NOAA: U.S. on track for coolest year since 1997

Fresh meat for the global warming naysayers - SILive: Weather

The calendar year isn't exactly over yet, but the people who watch such things --- namely the National Climatic Data Center --- are reporting that through its first 10 months 2008 is shaping up to be the coolest year in the United States since 1997.

What gives? The experts are pointing to two factors --- an active La Nina earlier this year, and a very wet year in the central and eastern United States. We're not sure we're entirely buying that argument on either score. We've seen warm years here that have included La Ninas, and while New York City is currently wetter than normal for this year to date in precipitation, the departure is not all that great.