2012 Year in Review: Superstorms and Scorchers

Mother Nature made her mark again this year and did so, unfortunately, in the most extreme ways: hellish heat, drought, superstorms and other wild weather events.

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Scorching heat waves swept across the U.S., topping records and sending many to beaches for a reprieve. The U.N.'s World Meteorological Organization concluded 2012 will be one of the warmest years on record. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Scorching heat waves swept across the U.S., topping records and sending many to beaches for a reprieve. The U.N.'s World Meteorological Organization concluded 2012 will be one of the warmest years on record. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)