican rivals.

“Even after 25 years in the limelight, her opponents still don’t seem to understand how much stronger those attacks make her,” it said.

This is the second newspaper backing Clinton in the last two days.

On Saturday, the Des Moines Register endorsed the former secretary of state for the Democratic nomination. Iowa's largest newspaper called her an “outstanding candidate” who “has demonstrated that she is a thoughtful, hardworking public servant who has earned the respect of leaders at home and abroad.”

The newspaper also endorsed Maro Rubio as the Republican candidate. 

The New Hampshire primary takes place on Feb. 9. The polls close at 8 p.m. ET.