Skyfall: The first blizzard of a late East Coast winter delivered on its promise of a crippling snowfall. Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York were buried under snow.

New York’s Central Park had 26.8 inches of snow by midnight, but some of the heaviest snowfall was west of Baltimore … up to 42 in inches.

Describing the blizzard as “one of the worst snowstorms in New York City history,” New York Mayor Bill de Blasio ordered all vehicles off the city streets and advised businesses, restaurants and the theaters to close. Broadway shut down. All train service in and out of New York was cancelled and all non-emergency travel was banned.

The mayor of Washington, DC said, “There are too many people on the streets both driving and walking. We need you to stay home.”

More than 10,000 flights were cancelled over the weekend, including all flights in and out of Philadelphia. An 85-mile stretch of the Pennsylvania Turnpike was closed.

The storm brought an unusually high tide and flooding in the streets of Atlantic City, Wildwood, Cape May, and Ocean City in New Jersey. Parts of Barnegat were under mandatory evacuation and floating ice lapped at the front steps of homes in Margate.

Major power outages were reported in the Carolinas and New Jersey. Several thousand drivers were snowed in on a major Kentucky highway Friday night and yesterday morning.

The digout begins today.

Politics: The New York Times and CNN report that former NY Mayor Michael Bloomberg is looking at what he considers a dismal field of candidates and is considering an independent run for President. CNN cites a source telling them that Bloomberg commissioned a poll to find out how he would fare as an independent candidate.

Puerto Rico: Talks to restructure the $9 billion debt of Puerto Rico’s power company collapsed, setting up the possibility of an enormous default. The power company, Prepa, is one of the largest single debtors in Puerto Rico’s $72 billion debt. Prepa doesn’t take in enough income to cover its expenses.

50 Yard Line: The AFC Denver Broncos play the New England Patriots today in what is likely to be the last time Denver quarterback Peyton Manning goes against New England’s Tom Brady.

In the NFC, the undefeated Carolina Panthers host the Arizona Cardinals. The Panthers’ quarterback Cam Newton, threw 35 touchdown passes and ran for 10 this season.

The winners of the two games go to the Super Bowl. Patriots/Broncos 3:40 PM EST; Cardinals/Panthers 6:40 PM.

The Funny Papers: Tina Fey returned to Saturday Night Live as Sarah Palin last night to endorse Donald Trump for president and lobby for a job: “I belong in a cabinet because I’m full of spice and got a great rack.”

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