RSS posts December average - 2010 lagged 1998.

RSS posted its December average, and confirmed what had been expected for 2010 - short of the record average in 1998, but still second hottest.  I've updated the tracking plot.

GISS looks likely to report 2010 as the hottest year recorded. NOAA is less clearcut, but still quite likely. The other indices are likely to maintain 1998 as hottest.

I'll be mostly offline for a few days - back at the weekend.