We were pretty sure this would happen. But 2012 is now officially the warmest calendar year on record for the contiguous U.S., according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It was also the second most severe year for natural disasters — 1998 is the first — with 11 extreme weather events causing over $1 billion in damage.
In this map of the lower 48, states marked with the number "118" experienced their warmest year in 118 years of record-keeping. (NOAA)
