But global warming will begin in earnest in 2009, and a couple of the years between 2009 and 2014 will eclipse 1998, the warmest year on record to date, in the heat stakes, British meteorologists said.
Oops, 1998 is no longer the warmest year on record.
In the United States (which is why I wrote this little posting). Globally, 1998 was much warmer than any other year since 1880 (whenever the official start year of the instrumental record is) and will be -- until there's another strong El Nino event. The year that happens will be the new global temperature record year.
I'll go beyond the IPCC and say that I have 100% confidence in my final statement above, beginning with "until". The only factor that could change that outcome would be a true decrease in solar radiance. I don't see that happening, thought some solar scientists have made that prediction. (And if they're right, it's good for the globe.)