The United States has experienced the highest average temperatures in 2012, making it hottest year in the continents history. "The average temperature for 2012 was 55.3 F, 3.2 F above the 20th century average, and 1.0 F above 1998, the previous warmest year," the National Climate Data Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said. ... 
2008 makes a record with a global mean temperature of 14.3 degree centigrade. ...