…because the site of the official thermometer is not in accordance with NOAA’s own guidelines.
The guidelines state that such “temperature instruments should be 5 1/2 feet above a grassy surface 100 feet or more from a heat source and away from structures that can affect ventilation.”
Instead, in the federal agency’s own official photograph of the Death Valley thermometer, it appears to be sited on concrete (it obviously is not grass) and within a few feet of a building.
“And yet still the hype is turning into tripe about the 134 at Death Valley…The instrument can be accurate, but if the site is not maintained or the environment changes around it, its more than likely to read warmer!”
Of course it plays in really nicely with the federal hue and cry about global warming, i.e. climate change, i.e. we have to regulate CO2 (read, choke the economy by raising the price of electricity) to save the planet, etc. Which even some climate “scientists” ignore.
Via WeatherBell meterologist Joe D’Aleo.
UPDATE: More on the thermometer siting scandal (and it sure as hell is a scandal) from climate blogger Watts Up With That.
THE TEXAS SCRIBBLER 
Whatever it takes to make a statement. And to make people to stick to a policy, right or wrong.
What amazes me (though it shouldn’t) is the way this siting story has been around for a decade and the alphabets and big newspapers STILL act as if what the weather service says must be gospel.