Extreme Weather Of The Week (PHOTOS)

The Pacific Northwest region of the United States was no stranger to extreme weather this week. Although the blizzard of up to 14 inches that was originally forecasted didn't hit, snow still caused closures and delays.

Areas in and around Seattle received several inches of snow and saw traffic accidents and delays from sloppy roads and downed trees.

Snow began falling in Chicago on Friday, with eight inches expected. Highway crews had several hundred plows ready to combat traffic delays and clogged roadways.

New York City will likely get its turn to deal with snow this weekend. As of Friday, the first major snowstorm of the winter was expected to drop three to six inches across the New York metropolitan area.

On Thursday, government scientists announced that 2011 was the 11th hottest year on record. Temperatures in 2011 were 0.9 degrees higher than the 20th century average. According to the Associated Press, 2011 was hotter than every year in the 20th century except 1998.

Check out some of the wildest and most extreme weather pictures from around the world this week and see how they compare to your city.