All seasons · Atlantic
1972 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1972 Atlantic season has 17 storms in the best-track record; 12 reached tropical-storm strength and 2 became hurricanes, none of them major. Its accumulated cyclone energy of 27.8 is the ninth-lowest of the 175 seasons in the Atlantic record since 1851. Betty was the strongest, peaking at 90 mph as a Category 1 hurricane. Landfall records exist for 2 of its storms, in Florida and South Carolina. The first record is dated May 25, the last November 7.
Storm by storm
More storms formed in September than in any other month of 1972: 5 of 17. Betty both lasted longest, 9.5 days as a tropical or subtropical system, and contributed the most energy, 40% of the season's ACE. Strongest landfall of each storm: Agnes reached Florida as a Category 1 hurricane on June 19; Storm 4 of 1972 reached South Carolina as a tropical storm on July 12.
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Strength | Lowest | Landfalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha | May 25–29 | 70 mph | Tropical storm | 988 mb | – |
| Agnes | Jun 14–21 | 80 mph | Category 1 | 979 mb | Florida |
| Storm 3 of 1972 | Jun 18–21 | 50 mph | Tropical storm | 1007 mb | – |
| Storm 4 of 1972 | Jul 11–13 | 40 mph | Tropical storm | 1014 mb | South Carolina |
| Storm 5 of 1972 | Jul 18–22 | 45 mph | Tropical storm | 998 mb | – |
| Storm 6 of 1972 | Aug 3–4 | 35 mph | Depression | 1008 mb | – |
| Storm 9 of 1972 | Aug 17–18 | 30 mph | Depression | – | – |
| Betty | Aug 22 – Sep 1 | 90 mph | Category 1 | 976 mb | – |
| Carrie | Aug 29 – Sep 3 | 65 mph | Tropical storm | 1002 mb | – |
| Storm 12 of 1972 | Sep 3–4 | 50 mph | Tropical storm | 1002 mb | – |
| Dawn | Sep 5–12 | 65 mph | Tropical storm | 996 mb | – |
| Charlie | Sep 19–21 | 65 mph | Tropical storm | 1001 mb | – |
| Storm 15 of 1972 | Sep 20–23 | 35 mph | Depression | 1009 mb | – |
| Storm 16 of 1972 | Sep 29 – Oct 3 | 40 mph | Tropical storm | 1012 mb | – |
| Storm 17 of 1972 | Oct 5–12 | 35 mph | Depression | 1006 mb | – |
| Storm 18 of 1972 | Oct 17–22 | 35 mph | Depression | – | – |
| Delta | Nov 1–7 | 45 mph | Tropical storm | 1001 mb | – |
Against other Atlantic seasons
Accumulated cyclone energy of every season; the red bar is 1972.