When I argue with denialists about Global Warming, they often like to point to recent weather events (usually quite local) that aren't so "warm," however meaningless such weather is to climate change. One thing I like to point out is that the land mass of the U.S. is so small relative to the entire earth, that it's at least theoretically possible for us to experience cooling over the entire country while most of the planet on average continues to heat. Mostly, this is to make a point, as it does seem unlikely this would actually occur (--though there is a theory that much of the U.S. and Europe can expect some short term cooling as a byproduct to climate change, especially if the Atlantic Conveyor breaks down).

Now the data is in [1] and it shows that much of the country is indeed a tiny island of cooling on a vastly warming planet.

If you still wonder why it's so cool, keep in mind that we are in the midst of the two cyclic cooling events of La Nina and the 11 year solar cycle minimum. So there is that double whammy going on.

Mind you, I'm not complaining about our recent weather. Many mornings it's been downright cool and the projected high for Tuesday and Wednesday is 79 degrees. Nice!

Bonus question I don't have the slightest answer for: Where are the 'skeeters? I sat out in the hammock for a couple hours yesterday and there was nary a one. All of the usual bad areas around our house have been pretty quiet the whole season, so far. Is it an effect of the the lingering drought? Anyway, I ain't complaining.

*Title borrowed from this guy [2].