2012 East Pacific hurricane season
May 15, 2012 – Nov 30, 2012 · Season ended
The 2012 East Pacific hurricane season produced 17 named storms, 10 hurricanes and 5 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 15.6, 8.4 and 4.4. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 98, 77% of the average.
2012 season at a glance
- Named storms: 17 (1991–2020 average 15.6).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 10 (average 8.4).
- Major, 96 kt+: 5 (average 4.4).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 98.4, 77% of the 127 average.
- Named-storm days: 67.0, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Aletta, May 15.
- First hurricane: Bud, May 24.
- First major storm: Bud, May 25.
- Last storm to dissipate: Rosa, November 5.
- All systems tracked: 17, 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
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aletta | – | TS | 1000 mb | — |
| Bud | – | C3 | 961 mb | — |
| Carlotta | – | C2 | 973 mb | Brisas de Zicatela, Mexico |
| Daniel | – | C3 | 961 mb | — |
| Emilia | – | C4 | 945 mb | — |
| Fabio | – | C2 | 966 mb | — |
| Gilma | – | C1 | 984 mb | — |
| Hector | – | TS | 995 mb | — |
| Ileana | – | C1 | 978 mb | — |
| John | – | TS | 1000 mb | — |
| Kristy | – | TS | 998 mb | — |
| Lane | – | C1 | 985 mb | — |
| Miriam | – | C3 | 959 mb | — |
| Norman | – | TS | 997 mb | Los Mochis, Mexico |
| Olivia | – | TS | 997 mb | — |
| Paul | – | C3 | 959 mb | — |
| Rosa | – | TS | 1001 mb | — |
- Aletta: Aletta formed in the East Pacific in May 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 6 days.
- Bud: Bud formed in the East Pacific in May 2012 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 961 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Carlotta: Carlotta formed in the East Pacific in June 2012 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 973 mb. It made landfall near Brisas de Zicatela, Mexico. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Daniel: Daniel formed in the East Pacific in July 2012 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 961 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Emilia: Emilia formed in the East Pacific in July 2012 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 945 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Fabio: Fabio formed in the East Pacific in July 2012 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 966 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Gilma: Gilma formed in the East Pacific 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 984 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Hector: Hector formed in the East Pacific in August 2012 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 995 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Ileana: Ileana formed in the East Pacific in August 2012 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 978 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 12 days.
- John: John formed in the East Pacific in September 2012 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Kristy: Kristy formed in the East Pacific in September 2012 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 998 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Lane: Lane formed in the East Pacific in September 2012 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 985 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Miriam: Miriam formed in the East Pacific in September 2012 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 959 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Norman: Norman formed in the East Pacific in September 2012 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mb. It made landfall near Los Mochis, Mexico. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Olivia: Olivia formed in the East Pacific in October 2012 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Paul: Paul formed in the East Pacific in October 2012 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 959 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Rosa: Rosa formed in the East Pacific in October 2012 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1001 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2012
Hurricane Emilia was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 140 mph (220 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 945 mb, on July 10. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
77 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 24 matched it. It produced 19% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2012
2 of the season’s 17 systems made landfall, 1 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
How 2012 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 21st of 47 East Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 6 other seasons), 11th for hurricanes (tied with 8 other seasons) and 29th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 25 named storms, in 1992, and the highest ACE is 294, in 2018.
2012 storm names
The 2012 season used 17 names: Aletta, Bud, Carlotta, Daniel, Emilia, Fabio, Gilma, Hector, Ileana, John, Kristy, Lane, Miriam, Norman, Olivia, Paul, Rosa.
Atlantic and East Pacific lists repeat every six years. See how storms are named.
2012 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2012?
The 2012 East Pacific hurricane season had 17 named storms, 10 hurricanes and 5 major hurricanes, from 17 systems tracked in all. The 1991–2020 average is 15.6 named storms, 8.4 at 64 kt or more and 4.4 major per season. The first to form was Aletta and the last was Rosa.
What was the strongest storm of 2012?
Hurricane Emilia. It peaked at 140 mph (220 km/h, 120 kt) with a lowest pressure of 945 mb on July 10. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 77 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 19% 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, Rosa, dissipated on November 5. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 1 East Pacific storm since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.