2012 North Indian cyclone season
Apr–Jun · Oct–Dec · Season ended
The 2012 North Indian cyclone season produced 5 named storms, 0 at hurricane strength and 0 major storms, against a 1991–2020 average of 6.3, 2.0 and 1.0. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 4, 18% of the average.
2012 season at a glance
- Named storms: 5 (1991–2020 average 6.3).
- Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 0 (average 2.0).
- Major, 96 kt+: 0 (average 1.0).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 4.3, 18% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 7.3, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Tropical Storm Unnamed, October 10.
- First storm at hurricane strength: none.
- Last storm to dissipate: Tropical Storm 4A, December 25.
- All systems tracked: 5, 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). Regional agencies here use 10-minute winds (3-minute in India), so their official counts can differ.
Every storm of the 2012 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed | – | TS | 1002 mb | Chhāgalnāiya, Bangladesh |
| Murjan | – | TS | 996 mb | Bandarbeyla, Somalia |
| Nilam | – | TS | 985 mb | Uttiramerūr, India |
| TD 3B | – | TS | 996 mb | Covelong, India |
| TD 4A | – | TS | 996 mb | — |
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in October 2012 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1002 mb. It made landfall near Chhāgalnāiya, Bangladesh. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- Murjan: Murjan formed in the North Indian in October 2012 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 996 mb. It made landfall near Bandarbeyla, Somalia. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Nilam: Nilam formed in the North Indian in October 2012 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 985 mb. It made landfall near Uttiramerūr, India. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- TD 3B: This system formed in the North Indian in November 2012 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 996 mb. It made landfall near Covelong, India. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- TD 4A: This system formed in the North Indian in December 2012 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 996 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2012
Tropical Storm Nilam was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 60 mph (95 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 985 mb, on October 30. It stayed below hurricane strength (64 kt, 74 mph).
109 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 24 matched it. It produced 51% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2012
4 of the season’s 5 systems made landfall, none 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 29th of 47 North Indian seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 9 other seasons), 39th for hurricane strength (tied with 8 other seasons) and 43rd for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 11 named storms, in 1998, and the highest ACE is 85, in 2019.
2012 storm names
The 2012 season used 2 names: Murjan, Nilam.
3 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
2012 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2012?
The 2012 North Indian cyclone season had 5 named storms, 0 at hurricane strength and 0 major storms, from 5 systems tracked in all. The 1991–2020 average is 6.3 named storms, 2.0 at 64 kt or more and 1.0 major per season. The first to form was Tropical Storm Unnamed and the last was Tropical Storm 4A.
What was the strongest storm of 2012?
Tropical Storm Nilam. It peaked at 60 mph (95 km/h, 50 kt) with a lowest pressure of 985 mb on October 30. It stayed below hurricane strength (64 kt, 74 mph). 109 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 51% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2012 season end?
The North Indian Ocean has no official season, so the 2012 season is the calendar year: every storm that formed by December 31 counts. The last system, Tropical Storm 4A, dissipated on December 25. Since 1980, 31 North Indian storms reached tropical-storm strength in December.