OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A national report says Nebraska was one of two states that experienced its hottest and driest year on record in 2012.

The Omaha World-Herald (http://bit.ly/Uz61Pe ) reports the State of the Climate Report released Tuesday shows Nebraska and Wyoming broke their state records last year.

The National Climatic Data Center's report shows the average annual U.S. temperature was 55.32 degrees Fahrenheit. That's a full degree Fahrenheit warmer than the old 1998 record.

Iowa saw its second warmest year on record. It also had its 11th driest year.

U.S. temperature records go back to 1895. The yearly average is based on reports from more than 1,200 weather stations across the Lower 48 states.