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HurriTracker

2012 Atlantic hurricane season

Jun 1, 2012 – Nov 30, 2012 · Season ended

The 2012 Atlantic hurricane season produced 19 named storms, 10 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 14.4, 7.2 and 3.2. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 133, 108% of the average.

2011 season2013 seasonAll Atlantic seasons
Named storms
19
Avg 14.4 (1991–2020)
Hurricanes
10
64 kt or stronger · avg 7.2
Major (Cat 3+)
2
Avg 3.2 per season
Accumulated energy
108% of normal
ACE 133 vs 1991–2020 avg 123
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Tracks colored by peak strengthTSC1C2C3

2012 season at a glance

  • Named storms: 19 (1991–2020 average 14.4).
  • Hurricanes (64 kt+): 10 (average 7.2).
  • Major, 96 kt+: 2 (average 3.2).
  • Accumulated cyclone energy: 132.7, 108% of the 123 average.
  • Named-storm days: 101.3, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
  • First named storm: Alberto, May 19.
  • First hurricane: Chris, June 21.
  • First major storm: Michael, September 6.
  • Last storm to dissipate: Sandy, October 31.
  • All systems tracked: 19, every one of which reached tropical-storm strength.

Counts use 1-minute best-track winds: named storms reached 34 kt (39 mph), the next column 64 kt (74 mph) and major storms 96 kt (111 mph).

Every storm of the 2012 season

StormDatesPeakMin pressureLandfall
Alberto – TS995 mb—
Beryl – TS992 mbPalm Valley, United States
Chris – C1974 mb—
Debby – TS990 mbNewberry, United States
Ernesto – C2973 mbChetumal, Mexico
Florence – TS1002 mb—
Helene – TS1004 mbCiudad Cuauhtémoc, Mexico
Gordon – C2965 mbVila Franca do Campo, Portugal
Isaac – C1965 mbGrangwav, Haiti
Joyce – TS1006 mb—
Leslie – C1968 mb—
Kirk – C2970 mb—
Michael – C3964 mb—
Nadine – C1978 mb—
Oscar – TS994 mb—
Patty – TS1005 mb—
Rafael – C1966 mb—
Sandy – C3940 mbYallahs, Jamaica
Tony – TS1000 mb—
  • Alberto: Alberto formed in the Atlantic in May 2012 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 995 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
  • Beryl: Beryl formed in the Atlantic in May 2012 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 992 mb. It made landfall near Palm Valley, United States. The system was tracked for 8 days.
  • Chris: Chris formed in the Atlantic in June 2012 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 974 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
  • Debby: Debby formed in the Atlantic in June 2012 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 990 mb. It made landfall near Newberry, United States. The system was tracked for 4 days.
  • Ernesto: Ernesto formed in the Atlantic in August 2012 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 973 mb. It made 3 landfalls, first near Chetumal, Mexico and last near Pajapan, Mexico. The system was tracked for 9 days.
  • Florence: Florence formed in the Atlantic in August 2012 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1002 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
  • Helene: Helene formed in the Atlantic in August 2012 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1004 mb. It made landfall near Ciudad Cuauhtémoc, Mexico. The system was tracked for 9 days.
  • Gordon: Gordon formed in the Atlantic in August 2012 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 965 mb. It made landfall near Vila Franca do Campo, Portugal. The system was tracked for 6 days.
  • Isaac: Isaac formed in the Atlantic in August 2012 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 965 mb. It made 4 landfalls, first near Grangwav, Haiti and last near Galliano, United States. The system was tracked for 12 days.
  • Joyce: Joyce formed in the Atlantic in August 2012 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1006 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
  • Leslie: Leslie formed in the Atlantic in August 2012 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 968 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 15 days.
  • Kirk: Kirk formed in the Atlantic in August 2012 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 970 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
  • Michael: Michael formed in the Atlantic in September 2012 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 964 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
  • Nadine: Nadine formed in the Atlantic in September 2012 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 978 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 24 days.
  • Oscar: Oscar formed in the Atlantic in October 2012 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 994 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
  • Patty: Patty formed in the Atlantic in October 2012 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1005 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
  • Rafael: Rafael formed in the Atlantic in October 2012 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 966 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 14 days.
  • Sandy: Sandy formed in the Atlantic in October 2012 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 940 mb. It made 3 landfalls, first near Yallahs, Jamaica and last near Atlantic City, United States. The system was tracked for 10 days.
  • Tony: Tony formed in the Atlantic in October 2012 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.

Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.

Strongest storm of 2012

Hurricane Sandy was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 115 mph (185 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 940 mb, on October 25. That is Category 3 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

111 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 22 matched it. It produced 10% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.

Landfalls in 2012

7 of the season’s 19 systems made landfall, 4 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.

  • May 28: Beryl near Palm Valley, United States, 65 mph (tropical storm)
  • June 26: Debby near Newberry, United States, 40 mph (tropical storm)
  • August 8: Ernesto near Chetumal, Mexico, 90 mph (Category 1)
  • August 8: Ernesto near Calderitas, Mexico, 100 mph (Category 2)
  • August 9: Ernesto near Pajapan, Mexico, 65 mph (tropical storm)
  • August 18: Helene near Ciudad Cuauhtémoc, Mexico, 35 mph (tropical depression)
  • August 20: Gordon near Vila Franca do Campo, Portugal, 75 mph (Category 1)
  • August 25: Isaac near Grangwav, Haiti, 65 mph (tropical storm)
  • August 25: Isaac near Baracoa, Cuba, 60 mph (tropical storm)
  • August 29: Isaac near Galliano, United States, 80 mph (Category 1)
  • August 29: Isaac near Galliano, United States, 80 mph (Category 1)
  • October 24: Sandy near Yallahs, Jamaica, 85 mph (Category 1)
  • October 25: Sandy near Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, 115 mph (Category 3)
  • October 29: Sandy near Atlantic City, United States, 80 mph (Category 1)

How 2012 ranks since 1980

The season ranks 5th of 47 Atlantic seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 3 other seasons), 6th for hurricanes (tied with 2 other seasons) and 18th for accumulated cyclone energy.

The record since 1980 is 30 named storms, in 2020, and the highest ACE is 250, in 2005.

2012 storm names

The 2012 season used 19 names: Alberto, Beryl, Chris, Debby, Ernesto, Florence, Helene, Gordon, Isaac, Joyce, Leslie, Kirk, Michael, Nadine, Oscar, Patty, Rafael, Sandy, Tony.

Atlantic and East Pacific lists repeat every six years. See how storms are named.

The WMO later retired the name Sandy, so it will not be used again.

2012 season FAQ

How many named storms were there in 2012?

The 2012 Atlantic hurricane season had 19 named storms, 10 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes, from 19 systems tracked in all. The 1991–2020 average is 14.4 named storms, 7.2 at 64 kt or more and 3.2 major per season. The first to form was Alberto and the last was Tony.

What was the strongest storm of 2012?

Hurricane Sandy. It peaked at 115 mph (185 km/h, 100 kt) with a lowest pressure of 940 mb on October 25. That is Category 3 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 111 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 10% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.

When did the 2012 season end?

The official season ended on November 30, 2012, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Sandy, dissipated on October 31. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 6 Atlantic storms since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.