16-year-old Luke Littler is in the darts world championship final

A 16-year-old is making waves at the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Darts Championship at the Alexandra Palace in London.

Luke Littler took down two-time European Championship winner Rob Cross in order to secure a spot in the World Championship Finals.

When did Littler start playing darts?

Casually? Probably as soon as he developed motor function.

But competitively, Littler won the England Youth Grand Prix and Isle of Man Masters youth competition in 2019. He was even able to defend his title in the latter of those events in 2020.

Littler won his first seniors title in November 2022, claiming first place at the Irish Open.

How did Littler qualify for the PDC World Championship?

Littler qualified for the event based on his production in the PDC Development Tour. He actually set two records on tour, including youngest winner and highest average score for a first-year member.

During the PDC Championship, Littler has been able to take down multiple champions including five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld and 2023 UK Open champion Andrew Gilding.

Rob Cross, Littler's semi-final matchup, was the highest-rated player that Littler had ever faced. He beat him 6-2.

Who will Littler face in the finals?

The finals, set for January 3, 2024, will be between Littler and 2023 World Grand Prix champion Luke Humphries. Humphries is also the reigning Players Champion. Humphries took down Michael van Gerwen to claim victory in that event.

Ironically, van Gerwen is the current record holder for the youngest PDC World Championship title holder. He won his first world championship in 2014 at the age of 24. Littler, should he win, would blow that record out of the water.

Has Littler participated in any other major tournaments?

Littler participated in two World Darts Federation (WDF) events back in 2022. Littler did not win either event though. He was eliminated in the third round of both the World Championship and the World Masters.

NFL News:Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper fined by NFL for throwing drink into stands


Storm Ciarán batters France, UK with powerful winds, flooding

At least seven people were killed, more than 1 million households were in the dark, and trees were toppled as Storm Ciarán brought winds of over 100 mph to Western Europe overnight into Thursday.

Winds of up to 118 mph battered the northern tip of France’s Atlantic coast, blowing out windows and uprooting trees that blocked roads, and massive waves slammed French ports and shorelines.

More than 1 million French households were without power Thursday, and electrical company Enedis said 3,000 workers were needed to restore services. Thousands more people lost power in the United Kingdom.

The storm snarled transportation systems: Local trains across western France canceled service, and all roads in the Finistère region of Brittany were closed Thursday morning. Several trains and flights were canceled in Spain.

"We see how roads can be fatal in these circumstances," Transport Minister Clement Beaune told broadcaster France-Info.

Hundreds of schools were shuttered Thursday in Cornwall and Devon, coastal communities in southwest England where flooding and downed trees blocked commutes.

Ciarán will continue to affect Western Europe through the end of the week, and the heaviest rainfall was expected across northwestern Spain, the southwestern and northern coast of France and parts of northern Italy, according to AccuWeather.

Officials say 7 killed in storm

Officials in multiple Western European countries said at least seven people were killed in the storm as of Thursday.

A truck driver in northern France was killed when his truck was hit by a tree, Beaune said. In Spain, emergency services in Madrid said a woman died when a tree fell on her Thursday. A tree that fell in Ghent, Belgium, killed two people at a park, including a 5-year-old. Also in Ghent, a 64-year-old German tourist was killed by a falling branch.

Another falling tree fatally injured a 46-year-old woman in the Harz mountains in northern Germany. A 70-year-old man in Normandy died in a fall from his balcony; a local news report quoted a prosecutor saying he appeared to be closing his shutters when he fell around noon on Thursday during a gust of wind.

Several others have been injured, including at least seven emergency workers in western and northern France, officials said.

What's causing the severe wind storm?

A branch of the jet stream – a consistent band of strong wind high above the Earth's surface flowing west to east – heading toward northern Europe is causing the weather, meteorologist and Yale Climate Connections writer Bob Henson told The Associated Press.

The band is arcing southward from its origin point high above eastern Canada, intensifying a low-pressure area and spawning the storm, he said. The storm is caused by an interaction between what’s going on near the surface and a few miles above ground.

Henson said Ciarán was looking like a "once-in-every-few-years storm" that could turn into a "once-in-a-generation storm."

Damage from heavier rainfall associated with such storms and rising sea levels are a result of climate change, Friederike Otto, of Imperial College London’s Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment, told the outlet.

Contributing: The Associated Press

Almost 5,000 US flights canceled this weekend as winter storm ...

New York CNN Business —

Airlines have canceled thousands of flights this weekend as a powerful winter storm packing strong winds and many inches of snow is set to envelop major cities on the East Coast.

According to FlightAware, nearly 5,000 flights within, into or out of the United States were canceled through Saturday and as of 9 AM Sunday, with East Coast hubs being the most affected. On Saturday alone more than 3,500 US flights were canceled.

Boston’s Logan airport, which is a hub city for JetBlue and Delta Air Lines (DAL), has seen 500 cancellations this weekend. About 15% of JetBlue’s schedule has been axed Sunday, though it’s an improvement from the 70% of its schedule that was canceled on Saturday. About 18% of American’s schedule and 22% of United’s (UAL) schedule for Saturday were also canceled.

Republic Airways, a feeder carrier that operates flights under the names American Eagle, Delta Connection, and United Express, canceled 60% of its schedule Saturday.

Read more: What should I do if my flight has been canceled or delayed?

New York City airports, including John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia, have more than 1,500 cancellations on Saturday and Sunday combined. Both of those airports have sizable operations for Delta, JetBlue and American (AAL). Newark Liberty in New Jersey, which is United’s hub, had 383 cancellations this weekend.

Delta, JetBlue and United all have issued waivers allowing travelers flying from multiple East Coast airports to rebook without paying any difference in fare.

“Delta’s meteorology team in the airline’s operation and customer center will continue to monitor the winter weather and make tactical adjustments as needed,” the airline said.

An American Airlines spokesperson said that the storm is “expected to have a significant impact on our Northeast operation, especially at Boston Logan International Airport.”

On Friday, more than 1,400 cancellations were recorded, most of them at Chicago O’Hare.

The path of this weekend’s Nor’easter is becoming clearer as 75 million people from the Southeast to New England may face dangerously heavy snow and winds approaching hurricane intensity with the potential to knock out power, flood coastal areas and severely impair travel, forecasts show.

The storm is expected to unleash a double whammy of heavy snowfall and strong winds throughout parts of the Northeast, but the exact impact across the region remains in question.

“This storm is likely to strengthen at a rate, and to an intensity, equivalent to only the most powerful hurricanes, so the high-end potential of this storm cannot be overstated,” CNN meteorologist Brandon Miller said. “But with nor’easters, like in real estate, it will all come down to location, location, location.”

It’s been a miserable few weeks to be an airline traveler. Winter weather and Omicron surges left 20,000 US flights canceled over the busy holiday travel season. As travel picked up, staffing cuts also left airlines with fewer employees than they had before the pandemic.

Nationwide winter storm set to bring everything from blizzard ...

CNN —

A large winter storm slammed into the western US over the weekend, blanketing mountain areas with heavy snow, and is now set to traverse the nation, threatening dangerous blizzard conditions, strong tornadoes, and flooding this week.

“This winter storm is a true coast-to-coast, top-to-bottom impact that will be felt by every person in the country at some point this week,” CNN Meteorologist Brandon Miller said.

The storm already brought avalanche warnings to parts of the West, shutting down major highways as conditions became icy.

Almost 15 million people in over a dozen states are under some level of winter weather alert as the powerful storm moves across the county, bringing with it a multiday severe storm threat.

Sign up to receive weekly email updates from CNN Meteorologists.

Blinding blizzard conditions

The storm will strengthen as it travels eastward, bringing snow to the Rockies tonight, where a foot of snow is expected before the system strengthens even more.

The Upper Midwest, and northern and central Plains will get hit the hardest Monday night into Tuesday as widespread heavy snow falls.

“Snow accumulations through Tuesday morning will generally range between 6 to 12 inches, centered on the Northern High Plains,” the US weather prediction center said. “The highest snow totals are currently forecast for western South Dakota and northwestern Nebraska, where upwards of 18 to 24 inches is possible.”

Meanwhile, a widespread area from eastern Wyoming and Colorado to western South Dakota and Nebraska will also have winds gusts as high as 60 mph. Heavy snowfall and strong winds will set the stage for a blizzard, leading to whiteout conditions and impossible travel.

Blizzard conditions are when there are sustained winds of 35 mph or higher and visibility below a quarter mile for at least three consecutive hours.

Winter storm alerts stretch from the Canadian border to the Mexican border and blizzard warnings extend from just west of Denver into the Dakotas.

“All preparations for this storm should be well underway and completed sooner rather than later,” the National Weather Service office in Rapid City said.

Some locales inside the blizzard warning areas could pick up as much as 20 inches of snow. The winds could be strong enough to knock down tree limbs and cause power outages, and the harsh conditions could be deadly for anyone outdoors.

“The cold wind chills, as low as 20 below zero, could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes,” the weather service office in Cheyenne, Wyoming, said.

Farther east, ice warnings blanket eastern North Dakota, where nearly half an inch of ice could accumulate. If it materializes, power outages are certain and travel will be impossible.

Icing is also possible across southwestern Minnesota and western Iowa, where as much as a tenth of an inch of ice could develop.

Even Anchorage schools are closed

While the Anchorage school district builds two snow days into the calendar, the system has been closed for four.

“It’s very unusual. Unsafe road conditions have prevented us from returning to school,” Anchorage School District spokesperson MJ Thim said.

The current snow depth in Anchorage, Alaska, is 31 inches, making it the greatest since March 27, 2012, according to a tweet from Alaska climate scientist Brian Brettschneider.

Between 12 and 24 inches of snow fell in the region Sunday into Monday morning, according to the National Weather Service. It was second significant snow storm in less than a week.

Thim said officials are looking at their options, including remote learning, depending on future snowfall totals.

Multiday severe storm threat

While the storm brings whiteout conditions to the North, the southern section of the storm will have the potential to bring late-season tornadoes along with strong thunderstorms.

On Monday evening, storms will fire up across western Kansas, as well as across portions of Texas and Oklahoma. The Storm Prediction Center is expecting storms to rapidly develop tonight, after dark.

A Level 2 of 5 risk of severe weather has been issued for the area, including Oklahoma City and Norman in Oklahoma as well as Colby and Garden City in Kansas, and Wichita Falls in Texas.

“Occasional damaging winds, isolated large hail, and a couple of tornadoes will be possible tonight,” the Storm Prediction Center said.

Track the storms as they develop here.

As the storm system strengthens and pushes eastward on Tuesday, the possibility of damaging winds, hail, flash flooding and even strong tornadoes will be a concern for portions of the Deep South, especially central Louisiana and eastern Texas.

“All modes of severe will be possible with damaging winds, hail and some more late fall tornadoes,” the weather service office in Shreveport said.

Shreveport, Monroe and Alexandria in Louisiana are in a Level 3 of 5 risk for severe weather. Dallas, Fort Worth, and New Orleans are under a Level 2 risk.

Jennifer Gray Haley Brink
Jennifer Gray
Haley Brink

1,200 US flights canceled Monday as winter storm pummels East ...

New York CNN Business —

US airlines have canceled more than 1,200 flights Monday as a powerful winter storm packing rain, sleet and snow slammed the East Coast on the holiday weekend and made travel difficult. On Sunday, roughly 3,000 flights were canceled.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina, an American Airlines (AAL) hub, continues to be the hardest hit. More than 400 flights were canceled there Monday and 85 delays were reported according to flight tracking site FlightAware. The airline preemptively canceled 1,100 flights Sunday across its mainline and regional operations after canceling 90 Saturday.

“This weekend’s winter storm is expected to have a significant impact on our operation, especially at Charlotte International Airport,” American said in a statement. It also issued a travel notice allowing customers affected by the weather to rebook flights without a fee.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is the second-most affected airport, with 38 cancellations reported Monday.

A massive storm system slammed the eastern United States and the Midwest over the weekend. There were reports of crippling ice in parts of Georgia, Virginia and the Carolinas on Sunday. The governors of those states have declared emergencies.

Monday is Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, a federal holiday, and many schools and offices were closed.

American isn’t the only carrier canceling flights. As of 8 am ET Monday, Southwest (LUV) canceled 72 flights, according to FlightAware, while Delta Air Lines (DAL) canceled 37 flights. JetBlue (JBLU) canceled 49 flights and 82 flights on United have been axed.

It’s been a miserable few weeks to be an airline traveler. Winter weather and Omicron surges left 20,000 US flights canceled over the busy holiday travel season. As travel picked up, staffing cuts also left airlines with fewer employees than they had before the pandemic.

–CNN Business’ Ramishah Maruf contributed to this report.

At least 5 tornadoes confirmed in Texas as storms roll through ...

CNN —

At least five tornadoes were confirmed in Texas during a storm outbreak Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service in Fort Worth.

Three of the tornadoes were in Tarrant County, with the strongest having an EF-1 rating. One damage track was seen in the city of Grapevine, near the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

The weather service said there was also an EF-2 tornado with 125 mph winds in Wise County, as well a tornado just west of the city of Paris. Damage surveys will be conducted in those communities Wednesday. Based on radar and damage reports, the National Weather Service said there could have been as many as 12 tornadoes in Texas Tuesday that they have not yet confirmed.

The storms have carved a path of destruction across Oklahoma and the Dallas-Fort Worth area Tuesday and injured at least seven people. They’re part of a larger storm system that threatens more damage in the South and blizzard conditions in states farther north.

The giant winter storm system is pushing through the central US after walloping the West. And about 10 million people – largely in the north-central US – are under winter-weather warnings or advisories Tuesday, with blowing snow and power outages a key concern.

A “one-in-five-year storm” worked its way through parts of Nebraska Tuesday and is expected to linger in the area through the end of the week, according to the NWS metrologist Bill Taylor. Blizzard warnings are in place throughout parts of the state and the state’s Department of Transportation said several roadways are closed, including all roadways from Nebraska into Colorado.

“If your destination is west, please delay those plans and adjust accordingly!” the department tweeted.

More than 18 million people from Texas to Mississippi are under threat of severe storms Tuesday, including tornadoes.

In Caddo Parish, Louisiana, which includes Shreveport, authorities are performing a search and rescue operation after a strong storm moved through Tuesday afternoon. The storms resulted in one woman being sent to the hospital and two people are currently missing, the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office said on their Facebook page.

“Several structures were damaged. Electrical lines and trees were also knocked down,” the sheriff’s office said. “Caddo deputies, K-9 teams, fireman, and volunteers are searching through debris and the area for the missing people. Caddo deputies continue to check the welfare of citizens from house to house.”

Authorities are “in search and rescue operations of a subdivision that contains approximately 40 homes,” Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office Homeland Security Deputy Director Robert Jump tells CNN.

In a Facebook post Tuesday evening, the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office asked anyone concerned with missing people to contact their dispatch.

Belinda Penner carries belongings from her cousin's home that was destroyed by a tornado on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, in Wayne, Oklahoma. Sue Ogrocki/AP

A tornado watch is in effect for northeast Louisiana, southwest Arkansas and western Mississippi until 2 a.m. CST, according to the Storm Prediction Center. This watch covers more than 1.5 million people and includes Shreveport and Alexandria, Louisiana.

“A few tornadoes and a couple intense tornadoes [are] possible,” the Storm Prediction Center said. Additionally, damaging winds up to 70 mph are also possible.

Damage on Tuesday includes:

• Grapevine, Texas: At least one tornado was reported in this city just outside Dallas Tuesday morning, the National Weather Service said, and storms left at least five people there injured, Grapevine police said. Details about the injuries weren’t immediately available.

Businesses including a Grapevine mall, a Sam’s Club and a Walmart were damaged, police said. A gas station was destroyed, and drivers on one road were forced to share a single lane because downed trees and other debris blocked parts of the thoroughfare, motorist Claudio Ropain David told CNN.

A storm damaged Bertha Gonzalez's home on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, near Decatur, Texas. Rebecca Slezak/The Dallas Morning News/AP

• Elsewhere outside Dallas: At least two people were injured, and homes and businesses were damaged, as severe weather hit east of Paradise and south of Decatur in Wise County on Tuesday morning, northwest of Fort Worth, county officials said.

One person was hurt when wind overturned their vehicle, and the other – also in a vehicle – was hurt by flying debris, the Wise County emergency management office said. One was taken to a hospital, the office said without elaborating.

A damaged home is seen Tuesday morning in Parker, Texas, outside Dallas. KTVT

High winds also damaged homes and trees near Callisburg north of Dallas, blew over tractor-trailers near the towns of Millsap and Weatherford; and damaged barns near the town of Jacksboro, the National Weather Service said.

• Wayne, Oklahoma: A confirmed EF2 tornado in that town knocked out power and damaged homes, outbuildings and barns early Tuesday, officials said, adding no injuries were reported. Homes were flattened or had roofs torn off, and trees were snapped like twigs, video from CNN affiliate KOCO showed.

The storm that rocked Wayne was on the ground for at least 3 miles with 120-125 mph winds, the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma, said.

More severe storms capable of tornadoes, as well as hail and damaging winds are expected Tuesday and Wednesday in the Gulf Coast region as the complex snow-or-rain system sweeps through the central US from north to south.

A home sits in shambles Tuesday in Wayne, Oklahoma, after a tornado reportedly struck. KOCO

Blizzard and ice warnings in the north-central US

Across the central and northern Plains and Upper Midwest, heavy, blowing snow and/or freezing rain into Thursday could snarl travel and threaten power outages.

Blizzard warnings – forecasting at least three hours of sustained winds or frequent gusts at 35 mph or greater during considerable snowfall and poor visibility – extended Tuesday from parts of Montana and Wyoming into northeastern Colorado, western Nebraska and South Dakota.

Blizzard conditions were being reported in the morning and early afternoon near the Colorado-Kansas state line. Visibility along Interstate 70 in that area was down to 100 feet, a Kansas Highway Patrol spokesman said on Twitter.

Snowfall through Wednesday morning generally could be 10 to 18 inches in the central and northern Plains and Upper Midwest. Some areas inside the blizzard warning zones – particularly western South Dakota, eastern Wyoming and northwestern Nebraska – could get as many as 24 inches of snow, with winds strong enough to knock down tree limbs and cause power outages, the Weather Prediction Center said.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem announced Tuesday that all state government executive branch offices statewide will be closed Tuesday due to the winter storm.

Most state offices in South Dakota will be closed again Wednesday and state workers who are normally in the offices affected will be working remotely, the governor’s office said.

State offices will be reopening Wednesday in 11 southeast counties that have less severe travel conditions.

“Officials continue to closely monitor the storm which features heavy snow, freezing rain, and high winds,” the governor’s office said. “A decision on state government office availability for Thursday will be made Wednesday.”

Parts of Wyoming have reported snow accumulations between 1 and 2 feet, according to the National Weather Service. The state’s Department of Transportation on Tuesday said wintry weather is impacting roadways throughout the entire state.

“Not a single green stretch of road in the state,” the department said in a Facebook post. “Strong winds, blowing snow, whiteout conditions and slick spots are impacting routes statewide (and in some neighboring states!)”

The Wyoming Highway Patrol also advised motorists to be aware of road conditions, as “many roads across Wyoming are currently closed due to crashes and winter conditions.”

In Sidney, Nebraska, winds whipped Tuesday morning at 53 mph, CNN meteorologist Chad Myers said, “and then you add in the snow, visibility is a quarter mile.”

Interstates in South Dakota could become impassable amid the blizzard conditions, resulting in roadway closures across the state, the South Dakota Department of Transportation warned Monday.

Ice storm warnings were issued for parts of eastern South Dakota. Up to two-tenths of an inch of ice could accumulate in some of these areas, forecasters said.

Wintry precipitation “will begin to spread eastward over the Upper Great Lakes late Tuesday and Wednesday and into the Northeast late Wednesday as the storm system continues eastward,” the prediction center said.

Freezing rain and sleet, meanwhile, will be possible through Wednesday in the Upper Midwest.

More tornadoes are a threat on the storm’s southern end

Meanwhile, the southern end of the storm threatens to bring more tornadoes.

Be prepared for severe weather and tornadoes • Know where to find your daily local forecast • Set devices to receive storm and tornado warnings via Wireless Emergency Alerts • Bookmark and tune into NOAA Weather Radio and your local news stations

An alert for enhanced risk of severe weather – level 3 of 5 – was issued Tuesday for eastern Texas and the lower Mississippi River Valley, with the main threats including powerful tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail. Baton Rouge, Shreveport, and Lafayette, Louisiana, are part of the threatened area, as is Jackson, Mississippi.

“My main concern with the tornadoes is going to be after dark,” Myers said Tuesday. “We have very short days this time of year, so 5 or 6 o’clock, it’s going to be dark out there. Spotters aren’t as accurate when it is dark. Tornado warnings are a little bit slow; if you’re sleeping, you may not get them. So, that’s the real danger with this storm.”

"Everything was calm, and then I just saw a huge wall cloud," said Darrell Barton of the storm effect he spotted early Tuesday around Decatur, Texas. "The rain and lightning was insane." Darrell Barton/B-Safe shelters

A zone of slight risk – level 2 of 5 – encircled that area, stretching from eastern Texas and southern Oklahoma to southern Arkansas and much of the rest of Louisiana, including New Orleans, and central Mississippi.

Tuesday also brings a slight risk of excessive rainfall in parts of Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi, with 2 to 4 inches of rain and flash flooding possible, the Weather Prediction Center said.

On Wednesday, the threat for severe weather is largely focused on the Gulf Coast, with tornadoes and damaging winds possible over parts of southern Louisiana, Mississippi, southwest Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle, the Storm Prediction Center said.

In Mississippi, the Meridian Public School District – which serves over 4,900 students – announced they will be closed Wednesday due to the threat of severe weather. Meridian is about 86 miles east of Jackson.

“All schools, offices, and departments in the Meridian Public School District will be closed on Wednesday, December 14, 2022, due to the threat of 70 mph winds and possible tornadoes throughout the day on Wednesday, December 14, 2022. All extracurricular activities and practices are also canceled for December 14, 2022,” the school district said in a message on Facebook.

The Lawrence County and McComb School Districts also announced they were closing Wednesday due to the threat of severe weather.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency also noted the severe weather expected in the state and asked residents to prepare.

“With severe weather expected throughout Mississippi tonight and tomorrow, please review your severe weather preparedness checklist to make sure you are ready for the storms,” the agency said in a message on Twitter.

Amir Vera Jason Hanna Monica Garrett
Amir Vera
Jason Hanna
Monica Garrett

The most extreme weather events in 2021 | The Week

This year was regarded by scientists, politicians and environmentalists as pivotal in the global effort to take action on climate change.

Stark warnings and alarming forecasts were issued, as regions that were previously not considered to be on the frontline of climate change saw unprecedented weather events destroy homes and claim lives. As mercury levels in Moscow hit record-breaking highs in June, the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned that the world was reaching a “point of no return”

In August, Boris Johnson described the latest global assessment from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as a “wake-up call to the world”. The “most comprehensive” climate report from the panel issued a “code red for humanity”, said The Independent, and stated the link between global warming and the increased rate and severity of extreme weather events.

Subscribe to The Week Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives. SUBSCRIBE & SAVE Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox. From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up

Climate scientist Professor Hannah Cloke said that this year’s extreme weather events “ought to serve as a canary in the coal mine to spur faster action to adapt society to the reality of a changing climate”.

Here are some of the most costly weather incidents recorded so far this year.

1. Record-breaking snowfall, Madrid

(Image credit: Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)

In the first weeks of 2021, Storm Filomena brought record-breaking levels of snow for Madrid and elderly Spanish citizens were warned to stay at home as temperatures plummeted. The heaviest snow for 50 years brought transport in and out of the city to a “standstill”, Euronews reported. The snowstorm caused around €1.4bn (£1.2bn) of damage, The New York Times said.

2. Storm Christoph, UK

(Image credit: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)

The period from 18 to 20 January 2021 was “one of the wettest three-day periods on record” for North Wales and North-West England, according to the Met Office. Homes in Cheshire were flooded, and residents were evacuated from homes in Manchester and Merseyside. Once Storm Christoph cleared, significant snowfall also led to travel disruption with icy conditions and road closures. Liberal Democrat councillor Richard Kilpatrick told the Manchester Evening News the atmosphere was one of “anxiety and disbelief”.

3. Cyclone Ana, Fiji

(Image credit: Leon Lord/AFP via Getty Images)

Cyclone Ana “pummelled” Fiji towards the end of January, “just a month after category 5 Cyclone Yasa tore through the country’s northern islands”, The Guardian said. Satyendra Prasad, Fiji’s ambassador to the United Nations, said the cyclone – which caused more than 10,000 people to take refuge in 318 evacuation centres across the country – had left behind “a difficult recovery”.

4. Winter storms, Texas

(Image credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

The Week US reported that 3.5 million businesses and homes were left without power in February as temperatures dropped to -13℃ in some areas of Texas. Power went out across the state, leaving many vulnerable people in extremely cold conditions. The total death toll rose from 151 to 210 in July, after a decision was made to include deaths caused by the collapse of the state electric power grid in the final count, The Guardian reported.

5. Dust storm, China

(Image credit: Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Flights were grounded and schools shut in what the South China Morning post reported as the worst sandstorm in a decade. But what was widely reported as a sandstorm in China was, in fact, a dust storm - “and that’s much worse”, said The Conversation. The miniscule particles can travel “much, much further” than sand, and can cause health risks if they are “drawn deep into the lungs”. In Beijing, the sky became orange as dust and pollution caused hazardous air quality.

6. Flooding, New South Wales

(Image credit: Jenny Evans/Getty Images)

In March, Sydney and New South Wales (NSW) residents felt the effects of extreme flooding. The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) urged residents to take care of both their physical and mental health as heavy downpours lead to rivers and dams overflowing, with thousands evacuated from their homes.

7. Cyclone Seroja

(Image credit: Alfred Ike Wurin/AFP via Getty Images)

In April 160 people died in Indonesia after a tropical cyclone “hit a remote cluster of islands”, Climate Home News reported. Landslides and flash floods displaced at least 22,000 people, the news site adds. Reaching Western Australia days after it made landfall in Indonesia, residents in the town of Kalbarri, north of Perth, said the storm was “absolutely terrifying”, the BBC reported. Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan said Cyclone Seroja was "like nothing we have seen before in decades”.

8. Record temperatures, Moscow

(Image credit: Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP via Getty Images)

As temperatures reached 34.8℃ in Moscow, “the absolute record for any day in June was hit”, The Moscow Times reported. The “abnormal temperatures” of the “record-breaking heatwave” weren’t just recorded in the capital; Penza, Vologda and Petrozavodsk also broke heat records during the month.

9. Heat dome, Pacific Northwest

(Image credit: Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

Soaring temperatures across the Northwest United States “rewrote the record books” this year, National Geographic reported. The “heat dome” was the “most dramatic example” of an extreme weather event, said The Guardian’s global environment editor Jonathan Watts, and the meteorological phenomenon led to evacuations across states that weren’t “remotely prepared for the heat”. Lytton, a village in Canada’s British Columbia, was “engulfed and largely destroyed by a wildfire” as a result of the temperatures, National Geographic continued.

Blistering Pacific Northwest temperatures should act as a wake-up call

10. Bootleg fire, Oregon

(Image credit: Payton Bruni/AFP via Getty Images)

A “heavier-than-normal start to the US wildfire season” saw “one of the largest blazes in Oregon’s history” consume more than 364,000 acres of land, the BBC reported in July. More than 2,000 firefighters tackled the wildfire, which took more than a month to contain. The fire “generated its own weather system”, noted Oregon Live, and thousands of homes were threatened by the blaze, which saw residents temporarily housed in evacuation centres in the state.

11. Flooding, west Germany

(Image credit: Christof Stache/AFP via Getty Images)

Floods destroyed homes and bridges along the River Ahr in July, while in the German village of Schuld, water “engulfed streets and swallowed homes” CNN reported. Victims will be supported by a government-approved €400 million recovery package, as ministers have promised to move quickly on rebuilding affected areas, Euronews reported. A study by World Weather Attribution found that this event was between 1.2 and nine times more likely to happen in 2021 compared to pre-industrial periods.

12. Flooding, China

(Image credit: STR/AFP via Getty Images)

More than 300 people died when China’s Henan province experienced severe rainfall and flooding in July. Twelve people lost their lives in a Zhengzhou metro train, with survivors describing how water leaked through the carriage’s doors until it became difficult to breathe. While the country typically experiences flooding in the summer months, this year’s occurrence was “exacerbated by rapid urbanisation, conversion of farmland and the worsening climate crisis, as well as overwhelmed flood mitigation systems,” The Guardian reported.

13. Wildfires, Greece

(Image credit: Angelos Tzortzinis/AFP via Getty Images)

Huge wildfires “ravaged” large regions of southern Europe in August, claiming lives in Greece, Turkey and Italy, The Guardian reported. The blaze came as a heatwave swept the region, and Greece’s second largest island - Evia - was evacuated. Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis apologised for the blazes, and said that more than 580 fires have broken out in the past seven days. More than 20 countries offered to send firefighting resources, and the “camaraderie” that’s developed between Greek and British firefighters “is testament to the scale of the job before them”, Sky News reports.

14. Hurricane Ida, US

(Image credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

More than one million homes and businesses were left without power in the southern US states of Louisiana and Mississippi after Hurricane Ida made landfall on 29 August, the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Ida hit with maximum sustained winds of 150mph. It was later downgraded to a tropical depression, and moved from a category four storm to category one. “Katrina followed a similar trajectory”, Sky News said. In the following days, Storm Ida moved up the northern-eastern coast of America. Subway stations and roads were flooded in New York, where the lives of at least nine people - including that of a two-year-old boy - were claimed by the storm. For communities in New Orleans, Ida has brought “painful reminders of the death and devastation” caused by the 2006 hurricane which killed more than 1,800 people, The New York Times reported.

15. Monsoon floods, India and Nepal

(Image credit: AFP via Getty Images)

Several Nepalese regions and two Indian states were hit by “heavy late monsoon rains” in October, Reuters reported. “Deadly flash floods” took the lives of more than 180 people as “homes were submerged or crushed by rocks”, said the BBC. The Nepalese government committed to giving each of the victims’ families $1,700 (£1,220) in response.

The unseasonal rainfall was attributed to the climate crisis, but some experts indicated that hydro-power projects in the Himalayas, and “excessive and often unchecked construction on steep slopes”, had contributed to the damage caused to the region’s “fragile ecology”, said the broadcaster.

16. Tornadoes, Kentucky

Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

Joe Biden said that Kentucky had experienced “one of the largest tornado outbreaks in US history”. More than 30 tornadoes “tore through” Kentucky and seven other states, claiming the lives of at least 90 people, and leaving thousands of residents homeless, said Sky News.

The state’s governor, Andy Beshear, said that this was “the most devastating, most deadly tornado event in Kentucky’s history”.

Two brothers, aged 15 months and three months old, were placed in a bathtub before being carried away by the severe winds. Their grandmother, Clara Lutz, later learned that both boys had been found alive in her garden under the upturned bath.

Biden’s infrastructure bill has allocated billions of dollars to climate resilience projects, in the hope of strengthening infrastructure and defence against future extreme weather events.

17. Typhoons, Philippines

The Philippine Red Cross described “complete carnage” in coastal areas of the country after Super Typhoon Rai “sent some 400,000 people running for safety” on 16 December, said the BBC. Thousands of military and service personnel were working to assist with search and rescue efforts in the worst-hit areas.

Winds of around 120mph ripped through the nation’s south-eastern islands, injuring at least 500 people. A further 375 people are known to have died. “There are some areas that look like it has been bombed worse than World War Two,” Red Cross chair Richard Gordon told the BBC.

Julia O'Driscoll
The Week Uk
Last Updated
Catherine Garcia
The Week Us
Devika Rao
Richard Windsor
Rebekah Evans
Social Links Navigation

National Weather Service warns of winter storm: Weekend US forecast

Millions of Americans, including those in California, Idaho and Maine, have been warned of winter weather danger this weekend as power outages plague states in the East from Alabama to New York after a deadly outbreak of severe weather.

Northern California residents already socked by snow will get more on Saturday.

A powerful winter storm that pummeled the Midwest this week will set its sights on the Northeast.

Another winter storm is headed for parts of the Midwest, but much of the southern Midwest and Plains states can expect a fairly tranquil weekend.

This comes in the days after a multistate severe weather outbreak slammed wide swaths of the South and Midwest with tornadoes, fierce winds and flash floods, killing at least 10 people and injuring several others. Cleanup had begun in those areas while tens of thousands were also left without power, and heavy winds and tornadoes damaged buildings, especially in Alabama, Louisiana, Kentucky, Arkansas and Texas.

Here's what you need to know about this weekend's weather:

The West

A winter storm warning is in effect for a large swath of northern and central California on Saturday and Sunday as storm-weary Southern California is mostly spared by the weekend storm.

The Sierra Nevada, including the Lake Tahoe region, is expected to be hardest hit, with 1 to 2 feet of snow accumulations expected at lower elevations and 2 to 4 feet above 7,000 feet. Winds could gust as high as 50 mph, with up to 100 mph along the Sierra crest.

"If you come to the Sierra this weekend, you may not be able to leave for a while," the National Weather Service warned. "If you become stuck in your vehicle, rescue may be significantly delayed."

Some areas around Lake Tahoe have recorded over 50 feet of snow this year since the first of October, according to Shawn Carter, a physical scientist at the National Water Center.

That same storm is expected to bring snow or rain to parts of eastern Oregon and Washington, with accumulations between 5 and 12 inches in places like Toutle, Ariel and Lake Merwin, and more like 2 inches in places including Lower Columbia, Oregon.

California residents snowed in after heavy snowfall

Authorities said some residents in the mountains east of Los Angeles may be stranded in their homes for at least another week as plows struggle against back-to-back snowstorms.

As the San Bernardino Mountains were slammed with waves of heavy snowfall starting late last week, residents have been left stranded without power, with collapsed roofs and running out of necessities like food and medicine. The National Guard was deployed to 13 California counties to aid recovery, but crews are struggling to clear roads and bring aid.

"I feel like I'm never going to get out of here," Marcia Woloshun, a resident of Running Springs in the San Bernardino Mountains, told USA TODAY on Friday.

STILL DIGGING OUT:After epic California storm, towns remain snowed in

Many without power in Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee

Hundreds of thousands of households remained without power in Kentucky, Tennessee and Michigan on Saturday morning as a powerful winter storm made its way across the country. Power outages also impacted Alabama, West Virginia, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and New York as the storm moved east.

In New York’s capital region of Albany, crews worked to restore power to nearly 20,000 customers as heavy, damp snow snapped tree branches.

US weather watches and warnings

The Northeast

A powerful storm that tore through the Midwest hit the Northeast overnight Friday and is forecast to continue causing heavy snow all day Saturday.

The biggest impact will be in New England from upstate New York to the Canadian line and east through Boston, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

Parts of Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire may see between 8-12 inches of snow, while the southern half of Maine could see between 6 and 12 inches, said Bob Larson, senior meteorologist with AccuWeather.

The snow mixed with winds gusting up to 50 mph is likely to cause flight delays, Larson said.

Driving conditions were hazardous, as dozens of cars, trucks and tractor-trailers slid off roads, police said.

Luckily for the region, the storm is expected to move offshore on Sunday.

Winter storm map

The Midwest and South

Tranquil days are ahead for much of the Midwest and South, with partly sunny skies and highs expected in the upper 30s and 40s in places like Detroit and Chicago.

In the upper Midwest, residents dug out Saturday from snowfall that caused widespread power outages and forced Detroit's Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to briefly close late Friday. Passengers were advised to check with airlines for flight delays on Saturday.

Farther south, temperatures will be in the 60s and 70s in places like Wichita, Kansas, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Dallas.

To the north, a storm will roll in to the Dakotas on Saturday, spreading to Minnesota and far northern Wisconsin on Sunday, with accumulations between 3 and 6 inches.

National weather radar

Contributing: Chris Kenning and Mike Snider, USA TODAY; The Associated Press

Storm threatening 100 mph gusts hits soggy Britain

AP

The country has been lashed by wind and rain since December

Gusts of between 80 and 100 mph could cause widespread structural damage and loss of power

Floods drenched the southwestern coast%2C the low-lying Somerset Levels and the Thames Valley

LONDON (AP) — Britain's west coast is being battered by wind gusts that could reach 100 mph as a new storm pummels the flood-stricken country.

The Meteorological Office has issued a highest-level red warning of "exceptionally strong winds" for west Wales and northwest England.

It says gusts of between 80 and 100 mph could cause widespread structural damage and loss of power.

England had its wettest January since records were first kept almost 250 years ago, and the country has been lashed by wind and rain since December.

Resulting floods have drenched the southwestern coast of England, the low-lying Somerset Levels and the Thames Valley, west of London, where hundreds of properties have been swamped as the river burst its banks this week.

Winter snow storm death toll rises, Buffalo, NY, could see more snow

The death toll from a historic onslaught of winter weather across the U.S. rose to at least 50 Monday as frigid arctic air and heavy lake-effect snow left large swaths of the U.S. frozen.

The pre-Christmas winter storm left at least 28 dead in western New York – one of the worst weather-related disasters in the region's history after the area was pummeled with as much as 43 inches of snow.

The dead have been found in their cars, homes and in snowbanks. Some died while shoveling snow. The death toll across the country was expected to rise as many remained without power in the frigid temperatures and hazardous road conditions continue.

Buffalo, New York, has seen some of the worst damage from the storm, including hurricane-force winds and whiteout conditions from snow that left emergency response vehicles stranded on highways and roads.

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz described the blizzard as “the worst storm probably in our lifetime” and warned there may be more dead. Some people, he noted, were stranded in their cars for more than two days.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime, generational blizzard,” he said of the impacts to the county, which includes Buffalo. “And this is not the end yet.”

President Joe Biden spoke by phone to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday, offering federal assistance to the state as it recovers from the storm.

While warmer temperatures are forecast for later in the week, the area is still expected to receive 6 to 12 inches more of heavy, lake-effect snow between Monday and Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service station in Buffalo.

Much of New England and the Eastern coast will remain in a deep freeze until more moderate temperatures arrive Tuesday, the weather service said Monday, and lake-effect snow could continue to cause travel hazards until they slowly improve later in the week.

MORE:Buses with migrants have dropped off outside of VP Harris' house before. Why Christmas Eve was different.

Snowstorm is Buffalo's worst in 4 decades, rivals historic 1977 storm

Officials in Erie County compared the storm to what is widely known as Buffalo's worst blizzard in January 1977, which saw surprisingly little snowfall but brought sustained, deadly cold temperatures into the area for weeks.

Only 12.3 inches of new snow fell at the Buffalo Airport during the 1977 blizzard, according to the Northeast Regional Climate Center, compared to more than 40 inches in this week's storm. Blizzard-condition winds occurred for nine consecutive hours and zero visibility lasted for 13 consecutive hours.

Powerful winds instead blew loose snow from previous storms that winter from frozen Lake Erie onto land, creating huge snowdrifts and fully burying houses and cars alike.

In the 1977 storm, 29 people died in four days, including 12 who were found frozen in stranded cars, The Associated Press reported.

"This is a horrible situation," Poloncarz said Monday of the 2022 storm. "The blizzard of 1977 lasted longer – it lasted three days of terrible conditions, this was two days of terrible conditions – but the ferocity of the storm was worse than the blizzard of 1977."

In the case of this year's storm, sustained cold temperatures and high winds can make the storm even more challenging, according to Dan Pydynowski, senior meteorologist at Accuweather.

"Even in areas where you do clean the snow off, they can just blow right back onto roads and sidewalks. On top of that, you're dealing with a lot of power outages due to the wind," he said. "That makes it very difficult to deal with."

Relief on the way? Forecast for warmer temperatures, power restorations

Over the holiday weekend, extreme weather stretched coast to coast and from Canada down to Mexico. In total, about 60% of the U.S. population faced some sort of winter weather advisory or warning, with temperatures plummeting drastically below normal in many areas.

But forecasts for the days leading up to the New Year show some promise of warmer weather. Residents in the Buffalo area and swaths of the country can expect warmer temperatures in the later portion of the week, according to Tom Kines, a senior meteorologist at Accuweather.

"The trend is going to be for warmer weather for the upcoming week. In fact, Buffalo could easily get up in the 40s at some point during the second half of the week," Kines said.

Power outages, flight cancellations across the US

Power outages from coast-to-coast continued to be steadily restored Monday, addressing some concerns for residents trapped in their homes without electricity and heat. Fewer than 100,000 customers were still without power as of 3 p.m. EDT Monday, according to poweroutage.us, down from a peak of 1.7 million.

Even with steady progress on power restorations and storm cleanup, more than 3,500 flights were cancelled within, into, or out of the U.S. for Monday, according to FlightAware.

Flight delayed or canceled?:What you need to know and what airlines owe travelers.

From Tennessee to Michigan, storm and cold wreak havoc

Cold temperatures and high winds caused damage across the country, leading to water main breaks, power outages and abnormal cold and dangerous travel conditions.

In Tennessee, 23 water mains broke as a result of the storm, according to the state's utility company, and 19 have since been repaired. Parts of Tennessee and Mississippi remained under boil-water advisories because of water lines bursting in the frigid temperatures.

Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee all saw power outages, and Florida saw unusually low temperatures throughout the weekend because of the cold, according to Pydynowski.

"Just how widespread the cold was and how intense it was, was very impressive," he said.

Six motorists were killed in crashes in Missouri, Kansas and Kentucky, and a Vermont woman died after struck by a falling branch. Police in Colorado said they found the dead body of a person who appeared to be unhoused while the area was experiencing subzero temperatures.

What is lake-effect snow?

Lake-effect snow, which can last for only a few minutes to several days, develops from narrow bands of clouds that form when cold, dry arctic air passes over a large, relatively mild lake.

In the case of Buffalo, the city is in close proximity to Lake Erie, and ranks among the nation's snowiest big cities as a result.

During this week's storm, the air mass over Lake Erie was "extremely cold" over the relatively warm waters of the lake, with winds that set up a snow band dumping intense snow for days, according to Pydynowski.

"Both Lake Erie and Ontario just produced a very intense lake effect snow," he said. "Not only are you dealing with heavy snow, you're dealing with blizzard conditions ... all those factors combined to make a very intense outbreak that's finally just letting up now."

Dig deeper

Contributing: The Associated Press; Joel Shannon, Wyatte Grantham-Phillips, Marina Pitofsky, USA TODAY

The destruction caused by Hurricane Ian – in pictures | The Week

One of the fiercest storms in US history has left a trail of destruction and death after battering Florida last week.

The death toll has risen to more than 100 since Hurricane Ian hit the southwest of the state as a category four storm on 28 September, before making a “second deadly US landfall” in South Carolina, said The Guardian. As rescue workers continue to search ruins for survivors, the tally of fatalities is expected to climb.

Although Hurricane Ian is “one of the deadliest hurricanes in recent memory”, said the BBC, it “pales in comparison” to Katrina (2003) and Maria (2017), which killed 1,800 and 3,000 people respectively. But “close to 270,000 homes and businesses” remained without power in Florida on Wednesday, Reuters reported.

And thousands of people in the state are living in “emergency shelters after their homes were damaged or destroyed”, said NBC News. Joe Biden visited Florida yesterday to “survey damage” caused by the “150mph winds and storm surges as high as 14ft”.

Biden warned that rebuilding “could take years”, the news site added, but the president vowed to “build back better”.

The hurricane is expected to be “among the costliest storms in US history”, said The Guardian. Initial estimates put the cost at around $55bn, but “some insurance industry analysts say the final figure could be far higher”, the paper reported.

Ian also pummelled Cuba before hitting Florida, and has been “nightmare of a storm to forecast”, said Axios. According to the news site, “experts say the tools meteorologists used to assess and communicate its likely path were part of the problem”, with computer models used to help predict the weather “at war with one another until about 36 hours before landfall”.

Authorities in Lee County, one of Florida’s hardest-hit areas, have “faced questions about the timing of their evacuation order”, which was made “less than 24 hours before Ian made landfall”, said the BBC. State governor Ron DeSantis defended the decision, insisting that “we did what we had to do at the exact same time”.

Richard Windsor
The Week Uk
Rafi Schwartz
The Week Us
Joel Mathis
Catherine Garcia
Social Links Navigation


Queen Elizabeth II uses Platinum Jubilee message to elevate ...

London CNN —

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II has used the historic milestone of her Platinum Jubilee to redefine the future of the monarchy, calling for the Duchess of Cornwall to be known as Queen Camilla when Charles becomes King.

When Charles married Camilla in 2005, the couple announced she intended to be known as “Princess Consort” despite having a right to the title of Queen. It was seen as a recognition of the sensitivities around a title that was destined for Charles’ first wife, Diana.

It’s the same reason Camilla doesn’t use the title of Princess of Wales.

The Queen would be expected to consult her direct heirs Charles and William before making such a significant announcement about titles, which suggests they both agreed and felt the British public is ready to accept Camilla as Queen.

The 95-year-old monarch laid out her vision for institution’s transition in an extraordinary message released as she reached the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne.

“I would like to express my thanks to you all for your support. I remain eternally grateful for, and humbled by, the loyalty and affection that you continue to give me,” the Queen said.

“And when, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support that you have given me; and it is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service.”

When her father died in 1952, Elizabeth II — then just 25 years old — became the Queen of England. AFP/Getty Images King George VI, left, is joined by his wife, Elizabeth, and Princess Margaret as he leaves an airport in London on January 31, 1952. They had waved farewell to Princess Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, who were heading on a royal tour. Fox Photos/Getty Images During her royal tour, Princess Elizabeth attends a polo match in Nyeri, Kenya, on February 3, 1952. Chris Ware/Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip wave to Kenyans from the balcony of Nairobi's City Hall on February 4, 1952. Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Londoners read the news of King George's death on February 6, 1952. He was 56 years old when he died in his sleep from a coronary thrombosis. Bettmann/Getty Images The flag flies at half-staff at Windsor Castle following the King's death. Mirrorpix/Getty Images Prime Minister Winston Churchill leaves St. James's Palace after attending a meeting of the Accession Council, which is automatically summoned on the death of the sovereign. PA Images/Getty Images Elizabeth, now the new Queen, returns from Kenya on February 7, 1952. Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Elizabeth and Philip are greeted on their arrival in London. AP Gerald Wollaston, the Norroy and Ulster King of Arms, reads the proclamation of the Queen's accession on February 8, 1952. PA Images/Getty Images A ceremony for the proclamation is held on February 8, 1952. AFP/Getty Images The Queen and her family arrives for her father's funeral procession on February 15, 1952. PA Images/Getty Images King George's coffin is guarded at Westminster Hall in London. Hulton Archive/Getty Images Crowds line the route of the King's funeral procession. Hulton Deutsch/Corbis/Getty Images Foreign heads of state and their representatives march in the King's funeral procession. Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images The funeral procession of King George makes its way through London. Stroud/Hulton Royals Collection/Getty Images 70 years ago, Queen Elizabeth II took the throne Prev Next

It’s a hugely significant intervention from the monarch, who is the only person who can define royal titles.

Camilla became something of a public pariah following the breakdown of Charles and Diana’s union in the mid-90s.

Diana had blamed Camilla for ruining her marriage, saying in a 1995 television interview, “There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.” A year earlier, Charles had also appeared on television and confessed his infidelity, but maintained he had only been unfaithful once his marriage had crumbled.

Positive public sentiment for the Princess of Wales was only further cemented when she was killed in a Paris car crash in 1997.

In the intervening years, Camilla retreated to the shadows, supporting Charles quietly from a distance.

But as time has gone by, sentiment toward the Duchess of Cornwall has softened. And the Queen’s moves to future-proof the monarchy reflects Camilla is no longer viewed as the royal mistress but a central figure in “the firm.”

On Saturday, Prince Charles and Camilla announced they were “touched and honoured by Her Majesty’s words” according to a spokesperson.

Elizabeth ascended to the throne on February 6, 1952, following the death of her father, King George VI, at the age of 56.

Throughout her reign, Elizabeth has often used landmark moments to reaffirm her devotion to her duties, and did so once more in her message on Saturday, despite the fact she is nearing her 96th birthday.

“As we mark this anniversary, it gives me pleasure to renew to you the pledge I gave in 1947 that my life will always be devoted to your service,” she said.

The Queen also expressed “a sense of hope and optimism” for the year ahead, before conveying her gratitude to her family for their support and paying tribute to her late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh.

“I was blessed that in Prince Philip I had a partner willing to carry out the role of consort and unselfishly make the sacrifices that go with it. It is a role I saw my own mother perform during my father’s reign,” she shared.

The monarch ended her message by restating she looked forward “to continuing to serve you with all my heart” and shared her hope her jubilee would provide an opportunity for people to come together after the difficulties of recent years.

Traditionally, the Queen marks her Accession Day at her countryside retreat of Sandringham in Norfolk, about 100 miles north of London. It’s a chance for her to reflect upon the death of her father away from the glare of the public. In keeping with previous years, no public engagements are expected on Sunday.

The nation will have the chance to honor the monarch’s historic reign in a series of jubilee-themed festivities set to take place throughout the year, culminating in a blockbuster, four-day public holiday in June.

Over the long weekend, beacons will be lit across the United Kingdom; Buckingham Palace will host a music concert; street parties are being encouraged; and a pageant will bring together more than 5,000 personnel, performers, key workers and volunteers from the UK and the Commonwealth.

Video Ad Feedback Queen Elizabeth's history with US Presidents 02:00 - Source: CNN

However, the Queen did host a special reception earlier Saturday for some Sandringham community members on the eve of her Platinum Jubilee.

She welcomed pensioners and representatives from several local charities to the Sandringham House ballroom to celebrate her historic milestone with cake.

One of those in attendance was former cookery student Angela Wood, who helped develop a recipe intrinsically linked to the start of her reign – Coronation Chicken, a dish of cold chicken in a curry cream sauce served with a side salad.

The Queen appeared to be in great spirits during the engagement, according to Britain’s PA Media news agency. She held a wooden walking stick and carried her trademark black handbag as she made her way around the room, joking and laughing with guests.

It was the largest gathering the sovereign has attended since October, when she hosted a reception to mark the Global Investment Summit at Windsor Castle.

Sign up for CNN’s Royal News, a weekly dispatch bringing you the inside track on the royal family, what they are up to in public and what’s happening behind palace walls.

Max Foster Lauren Said-Moorhouse
Max Foster
Lauren Said-Moorhouse

Queen Elizabeth pulls out of jubilee service due to 'discomfort ...

London CNN —

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II will miss a service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral for her 70 year reign on Friday, after experiencing “some discomfort” during the first day of her Platinum Jubilee celebration.

The Queen appeared at Buckingham Palace on Thursday during the festivities and participated in a beacon lighting ceremony from Windsor Castle in the evening.

“The Queen greatly enjoyed today’s Birthday Parade and Flypast but did experience some discomfort,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement.

“Taking into account the journey and activity required to participate in tomorrow’s National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral, Her Majesty with great reluctance has concluded that she will not attend,” it continued.

Earlier Thursday, the 96-year-old Queen looked on from the palace’s famous balcony at a sea of red, white and blue as huge, flag-waving crowds flocked to the Mall to see the monarch and her family.

The area around Buckingham Palace and nearby St James’ Park was packed with homegrown and international tourists – some of whom had camped out overnight – to witness the first event of the bumper four-day weekend celebrations.

And after seven decades of duty, the sovereign certainly lived up to her reputation as a loyal crowd-pleaser. She may not have been up to the ceremonial role of riding on horseback as part of Trooping the Colour, but she nonetheless delighted fans by her presence on the balcony following the military parade.

Dressed in a dusky dove blue Angela Kelly ensemble with matching hat, the Queen smiled as she received the salute as soldiers and officers returned from Horse Guards Parade following the conclusion of her birthday parade.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II watches from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Trooping the Colour parade in London on Thursday, June 2. Jonathan Brady/Pool/AP The Queen is joined by members of the royal family during her balcony appearance on Sunday. With her, from left, are Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall; Prince Charles; Prince William; Prince George; Princess Charlotte; Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge; and Prince Louis. Bernadette Tuazon/CNN Soldiers parade during the People's Pageant in London on Sunday. Frank Augstein/Pool/AFP/Getty Images Crowds watch the Queen's appearance in London on Sunday. Dominic Lipinski/PA/AP Ed Sheeran performs before the Queen's appearance. Leon Neal/WPA Pool/Getty Images Archive video of the Queen plays inside a Gold State Coach during the parade on Sunday. Toby Hancock/CNN Cakes celebrating the jubilee are displayed at a street party in Aylesford, England, on Sunday. Gareth Fuller/PA Images/Getty Images Sunday's parade had performers, military personnel and key workers walking down The Mall to bring to life many iconic moments from the Queen's reign. Dominic Lipinski/PA/AP Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, attend a Big Jubilee Lunch event Sunday in London. There were similar lunchtime events taking place in other communities across the country. Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images Revelers pose for pictures as they attend a party in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, England, on Sunday. Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty Images People gather outside Windsor Castle for the Big Jubilee Lunch there on Sunday. Daniel Leal/AFP/Getty Images Children chalk a flag on the road during a street party in York, England, in Sunday. Ian Forsyth/Getty Images Queen's Brian May delights concertgoers as the band — joined by Adam Lambert — opens a special show outside of Buckingham Palace on Saturday night. The two-and-a-half hour concert boasted an impressive lineup of stars. Alberto Pezzali/AP Members of the royal family attend Saturday night's concert. In the center row, from left, are Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge; Princess Charlotte; Prince George; and Prince William. Chris Jackson/Pool/Getty Images Rod Stewart performs on stage during Saturday night's concert, where he performed Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline," a British karaoke classic. Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images Drones make a shape of a corgi dog — a Queen favorite — above the palace on Saturday night. Kirsty O'Connor/PA Images/Getty Images Prince Charles, accompanied by his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, delivers a speech at Saturday night's concert. "You pledged to serve your whole life," he said of his mother, the Queen. "You continue to deliver. That is why we are here. That is what we celebrate tonight." Jonathan Buckmaster/AFP/Getty Images People cheer as they gather at The Mall for the concert outside Buckingham Palace. Hollie Adams/Getty Images Diana Ross appears on stage during the concert. The legendary singer closed the show with "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." Alastair Grant/AP People gather along The Mall for Saturday night's concert. Hollie Adams/Getty Images Prince George and Princess Charlotte also joined their parents at a walkabout in Cardiff, Wales, on Saturday. Their visit was part of the royal family's tour of all four regions of the United Kingdom. Ashley Crowden/AFP/Getty Images Princess Anne, the Queen's only daughter, stands on the balcony of the royal box while attending the Epsom Derby horse race on Saturday. She was filling in for her mother, who has been a regular spectator at the event in past years. Megan Ridgwell/The Jockey Club/PA Wire/Reuters Boys ride a bus in Epsom alongside cardboard cutouts of the Queen. Leon Neal/Getty Images Princess Charlotte conducts a band next to her brother Prince George as they visited Cardiff Castle in Wales. Ashley Crowden/AFP/Getty Images People dance during jubilee celebrations in London on Saturday. Dylan Martinez/Reuters People gather for a street party in Hayfield, England, on Saturday. Anthony Devlin/Getty Images Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, depart St Paul's Cathedral in London after attending a service honoring the Queen on Friday. Harry and Meghan, who flew from the United States for the jubilee celebrations, were warmly welcomed by a crowd outside the service. Ahead of the event, there was much speculation in the British press over how the couple would be received following their decision to step back from the royal family and move to California two years ago. Alberto Pezzali/AP Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, smiles as she arrives at St Paul's Cathedral on Friday. Daniel Leal/AFP/Getty Images More than 400 people were invited to Friday's event recognizing the Queen's lifetime of service. The congregation included key workers, teachers and public servants as well as representatives from the Armed Forces, charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups, according to Buckingham Palace. London Mayor Sadiq Khan was among those in the audience. Dan Kitwood/AP Prince Charles arrives for Friday's service. Another one of the Queen's sons, Prince Andrew, was notably absent after testing positive for Covid-19. Henry Nicholls/AP The theme of Friday's event was public service. It included Bible readings, prayers and congregational hymns to honor the Queen's 70 years on the British throne. Aaron Chown/AP/Pool British Prime Minister Boris Johnson pauses while inside St Paul's Cathedral on Friday. Johnson was cheered and booed by the crowd when he arrived for the service. Victoria Jones/AP A member of the military stumbles Friday while on duty ahead of the service. Daniel Leal/AP A woman holds a cutout picture of the Queen while waiting outside St Paul's Cathedral on Friday. Alberto Pezzali/AP People gather outside St Paul's Cathedral to watch the arrivals. Alberto Pezzali/AP The Queen prepares to touch the Commonwealth of Nations Globe to start the lighting of the Principal Beacon outside Buckingham Palace on Thursday. Steve Parsons/Getty Images A Platinum Jubilee beacon is lit by Lord Provost Robert Aldridge and Commander of Edinburgh Garrison Lt. Col. Lorne Campbell at Scotland's Edinburgh Castle on Thursday. More than 1,500 towns, villages and cities throughout the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories would come together to light a beacon to mark the jubilee. Jane Barlow/AP People pack The Mall in London for Thursday's Trooping the Colour parade. Aaron Chown/AP The Queen walks out onto the Buckingham Palace balcony during the Trooping the Colour parade. Bernadette Tuazon/CNN Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, waves during a carriage procession on Thursday. Joining her on the carriage were her three children — Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte — as well as Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall. Toby Hancock/CNN Planes spell out the number 70 as they fly over Buckingham Palace on Thursday. Toby Hancock/CNN The Queen's great-grandson Prince Louis holds his hands over his ears during the six-minute flypast staged by the Royal Air Force. From left are Prince Charles; the Queen; Prince Louis; Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge; and Princess Charlotte. Hannah McKay/Reuters A 124-gun salute is fired at the Tower of London as part of the Trooping the Colour parade. Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images The Trooping the Colour event involved 1,500 soldiers and officers, 400 musicians, 250 horses and 70 aircraft, according to the UK Ministry of Defence. Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images Three of the Queen's great-grandchildren— from left, Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte — ride in the carriage procession on Thursday. Karwai Tang/WireImage/Getty Images Prince William, left, rides on horseback next to his father, Prince Charles, during the Trooping the Colour parade. Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images The Queen's Guard marches during the Trooping the Colour parade Thursday. Matt Dunham/AP The Queen is joined by members of the royal family on the Buckingham Palace balcony on Thursday. Aaron Chown/AP Thousands of people flocked to central London for the celebrations Thursday. Abbie Trayler-Smith for CNN A military band performs on Thursday. Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Four of the Queen's great-grandchildren watch the parade from a window of Buckinghamp Palace on Thursday. From left are Prince George, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte and Mia Tindall. Matt Dunham/Pool/AFP/Getty Images A member of the Coldstream Guards holds souvenir programs ahead of the start of Thursday's parade. Toby Melville/AFP/Getty Images Prince Edward, right, rides in a carriage along with his wife Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, and their children, James and Louise. Bernadette Tuazon/CNN The Mounted Band of the Household Cavalry takes part in the parade Thursday. Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images A man wears a Union Jack suit as people gather on The Mall for jubilee celebrations on Thursday. Henry Nicholls/Reuters Police officers line up on The Mall ahead of the Trooping the Colour parade on Thursday. Dominic Lipinski/PA Images/Getty Images A member of the Buckingham Palace staff cleans the balcony ahead of the Trooping the Colour parade on Thursday. Chris Jackson/WPA Pool/Getty Images Crowds gather in London for the parade. Toby Hancock/CNN Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese lights the Commonwealth Beacon for a jubilee celebration in Canberra, Australia, on Thursday. Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images Some royal fans had Union flags applied to their faces as they gathered along The Mall in London on Thursday. David Cliff/AP People wear masks of the Queen and one of her dogs as they attend jubilee celebrations on The Mall on Thursday. Peter Nicholls/Reuters Anita Atkinson, who has collected more than 12,000 items of royal memorabilia, makes her way to a tea party in Durham on Thursday. Owen Humphreys/PA Images/Getty Images People sing the national anthem as they gather along The Mall on Thursday. David Cliff/AP A boy poses with a Union flag on The Mall on Wednesday. Leon Neal/Getty Images In pictures: Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Prev Next

The “major military spectacle” – as it was described by the UK Ministry of Defence – involved “months of training and centuries of tradition,” as well as 1,500 soldiers and officers, 400 musicians, 250 horses and 70 aircraft.

Prince Charles, heir to the throne, represented his mother in the ceremonial role which she has traditionally undertaken. He rode on horseback, closely followed by his sister Princess Anne and his son, Prince William.

Household Division foot guards march in the Trooping the Colour parade. Henry Nicholls/Reuters

Other members of the royal family rode down The Mall in carriages to the parade ground – among them Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, accompanied by her three children and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

As the Colour of the Irish Guards was trooped at Horse Guards Parade, during which military bands played in formation and undertook a tricky manoeuvre called “the spinwheel,” other royals watched on from the Major General’s Office nearby.

A short while later, the Queen appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with her cousin the Duke of Kent.

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall rides in a carriage with Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and family during the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee celebrations on Thursday. Toby Hancock/CNN

In a second balcony appearance, she was joined by three of her four children, in addition to several family members. Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex did not appear on the balcony as the Queen decided last month that only royals carrying out official duties would be included.

But earlier the Sussexes had watched the Trooping the Colour event with other royals from the Major General’s office near Horse Guards Parade, in their first public appearance with the royal family since they quit working as royals two years ago.

The Queen’s decision to only invite working royals onto the balcony also meant Prince Andrew, who was stripped of royal duties and his HRH title in January in the wake of his civil sexual assault lawsuit in the US, did not appear on the balcony. It later emerged that he will not be able to join his family members at Friday’s thanksgiving service either as he has tested positive for coronavirus. A royal source told CNN the duke had seen his mother in the last few days but has been undertaking regular testing and has not seen her since he tested positive.

For many, the highlight of the proceedings was the spectacular RAF flypast, an awe-inspiring air show involving 70 aircraft, including the Red Arrows.

There was, however, one person who did not seem overly impressed with the display – 4-year-old Prince Louis. The youngest child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge was pictured with his hands over his ears and pulling faces as the spectacle to celebrate his great-grandmother’s 70 years on the throne all proved a little overwhelming.

Video Ad Feedback See Prince Louis' reaction to royal flypast at Queen's jubilee 01:33 - Source: CNN

Nevertheless, his family did not appear to be remotely bothered by Prince Louis’ refusal to maintain protocol, as they smiled and chatted to each other while the planes continued to fly – even at one point arranged in formation to make up the number 70.

More than 3,000 beacons are being set alight across the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and in UK Overseas Territories. The principal beacon was lit in a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace. The lighting of beacons is a long running royal tradition used to mark jubilees, weddings and coronations. Beacons will also be lit in the capital cities of Commonwealth countries.

Sign up for CNN’s Royal News, a weekly dispatch bringing you the inside track on the royal family, what they are up to in public and what’s happening behind palace walls.

Max Foster Lauren Said-Moorhouse Lianne Kolirin