The year 2012 was officially the warmest year on record (dating back to 1895) for the lower 48 states, confirmed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Here's a collection of stunning weather images from the past year.

Stunning weather photos from 2012, the warmest year on record

Tornadoes strike the south in JanuaryResidents of Trussville, Alabama walk around their neighborhood, surveying the damage caused by an early January tornado. (Butch Dill/AP)January 2012 saw 70 tornadoes strike the United States, making it the third-highest January on record for tornado activity, reported USA Today.Derecho causes major damage in Midwest, Ohio ValleyThe Goldberg family waits outside their home in Washington, D.C., after it was struck by a tree during the derecho storm on June 29, 2012. (Daniel C. Britt / ...

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