🇺🇸 A Great American 🇺🇸

From Jim


🇺🇸 April 9th, 2024: National Former POW Recognition Day 🇺🇸

Today, we stand in awe of our nation’s heroes, who exemplify resilience in the face of adversity. These brave men and women endured unimaginable hardships and separation from their loved ones during their captivity, yet their unwavering spirit and faith never faltered. Today, let us honor their extraordinary courage and sacrifice.

ODRG proudly commemorates Colonel Joseph William Kittinger II (July 27, 1928 – December 9, 2022), a distinguished officer in the United States Air Force (USAF), celebrated for his exceptional service and bravery. Among his numerous honors and awards were two Silver Stars, two Legion of Merit awards, six Distinguished Flying Crosses, three Bronze Stars for Valor, two Purple Hearts, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Prisoner of War Medal.

Today, we pay tribute to his enduring legacy and the sacrifices of all former POWs.

 

Prayers for complete recovery.

Gator Sports

Micah Handlogten suffered a devastating injury during the SEC Championship with a fracture of his leg. However, after an upsetting result for him, his family, and the Gators, positive news has come out in regards to his status following the moment.

Handlogten as well as his mother, Danielle Handlogten, shared tweets about his condition this evening. They both shared that he is out of his surgery after the break today. They added that is doing fine and that doctors expect him to fully recover from this incident.

“Out of surgery and doing well!” wrote Handlogten on Twitter. “Thank you all again for the support!“

“Thank you for the love and support of the Herd family,” Mrs. Handlogten wrote in a response to a tweet from those at Marshall. “Micah is out of surgery and is expected to have a full recovery.”

 

Handlogten came to Florida this past year as a sophomore after his freshman year with the Thundering Herd.

In 31 starts over 32 appearances, Handlogten averaged 5.5 points, 7.1 rebound, and just under a block in 19.5 minutes per game. He did so while shooting 62.2% from the floor this season.

 

Those statistics were good for second in rebounding, third in blocks, and tops in field-goal percentage.

Handlogten went down within the first few minutes of the title game in the SEC Tournament against Auburn. After going up for a rebound, he landed in a way that led to the fracturing of his lower leg. It was one of those unfortunate injuries that you never want to see. It was also one that clearly affected the emotions of him, the two teams, and the audience both in Bridgestone Arena and watching on ESPN.

 

Considering all things, this is fantastic news on the 7’1 center within a couple hours of his gruesome moment. It’s about all that you could hope for as he now begins his rehab while his team prepares to play in the NCAA Tournament

 

Florida’s Micah Handlogten stretchered off the court after scary leg injury in SEC Tournament title game

Handlogten thanks fans for prayers, support

Florida suffered a hugely unfortunate and serious injury early in the championship of the SEC Tournament against Auburn when big man Micah Handlogten crumpled to the floor and needed immediate medical attention.

 

Blood dripped onto his leg which flopped after he came down on it funny after attempting to secure a rebound just over two minutes into the game. Todd Golden confirmed to ESPN that he had suffered a fractured lower left leg.

Still, he appeared to be in good spirits despite the injury while being tended to at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

 

“Gator Nation, Thank you for all of the love and prayers!” Handlogten wrote on his Twitter account. “It has helped more than anyone could imagine. Keep supporting the boys so we can make a deep run in the NCAAT! I love you all!”

He concluded his tweet with a pair of orange and blue hearts as well as a gator emoji.

Hurricane Season Update

Weather

From Crown Weather Service and Mike’s Weather Page…

*** 2024 ATLANTIC, CARIBBEAN & GULF OF MEXICO HURRICANE SEASON FORECAST ***

– SUMMARY: BUCKLE UP as it looks like it’s going to be an extraordinarily active hurricane season in terms of both number of storms and also in the amount of potential impacts across the Caribbean and along the US Coastline (especially the Gulf Coast). The combination of developing La Nina conditions this summer and well above average ocean temperatures across the deep tropics is likely to lead to an extremely busy hurricane season. Also, I do think that the mean storm track this hurricane season will be further west than last year which means that the Caribbean, the southwest North Atlantic (near the Bahamas and Florida) and the Gulf of Mexico could be particularly at risk.

– THE NUMBERS: 25 Named Storms, 12 of those storms becoming Hurricanes and 6 of those hurricanes becoming Major Hurricanes (Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale).

– ACCUMULATED CYCLONE ENERGY (ACE) INDEX FORECAST: I am forecasting an ACE index this year of 225, which not only signals that this will be a hyperactive season, but also would put this upcoming hurricane season in the top ten of the most active hurricane seasons on record.

– ENSO CONDITIONS: The current El Nino conditions are rapidly weakening with cooler than average waters now showing up in the eastern Pacific. It seems quite likely that the ENSO conditions will become ENSO neutral sometime during April and then become La Nina conditions during about the July and August time period.

This reversal in ENSO conditions means that it will most definitely enhance tropical storm and hurricane activity across the Atlantic Basin this season with well above average amounts of activity in terms of the number of tropical storms and hurricanes.

– SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURES: Once again, the lack of any real winter this year has significantly affected the ocean water temperatures across the North Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico with well above average temperatures almost everywhere.

Of particular note is the eastern Tropical Atlantic where both ocean water temperatures and ocean heat content are in record warmth territory. In fact, the ocean temperatures over the eastern Tropical Atlantic are as high as what you would normally expect them to be during mid-June.

One of the keys in determining how active/inactive the hurricane season will be is how much will the deep tropics (south of 25 North Latitude) warms up during April, May and June. The latest climate models suggests that well above average ocean water temperatures will remain locked across the deep tropics leading to the potential for a very active season in the deep tropics with “classic” long track Cape Verde storms very much on the table.

– ANALOG YEARS: These are the analog years that seem to be a close match right now to what the 2024 hurricane season may be like. They are 1878, 1889, 1896, 1915, 1958, 1966, 1995, 1998, 2005, 2010, 2016 & 2020.

– LANDFALL THREAT FORECAST: There are two areas that I’m most concerned about for this upcoming season in terms of a tropical storm or hurricane impact.

The First Area Is the Caribbean and in particular the northeastern Caribbean and the northwestern Caribbean. The extremely warm ocean temperatures over the deep tropical eastern Atlantic combined with the developing La Nina conditions and a upper level weather pattern that features a big Bermuda high pressure system to the north means long-track tropical storms and hurricanes will be a big, big threat.

I think the islands of the northeastern Caribbean, including the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico could be at significant risk this season. I also think that the islands of the northwestern Caribbean, including the Cayman Islands, the northeastern Yucatan Peninsula and western Cuba could also be at significant risk this season.

The Second Area Of Particular Concern Is a corridor from the Bahamas through the Florida Peninsula to the eastern Gulf of Mexico. As I mentioned previously, I think that the main storm track this season will be further west than last year, which means that many of the storms will be passing through the Bahamas and the Florida Peninsula. The eastern Gulf of Mexico may be affected in two ways – one by systems moving westward from the Bahamas and two by any systems moving northward from the Caribbean.

Other Areas Of Concern Include the central and northwestern Gulf coast and the southeastern coast of the United States where tropical activity may be drawn northward up the East Coast of the United States from the northern Caribbean islands or pulled northward into the Gulf of Mexico from the Caribbean.

Another area to closely monitor is the central and southern Lesser Antilles and Barbados where Cape Verde storms may impact on their track westward.

Even though your area may have a low or medium risk this season, be aware that any small fluctuations in the upper level weather pattern at the “wrong” time could threaten the low or medium risk areas.

STAY WAY AHEAD of everyone else during this upcoming hurricane season by becoming a Crown Weather PLUS subscriber.

To become a Crown Weather PLUS subscriber today, just go to the following link – https://crownweather.com/index.php/cws-plus/crown-weather-subscription/ .

#weather #Hurricane #HurricaneSeason #txwx #lawx #mswx #alwx #flwx #gawx #scwx #ncwx #Caribbean #Weather #Texas #Louisiana #Mississippi #Alabama #Florida #Georgia #SouthCarolina #NorthCarolina

Congrats, Gators SEC Champs!

Gator Sports

Special report on the Florida Gators gymnastics team:

LEXINGTON, Ky. – No. 5 Florida gymnastics wasn’t in a sharing mood.

UF’s win over No. 6 Kentucky Sunday afternoon at the Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center gives Florida sole possession of its sixth consecutive Southeastern Conference regular-season title.

Florida’s season-high 198.225 took the win as Kentucky posted a program-record 198.10 Sunday.

SEC TITLE CLINCHED:

For the third consecutive year, the Florida-Kentucky dual meet included a SEC regular-season title storyline. And in the 2024 version, there were three teams involved in that narrative.

Florida clinched at least a share of its sixth consecutive title with its win last week versus No. 2 LSU. Two other teams had the opportunity to share the 2024 title with wins in their SEC regular-season finale. LSU claimed a home win over Alabama on Friday. Kentucky needed a win over Florida to have three teams tied at the top with 5-2 records.

To claim sole possession of the 2024 title, Florida needed to come back Sunday after trailing the Wildcats by 0.25 at the meet’s midpoint.

Florida’s season-best floor exercise total of 49.725 – which included a 10.0 by freshman Anya Pilgrim – put the Gators up 0.30 heading into the final rotation. What the team needed to seal the win was a solid balance beam performance as the Wildcats rotated to floor exercise, their strongest scoring event.

The Gators got just that, posting their second-highest beam total (49.575) of the season to hold off Kentucky’s season-high performance on floor exercise.

Leanne Wong anchored the beam lineup with a near-perfect 9.975. She used the same mark to win uneven bars. Wong won all-around at 39.775 – her fifth of the season and fourth consecutive.

Pilgrim made it a one-two Florida all-around finish, as she upped her collegiate high and the nation’s top freshman total to 39.675 to take second.

THIS AFTERNOON’S MEET
Three marks of 9.9 or better were used toward Florida’s 49.425 on uneven bars. Gabby Disidore and Anya Pilgrim posted 9.9s and Wong anchored the lineup with a near-perfect 9.975.

Collegiate bests of 9.95 by two freshmen – Skylar Draser and Danie Ferris – led the Gators on vault. Sloane Blakely also turned in a 9.9 as Florida posted its second-highest vault total (49.50) of the season.

Florida trailed by 0.025 at the meet’s midpoint.

Five consecutive floor exercise marks of 9.9 or better tallied up to Florida’s season-high total of the season (49.725). That included Pilgrim’s 10.0, making her the only freshmen among the 15 different gymnasts across the nation with a perfect floor mark. Morgan Hurd and Wong both earned a 9.95, Blakely a 9.925 and Victoria Nguyen a 9.9.

Four marks of 9.9 or better helped UF earn its second-highest beam total of the season (49.575). Wong closed the lineup with her third near-perfect 9.975 of the season. Pilgrim was just behind at 9.95, with Blakely and Ellie Lazzari earning 9.9s.

Apparatus winners:
Makenzie Wilson, UK 10.00 Vault
Leanne Wong, UF 9.975 Uneven Bars
Leanne Wong, UF 9.975 Balance Beam
Anya Pilgrim, UF 10.0 Floor Exercise
Raena Worley, UK 10.0 Floor Exercise

SEC TITLE:

* Florida claims sole possession of its 16th SEC gymnastics title and sixth consecutive (1982, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’89, ’07, ’10, ’12, ’13, 16, ’19, ’20, ’21, ’22, ’23, ‘24). This is the eighth year awarding a regular-season SEC gymnastics title. From 1981-2016, the winner at the SEC Championship meet was considered the league champion.
* This is the third time in Florida’s last four SEC regular-season titles it needed to earn sole possession of the title at the current No. 2 team’s arena.
* 2021: Florida (7-0) won 197.425 – 197.225 at Alabama (5-2)
* 2022: Florida (6-0-1) and Auburn (5-1-1) tied at 198.575
* 2024: Florida (6-1) won 198.225 – 198.10 at Kentucky (5-3)
* Florida has won four SEC titles in 2023-24 – women’s cross country, gymnastics, men’s & women’s swimming & diving. The Gator program has 265 SEC titles and add in the 11 conference titles won by Florida lacrosse, the Florida program has claimed 276 conference titles. Florida’s picked up at least one SEC team title for 46 consecutive seasons – the league’s longest current streak

SEC Standings (as of March 3, 2024)

School

SEC Record

Overall

Florida

6-1

11-1

LSU

5-2

8-3

Kentucky

4-3

7-4

Alabama

3-3-1

9-3-1

Arkansas

4-2-1

7-5-1

Missouri

2-5

8-5

Auburn

2-5

6-7

Georgia

1-6

2-6

TOP WEEKEND FOR TOP-10 DUALS
March opens like a lion with a season-high four top-10 duals across the nation.

Florida was the only road team to win in those four duals.
Friday, March 1
No. 7 Michigan (197.325) at No. 1 Oklahoma (198.65)
No. 9 Alabama (197.325) at No. 2 LSU (198.325)

Saturday, March 2
No. 4 Utah (197.70) at No. 3 California (198.10)

Sunday, March 3
No. 5 Florida (198.225) at No. 6 Kentucky (198.10)

GATOR PERFORMANCE NOTES:

* Florida’s 198.225 is its 2024 high. The Gators are the nation’s only program to improve their team score each meet this season.
* Of the 15 different gymnasts with a floor 10.0 in 2024, Anya Pilgrim is the only freshman. She is just the second Gator freshman with a floor 10.0, joining Sloane Blakely who posted a perfect mark in the 2022 SEC regular-season finale at Auburn.
* Florida’s floor exercise total of 49.725 is a season high and ties for No. 5 in program history.
* Leanne Wong’s three titles Sunday moves her to 11th at 55 on Florida career event wins chart.
* The all-around win was her fifth of 2024, 14th of her career, fifth of the season and fourth consecutive. Wong is now tied for 10th with Gator Great Corey Hartung on UF’s career all-around victories list.
* Anya Pilgrim’s all-around of 39.675 is the nation’s leader for 2024 freshmen. Only Pilgrim has more than two totals among the nation’s 2024 freshmen leading all-around performances. Here’s how her all-around totals rank among 2024 freshmen:
* No. 1 39.675 (3-3-24)
* No. 2 39.65 (2-23-24)
* No. T3 39.60 (2-9-24)
* No. T5 39.55 (2-2-24)
* No. T9 39.525 (1-12-24 & 1-26-24)

* Three Gators equaled or set collegiate bests Sunday:
* Skylar Draser – 9.95 (vault)
* Morgan Hurd – 9.95 (floor)
* Anya Pilgrim – 10.0 (floor)

FLORIDA COACH JENNY ROWLAND SAID:
“This week, the intention has been Gators versus Gators and the Gators controlling what we can control. We keep talking about trying to get one percent better – every day and every meet. This is the eighth consecutive meet to improve our score. That is hands down a feat within itself.

“With this team, starting on day one looking back to where we are now, I couldn’t be prouder. This SEC Championship is extremely meaningful. This team has been through highs and lows and did it together. They never stopped fighting. And today we get to celebrate a sole possession of the SEC Championship. They earned every tenth we received tonight so extremely proud of them.” – Florida Head Coach Jenny Rowland

 

Hurricane Season Projection

Weather

Hurricane Season from Hell First look2 months ago

December 7, 2023

  • A hurricane season from hell is shaping up for 2024.
  • Very high levels of activity should be prepared for in areas that were essentially left untouched in 2023.
  • The El Niño will reverse to a La Niña, while the Atlantic basin will be ideal for development.
  • Very warm water in the northeastern Pacific is likely to mean the kind of pattern over North America that was similar to 2005, 2007, and 2020.
    • This invited storms to reach the U.S.

Basin Forecast

Names Storms 25-30
Hurricanes 14-16
Major Hurricanes 6-8
Total ACE 200-240

Note that this comes out to an average ACE per storm of 8.

 

Impact Forecast

Named storm Impacts 10-14
Hurricane Impacts 5-8
Major Hurricane Impacts 3-5

The forecast map has no areas receiving below-average tropical cyclone activity. The highest areas are expected to be in a cone of 2-3 times average, aimed at our coast, which includes the Caribbean and Bahamas.

Further details will be on the Seasonal Forecasts next year, but I wanted to get this out early to you.

It appears the climate hypothesis that this El Niño could reverse quickly is quite possible.