Words Mean Something

From today's NY Times weather map of 2014 they make the following statement:

The average temperature for the year was 54.5 degrees, 0.5 degrees below normal, which makes 2014 tied for the 56th-warmest year since 1869.

Now just think a bit:

1. The temperature was 54.5 and that was 0.5 below normal, call that average.

2. Then 2014 is tied for the 56th warmest year since 1869.

3. If it is below normal, say average, median or mean, then it means that half are above.

4. If it is since 1869 we have 145 years of data and assume that there are other ties, possibly even triplets.

5. Then if all were ties there would be 72 years of data and being 59th makes sense but calling it the warmest in any measure is nonsense. The words just do not match.

6. How does it rank as coldest? I guess it is politically incorrect to ask such a question in front of the NYT readers?

This is a clear example of the duplicity in the discussion about climate, change or otherwise. Political correctness dominates facts. Pity.