10 Major Weather Events That Rocked 2012

Hurricane Sandy and others events caused billions in damage.

A Record Year - While the world didn’t end on Dec. 21, 2012 was certainly a year for major weather events that caused billions of damage in the U.S. From Superstorm Sandy to an April freeze that damaged crops across the Northeast, keep reading for a look back at the top 10 weather events of the 2012, as ranked by Think Progress. – Britt Middleton (Photo: EPA/MASTER SGT. MARK OLSEN / US AIR FORCE /Landov)

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A Record Year - While the world didn’t end on Dec. 21, 2012 was certainly a year for major weather events that caused billions of damage in the U.S. From Superstorm Sandy to an April freeze that damaged crops across the Northeast, keep reading for a look back at the top 10 weather events of the 2012, as ranked by Think Progress. – Britt Middleton (Photo: EPA/MASTER SGT. MARK OLSEN / US AIR FORCE /Landov)

Hurricane Sandy - Hurricane Sandy made landfall outside Atlantic City, New Jersey, the night of Oct. 29, lashing the Eastern Seaboard with torrential rain and causing blizzard conditions in six states. More than 130 fatalities were reported and 8.5 million people were left without power. Damage was estimated at $62 billion. (Photo: AP Photo/ John Minchillo)

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Hurricane Sandy - Hurricane Sandy made landfall outside Atlantic City, New Jersey, the night of Oct. 29, lashing the Eastern Seaboard with torrential rain and causing blizzard conditions in six states. More than 130 fatalities were reported and 8.5 million people were left without power. Damage was estimated at $62 billion. (Photo: AP Photo/ John Minchillo)

The Hottest Year Ever - “July was the warmest month of any month in the 1,400+ months of the U.S. data record, going back to 1895. The spring temperature departure from average was the largest on record for any season, and March temperatures had the second largest warm departure from average of any month in U.S. history,” writes ThinkProgress’ Jeff Masters. (Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images)

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The Hottest Year Ever - “July was the warmest month of any month in the 1,400+ months of the U.S. data record, going back to 1895. The spring temperature departure from average was the largest on record for any season, and March temperatures had the second largest warm departure from average of any month in U.S. history,” writes ThinkProgress’ Jeff Masters. (Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Drought Conditions Damage Crops - What has been dubbed “the Great U.S. Drought of 2012” is on track to be the most damaging since the Dust Bowl drought of December 1939. “The heat and dryness resulted in record or near-record evaporation rates, causing major impact on corn, soybean and wheat belts in addition to livestock production,” says Masters. Damages are currently estimated at $35 billion. (Photo: John Moore/Getty Images)

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Drought Conditions Damage Crops - What has been dubbed “the Great U.S. Drought of 2012” is on track to be the most damaging since the Dust Bowl drought of December 1939. “The heat and dryness resulted in record or near-record evaporation rates, causing major impact on corn, soybean and wheat belts in addition to livestock production,” says Masters. Damages are currently estimated at $35 billion. (Photo: John Moore/Getty Images)

Wildfires Rip Through the U.S. - In 2012, 9.2 million acres were burned, the third highest in U.S. history during fire season, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. “New Mexico had its largest fire in state history, Colorado its most destructive and second largest in state history, and Oregon had its largest fire since the 1860s. More than 3.6 million acres burned in the U.S. during August – the most on record for any August in recorded history,” says Masters. (Photo: AP Photo/Bryan Oller)

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Wildfires Rip Through the U.S. - In 2012, 9.2 million acres were burned, the third highest in U.S. history during fire season, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. “New Mexico had its largest fire in state history, Colorado its most destructive and second largest in state history, and Oregon had its largest fire since the 1860s. More than 3.6 million acres burned in the U.S. during August – the most on record for any August in recorded history,” says Masters. (Photo: AP Photo/Bryan Oller)

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Tornado Outbreaks - “A massive tornado outbreak of stunning violence swept through the nation’s midsection March 2-3, spawning deadly tornadoes that killed 41 people. Hardest hit were Kentucky and Southern Indiana, which suffered 22 and 13 dead, respectively. The scale of the outbreak was exceptional, with 70 tornadoes touching down in eleven states, from southern Ohio to southern Georgia,” says Masters. (Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

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Tornado Outbreaks - “A massive tornado outbreak of stunning violence swept through the nation’s midsection March 2-3, spawning deadly tornadoes that killed 41 people. Hardest hit were Kentucky and Southern Indiana, which suffered 22 and 13 dead, respectively. The scale of the outbreak was exceptional, with 70 tornadoes touching down in eleven states, from southern Ohio to southern Georgia,” says Masters. (Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

June Derecho Leaves Path of Destruction - On June 29, people from Illinois to Virginia felt the effects of the derecho, a powerful line of thunderstorms stemming from the Spanish term “straight ahead,” leaving a trail of damaged homes, downed trees and power lines. Twenty-two people were killed and 3.4 million were left without power. (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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June Derecho Leaves Path of Destruction - On June 29, people from Illinois to Virginia felt the effects of the derecho, a powerful line of thunderstorms stemming from the Spanish term “straight ahead,” leaving a trail of damaged homes, downed trees and power lines. Twenty-two people were killed and 3.4 million were left without power. (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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Hurricane Isaac - As a Category 1 storm, Hurricane Isaac touched down near the Mississippi on Aug. 28 with 80 mph winds. It caused storm surges up to 11 feet, which caused flooding in parts of Mississippi and Louisiana as well as disrupted plans for the 2012 Republican National Convention in Florida. Isaac caused an estimated $2 billion in damage. (Photo: AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Unseasonably Warm Temperatures - The winter of 2011-2012 was the fourth warmest and 24th driest in U.S. history, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). “A primary cause of this warm and snowless winter was the most extreme configuration of the jet stream ever recorded, as measured by the North Atlantic Oscillation,” says Masters, prompting many to reevaluate their winter wardrobe day after day. (Photo: REUTERS /LUCAS JACKSON /LANDOV)

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Unseasonably Warm Temperatures - The winter of 2011-2012 was the fourth warmest and 24th driest in U.S. history, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). “A primary cause of this warm and snowless winter was the most extreme configuration of the jet stream ever recorded, as measured by the North Atlantic Oscillation,” says Masters, prompting many to reevaluate their winter wardrobe day after day. (Photo: REUTERS /LUCAS JACKSON /LANDOV)

Severe Weather Outbreak - From April 30-May 1, the Ohio Valley was lashed with 38 tornadoes that caused an estimated $4 billion in damage.(Photo: Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

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Severe Weather Outbreak - From April 30-May 1, the Ohio Valley was lashed with 38 tornadoes that caused an estimated $4 billion in damage.(Photo: Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

April Freeze Damages Crops - An “April Freeze” swept across the Midwest and the Northeast this year, costing farmers billions in damaged crops. “New York’s fruit production was the lowest since 1948, and it was the worst fruit season for Michigan since 1945. Damage in Michigan alone was estimated at $500 million,” says Masters. (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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April Freeze Damages Crops - An “April Freeze” swept across the Midwest and the Northeast this year, costing farmers billions in damaged crops. “New York’s fruit production was the lowest since 1948, and it was the worst fruit season for Michigan since 1945. Damage in Michigan alone was estimated at $500 million,” says Masters. (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)