Tornados hit such unlikely targets as New York City, Iran and Oman. Heat waves killed people from Tennessee to across Europe. The Arctic warmed more than ever before recorded, while South Africa got its first significant snowfall in 25 years.
Reunion Island saw a record set for the most rain to fall in 72 hours -- 155 inches. England had its warmest April in nearly 350 years. In the U.S., 8,000 high temperature records were tied or broken in August.
Australia, already a dry continent, suffered its worst drought in a century, making global warming an election issue. On the other extreme, record rains fell in China, England and Wales.
Minnesota got the worst of everything: a devastating June and July drought followed by record August rainfall. In one March day, Southern California got torrential downpours, hail, snow and fierce winds. Then in the fall came devastating fires driven by Santa Ana winds.
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