All seasons · Atlantic
2012 Atlantic hurricane season
The 2012 Atlantic season has 19 storms in the best-track record; 19 reached tropical-storm strength and 10 became hurricanes, 2 of them major. Its accumulated cyclone energy of 130.9 is the 37th-highest of the 175 seasons in the Atlantic record since 1851. For storms of tropical-storm strength it is tied for the sixth-busiest season. Sandy was the strongest, peaking at 115 mph as a Category 3 hurricane. Landfall records exist for 7 of its storms, in the Azores, Cuba, Florida, Haiti, Jamaica, Louisiana, New Jersey, Quintana Roo and Veracruz. The first record is dated May 19, the last October 29.
Storm by storm
More storms formed in August than in any other month of 2012: 8 of 19. Nadine both lasted longest, 23.2 days as a tropical or subtropical system, and contributed the most energy, 20% of the season's ACE. Strongest landfall of each storm: Beryl reached Florida as a tropical storm on May 28; Debby reached Florida as a tropical storm on June 26; Ernesto reached Quintana Roo as a Category 2 hurricane on August 8; Helene reached Veracruz as a depression on August 18; Gordon reached the Azores as a Category 1 hurricane on August 20; Isaac reached Louisiana as a Category 1 hurricane on August 29; Sandy reached Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane on October 25.
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Strength | Lowest | Landfalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberto | May 19–22 | 60 mph | Tropical storm | 995 mb | – |
| Beryl | May 26–30 | 70 mph | Tropical storm | 992 mb | Florida |
| Chris | Jun 18–22 | 85 mph | Category 1 | 974 mb | – |
| Debby | Jun 23–27 | 65 mph | Tropical storm | 990 mb | Florida |
| Ernesto | Aug 1–10 | 100 mph | Category 2 | 973 mb | Quintana Roo, Veracruz |
| Florence | Aug 3–6 | 60 mph | Tropical storm | 1002 mb | – |
| Helene | Aug 9–18 | 45 mph | Tropical storm | 1004 mb | Veracruz |
| Gordon | Aug 15–20 | 110 mph | Category 2 | 965 mb | Azores |
| Isaac | Aug 21 – Sep 1 | 80 mph | Category 1 | 965 mb | Haiti, Cuba, Louisiana |
| Joyce | Aug 22–24 | 40 mph | Tropical storm | 1006 mb | – |
| Kirk | Aug 28 – Sep 2 | 105 mph | Category 2 | 970 mb | – |
| Leslie | Aug 30 – Sep 11 | 80 mph | Category 1 | 968 mb | – |
| Michael | Sep 3–11 | 115 mph | Category 3 | 964 mb | – |
| Nadine | Sep 10 – Oct 3 | 90 mph | Category 1 | 978 mb | – |
| Oscar | Oct 3–5 | 50 mph | Tropical storm | 994 mb | – |
| Patty | Oct 11–13 | 45 mph | Tropical storm | 1005 mb | – |
| Rafael | Oct 12–17 | 90 mph | Category 1 | 969 mb | – |
| Sandy | Oct 22–29 | 115 mph | Category 3 | 940 mb | Jamaica, Cuba, New Jersey |
| Tony | Oct 22–25 | 50 mph | Tropical storm | 1000 mb | – |
Against other Atlantic seasons
Accumulated cyclone energy of every season; the red bar is 2012.