News 2012 State's Hottest Year On Record SDPB | By Charles Michael Ray Published December 8, 2012 at 3:46 PM CST Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 4:58 2012 is on track to be the hottest year on record in South Dakota. Climatologists say this year is looking to be even hotter than the previous heat records set during the Dust Bowl of the 1930’s. Listen here for more.