NOAA gets the Temp dat from Rectal Thermometers stuffed in the rectums of Al Gore, Barrack, Biden, Kerry, Boxer, Waxman, and a bunch of other Democrats that they depend on to get money from. Like NASA (See Ozone Hole), NOAA is a Whore and will say whatever the popular culture is.
I’m pretty sure they are transitioning from land based thermometers to satellite measurements.
That way, no one can look over their shoulders.
By the way, if you Google Deke Arndt and scan the hits you will find that he would probably say the same thing if he was freezing to death in August.