Hottest year on record, wait didn't you say...

Question: I just heard 2014 was the hottest year on record, but didn't this blog just say that it was the coldest year since 1980, what gives? 

Answer: Yes many different agencies just announced that have recorded 2014 as the warmest year on record and our data show that it was the coldest year locally since 1980.   What is important to remember is that our region makes up only a small part of the planet and although we had a very cold year, globally the temperature was well above average. 

This map from NASA of the 2014 temperatures shows that our part of the world was the coldest anywhere:

So both statements are correct,  just for different scales.