The average global temperature for 2009 is expected to be more than 0.4 degrees celsius above the long-term average, despite the continued cooling of huge areas of the Pacific Ocean, a phenomenon known as La Nina.

Currently the warmest year on record is 1998, which saw average temperatures of 14.52 degrees celsius – well above the 1961-1990 long-term average of 14 degrees celsius.

No one knows what triggers weather events like El Nino or La Nina. What they all agree on, however, is that they play an important role in global weather patterns and are affected by climate change, due to the their strong affect on global surface temperature.

In any case, all indications point to the likeliness of storing your coats.

The article is via Reuters and can be found HERE.