Tropical cyclones in 2012 Last updated March 28, 2025
Tropical cyclones in 2012 Year summary map
First system 06U and Chanda Formed January 5, 2012 Last system Dumile Dissipated January 5, 2013 Name Sanba Lowest pressure 900 mbar (hPa ); 26.58 inHg Name Nadine Duration 24 days Total systems 128 Named systems 85 Total fatalities 3,248 total Total damage $93.81 billion (2012 USD ) Other years 2010 , 2011 , 2012 , 2013 , 2014
Satellite photos of the 24 tropical cyclones worldwide that reached at least Category 3 on the Saffir–Simpson scale during 2012 , from Funso in January to Freda in December. Sanba (first image in the third row) was the most intense, with a minimum central pressure of 900 hPa. During 2012, tropical cyclones formed within seven different tropical cyclone basins , located within various parts of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. During the year, a total of 128 tropical cyclones had formed this year to date. 85 tropical cyclones had been named by either a Regional Specialized Meteorological Center (RSMC) or a Tropical Cyclone Warning Center (TCWC).
The most active basin in the year was the Western Pacific , which documented 25 named systems, while the North Atlantic saw its fifth-most-active season on record, tied with 1887 , 1995 , 2010 , and 2011 . Conversely, the Eastern Pacific hurricane season experienced an average number of cyclones reaching tropical storm intensity, numbering 17 respectively. The least-active basin of the year was the North Indian Ocean , which had a late start with its first system forming in October. Activity across the southern hemisphere's three basins—South-West Indian , Australian , and South Pacific —was spread evenly, with each region recording seven named storms apiece. So far, twenty-four Category 3 tropical cyclones formed, including three Category 5 tropical cyclones in the year. The accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) index for the 2012 (seven basins combined), as calculated by Colorado State University was 740.5 units.
The strongest tropical cyclone was Typhoon Sanba , which strengthened to a minimum barometric pressure of 900 mbar (hPa ; 26.58 inHg ) before striking South Korea . The costliest tropical cyclone of the year was Hurricane Sandy , which caused $68.7 billion (2012 USD) in damages after striking the Caribbean and United States. The deadliest tropical cyclone of the year was Typhoon Bopha which caused widespread destruction on Mindanao, leaving thousands of people homeless and killing 1,901 people.
Summary Nineteen tropical cyclones formed in the Atlantic hurricane season, the third-most active in history with previous 1887 , 1995 , 2010 and 2011 seasons. On East Pacific and Central Pacific, a total of 17 named storms formed during the season.
Systems A total of 132 systems formed globally in the year with 52 of them causing significant damage, deaths, and/or setting records for their basin.
January Cyclone Funso January was the most active month of the year with 21 tropical cyclones forming, However, only six were named by specific tropical cyclone naming agencies. Intense Tropical Cyclone Funso produced flooding rains as it looped in the Mozambique Channel, killing at least 21 people, soon after Subtropical Depression Dando killed 10 people across southern Africa.
Tropical cyclones formed in January 2012 Storm name Dates active Max wind Pressure Areas affected DamageUSD ) Deaths Refs 06U January 5 Unspecified Unspecified Timor None None Chanda January 5–10 75 (45) 992 Madagascar None 1 03F January 7–8 Unspecified 1001 Tonga None None 04F January 8–9 Unspecified 1000 French Polynesia None None 06F January 8–10 Unspecified 1000 Niue None None Heidi January 9–13 150 (90) 960 Western Australia None None Dando January 10–18 85 (50) 992 Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Swaziland None 10 [ 1] 08U January 13 Unspecified Unspecified None None None TD January 13–14 Unspecified 1006 Malaysia None None Ethel January 17–22 100 (65) 972 Rodrigues None 1 [ 2] Funso January 17–28 205 (125) 925 Mozambique, Malawi None 36 [ 3] 06F January 20–24 Unspecified 1001 Fiji $17.2 million 8 09U January 21 Unspecified Unspecified None None None 10U January 22–29 55 (35) 993 Northern Territory, Queensland None None Iggy January 22–February 3 110 (70) 970 Indonesia, Western Australia None 16 [ 4] 07F January 25–February 2 55 (35) 994 Vanuatu, Fiji, New Caledonia None None 08F January 26–28 Unspecified 1001 Fiji None None 09F January 30–31 55 (35) 998 Vanuatu, Fiji None None
February Cyclone Giovanna A total of nine tropical systems of all intensities were monitored during February 2012, of which five developed further and were named by the various warning centres. Intense Tropical Cyclone Giovanna was a powerful tropical cyclone that affected Madagascar . Giovanna is still blamed for 33 deaths along the Madagascar coast, and it is the first intense tropical cyclone to impact Madagascar, since Cyclone Bingiza in February 2011.
Tropical cyclones formed in February 2012 Storm name Dates active Max wind Pressure Areas affected DamageUSD ) Deaths Refs Jasmine February 1–19 195 (120) 937 Northern Territory, Queensland, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Tonga None None 10F February 2–6 35 (25) 991 Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji, Tonga None None Cyril February 5–8 95 (60) 985 Fiji, Tonga None None Hilwa February 5–22 75 (45) 993 Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, Rodriges None None Giovanna February 7–22 195 (125) 935 Mauritius, Réunion, Madagascar None 35 [ 5] [ 6] 10F February 13–17 Unspecified 1005 New Caledonia, Vanuatu None None 01W February 17–21 55 (35) 1004 Philippines None None Irina February 25–March 12 95 (60) 978 Madagascar, Mozambique, Swaziland, South Africa None 77 12 February 29–March 3 55 (35) 996 None None None
March Cyclone Lua A total of twelve tropical systems of all intensities were monitored during March 2012, of which four developed further and were named by the various warning centres. Cyclone Lua affected a sparsely populated region of Western Australia .
Tropical cyclones formed in March 2012 Storm name Dates active Max wind Pressure Areas affected DamageUSD ) Deaths Refs 14U March 3–7 Unspecified 1000 Western Australia None None Koji-Joni March 5–11 95 (60) 978 None None None Lua March 9–18 155 (100) 935 Western Australia $230 million None [ 7] [ 8] 17U March 12–22 55 (35) 993 Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland None None 14F March 16–18 Unspecified 1005 New Zealand None 5 15F March 19–20 Unspecified 1004 New Caledonia None None 16F March 22–27 Unspecified 1003 Wallis and Futuna, Fiji None None TD March 24 Unspecified 1008 Philippines None None 17F March 25–28 Unspecified 1000 Fiji None None Pakhar March 26–April 2 95 (60) 1000 Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand $48.1 million 9 [ 9] Daphne March 29–April 3 100 (65) 985 Vanuatu, Fiji None 5 18F March 30–31 Unspecified 1004 Vanuatu None None
April Cyclone Daphne A total of 4 tropical cyclones formed during this month, making this month the least active of 2012. None of these tropical cyclones were tropical storm strength or higher, thus making Tropical Cyclone Daphne, which was formed in March as the strongest tropical cyclone of this month.
Tropical cyclones formed in April 2012 Storm name Dates active Max wind Pressure Areas affected DamageUSD ) Deaths Refs TD April 8–11 55 (35) 1000 None None None 20F April 9–11 Unspecified 1009 New Caledonia None None 19U April 16–25 Unspecified 1005 Papua New Guinea, Northern Territory, Queensland, Indonesia, East Timor None None TD April 28–30 Unspecified 1008 Palau, Philippines None None
May Hurricane Bud Tropical cyclones formed in May 2012 Storm name Dates active Max wind Pressure Areas affected DamageUSD ) Deaths Refs 19S May 7–14 55 (35) 996 Indonesia, East Timor None None Aletta May 14–19 85 (50) 1000 None None None Alberto May 19–22 95 (60) 995 Southeastern United States None None Sanvu May 20–27 110 (70) 975 Guam, Marina Islands $20 thousand None Bud May 20–26 185 (115) 961 Western Mexico Minimal None Beryl May 26–30 110 (70) 992 Cuba , The Bahamas , Southeastern United States , Florida Minimal None Mawar (Ambo) May 31–June 6 140 (85) 960 Philippines, Japan None 3
June Typhoon Guchol Tropical cyclones formed in June 2012 Storm name Dates active Max wind Pressure Areas affected DamageUSD ) Deaths Refs Kuena June 3–8 85 (50) 994 None None None Guchol (Butchoy) June 10–20 185 (115) 930 Caroline Islands, Philippines, Japan $100 million 3 Carlotta June 14–16 175 (110) 973 Southwestern Mexico $12.4 million 7 Talim (Carina) June 16–21 95 (60) 985 China, Taiwan $356 million 1 Chris June 18–22 140 (85) 974 Bermuda, Atlantic Canada None None Debby June 23–27 110 (70) 990 Cuba, Central America, Southeastern United States (Florida), Bermuda ≥ $250 million 7 (3) Doksuri (Dindo) June 25–30 75 (45) 992 Philippines, Taiwan, China $418 thousand None [ 10] 20U June 29–July 1 45 (30) 993 Papua New Guinea None None
July Typhoon Vicente July was slightly active with only seven tropical cyclones being named, with all of them being named.
Tropical cyclones formed in July 2012 Storm name Dates active Max wind Pressure Areas affected DamageUSD ) Deaths Refs Daniel July 4–12 185 (115) 961 None None None Emilia July 7–15 220 (140) 945 None None None Fabio July 12–18 175 (110) 966 Baja California Peninsula, California, Western United States None None Khanun (Enteng) July 14–19 95 (60) 985 Japan, Korea $11.4 million 89 Vicente (Ferdie) July 18–25 150 (90) 950 Philippines, China, Vietnam, Laos, Burma $324 million 32 Saola (Gener) July 26–August 4 130 (80) 960 Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, China $2.95 billion 86 [ 11] [ 12] Damrey July 27–August 4 130 (80) 965 Japan, China, South Korea $4.37 billion 48
August Typhoon Bolaven Tropical cyclones formed in August 2012 Storm name Dates active Max wind Pressure Areas affected DamageUSD ) Deaths Refs Haikui August 1–11 120 (75) 965 Japan, Philippines, China $5.92 billion 115 [ 13] Ernesto August 1–10 155 (100) 973 Windward Islands, Jamaica, Central America, Yucatán Peninsula, Veracruz $252.2 million 7 (5) Florence August 3–6 95 (60) 1002 Cape Verde None None Kirogi August 3–10 95 (60) 990 Japan None None Gilma August 7–11 130 (80) 984 None None None TD August 9–11 Unspecified 1008 None None None Helene August 9–18 75 (45) 1004 Windward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, Central America, Mexico (Tamaulipas) > $17 million 2 Hector August 11–16 85 (50) 995 Western Mexico, Baja California Peninsula None None Kai-tak (Helen) August 12–18 120 (75) 970 Philippines, China, Vietnam, Laos $765 million 38 [ 14] [ 15] Gordon August 15–20 175 (110) 965 Azores None None Tembin (Igme) August 17–30 150 (90) 950 Philippines, Taiwan, China, Japan, South Korea $8.25 million 10 [ 16] [ 17] [ 18] Bolaven (Julian) August 19–29 185 (115) 910 Ryukyu Islands, Kyushu Northeastern China, South Korea, North Korea, Russian Far East $3.59 billion 96 [ 19] [ 20] Isaac August 21–September 1 130 (80) 965 Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Cuba, The Bahamas, Southeastern United States (Florida, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama), Midwestern United States (Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana), Kentucky $3.11 billion 34 (7) Joyce August 22–24 65 (40) 1006 None None None TD August 23–24 Unspecified 1006 Japan None None Ileana August 27–September 2 140 (85) 978 None None None Kirk August 28–September 2 165 (105) 970 None None None Leslie August 30–September 11 130 (80) 968 Leeward Islands, Bermuda, Atlantic Canada $10.1 million None
September Typhoon Sanba Tropical cyclones formed in September 2012 Storm name Dates active Max wind Pressure Areas affected DamageUSD ) Deaths Refs John September 2–4 75 (45) 1000 Baja California Peninsula None None Michael September 3–11 185 (115) 964 None None None Nadine September 10–October 4 150 (90) 978 Azores, United Kingdom None None Sanba (Karen) September 10–18 205 (125) 900 Palau, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, China, Russia $378.8 million 6 TD September 10–13 55 (35) 1006 Japan None None Kristy September 12–17 95 (60) 998 Baja California Peninsula None None Lane September 15–19 140 (85) 985 None None None Jelawat (Lawin) September 20–October 1 205 (125) 905 Japan, Philippines, Taiwan $27.4 million 3 Miriam September 22–27 195 (120) 959 Baja California Peninsula, Texas None None Ewiniar September 23–30 95 (60) 985 Mariana Islands, Japan None None Norman September 28–29 85 (50) 997 Western Mexico, Baja California Peninsula, Northwestern Mexico, Texas Minimal 1 Maliksi September 29–October 4 95 (60) 985 Guam, Marina Islands, Japan None None Gaemi (Garce) September 29–October 7 95 (60) 990 Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand $4.1 million 5
October Hurricane Sandy Tropical cyclones formed in October 2012 Storm name Dates active Max wind Pressure Areas affected DamageUSD ) Deaths Refs Oscar October 3–5 85 (50) 994 None None None Prapiroon (Nina) October 5–19 165 (105) 940 Japan None 1 Olivia October 6–8 95 (60) 997 None None None BOB 01 October 10–11 55 (35) 1002 Bangladesh Minimal 43 Patty October 11–13 75 (45) 1005 Bahamas None None Rafael October 12–17 150 (90) 969 Lesser Antilles, Bermuda, Atlantic Canada, United States East Coast, Azores, Western Europe ≤ $2 million 1 Anais October 12–19 185 (115) 945 Diego Garcia, Madagascar None None Paul October 13–17 195 (120) 959 Baja California Peninsula, Northwestern Mexico $15.5 million None Maria October 13–20 95 (60) 990 Mariana Islands, Japan None None Son-Tinh (Ofel) October 21–30 155 (100) 945 Palau, Philippines, China, Vietnam $776 million 42 [ 21] Tony October 22–25 85 (50) 1000 None None None Murjan October 22–26 75 (45) 998 Yemen, Somalia Minimal None Sandy October 22–29 185 (115) 940 Greater Antilles (Jamaica, Cuba), The Bahamas, East Coast of the United States (New Jersey), Bermuda, Atlantic Canada $68.7 billion 233 Nilam October 28–November 1 85 (50) 987 Sri Lanka, South India $56.7 million 75 Rosa October 30–November 3 85 (50) 1001 None None None
November Typhoon Bopha Tropical cyclones formed in November 2012 Storm name Dates active Max wind Pressure Areas affected DamageUSD ) Deaths Refs 01F November 6–7 Unspecified 991 Fiji None None 25W November 12–15 55 (35) 1004 Malaysia, Vietnam None None 02 November 15–16 45 (30) 1004 None None None BOB 03 November 17–19 55 (35) 1002 India None None Boldwin November 23–26 100 (65) 985 None None None Bopha (Pablo) November 25–December 9 185 (115) 930 Caroline Islands, Palau, Philippines $1.04 billion 1,901 [ 22] [ 23] [ 24]
December Cyclone Freda Tropical cyclones formed in December 2012 Storm name Dates active Max wind Pressure Areas affected DamageUSD ) Deaths Refs Claudia December 6–13 175 (110) 940 None None None 03F December 9–17 Unspecified 997 Cook Islands None None Evan December 9–19 185 (115) 943 Samoan Islands, Wallis and Futuna, Fiji, Tonga, New Zealand $316 million 14 02U December 18–21 Unspecified Unspecified None None None ARB 02 December 22–24 55 (35) 1002 Somalia None None Wukong (Quinta) December 24–29 75 (45) 998 Philippines, Vietnam $5.48 million 20 [ 25] Freda December 26, 2012 – January 4, 2013 185 (115) 940 Solomon Islands, New Caledonia None 2 [ 26] Mitchell December 27, 2012 – January 1, 2013 85 (50) 998 Western Australia None None Dumile December 29, 2012 – January 5, 2013 130 (80) 970 Mauritius, Réunion Island $46 million 2 06F December 30–31 Unspecified 1005 None None None
Global effects Season name Areas affected Systems formed Named storms Damage (USD ) Deaths Ref 2012 Atlantic hurricane season Yucatán Peninsula , Cayman Islands , Cuba , United States, Canada, Lesser Antilles , Hispaniola , Puerto Rico , The Bahamas , Bermuda , Iceland , Ireland, United Kingdom, Hispaniola , West Africa, Cape Verde , Azores 19 19 $72.32 billion 355 2012 Pacific hurricane season Mexico, Baja California Sur , Southwestern United States , Colima , Sonora , Nayarit 17 17 $27.9 million 8 2012 Pacific typhoon season Micronesia , Taiwan , Philippines , China, Vietnam , Mariana Islands , Japan, Korean Peninsula , Laos , Russian Far East , Thailand , Myanmar , Alaska 34 25 $20.796 billion 2,486 2012 North Indian Ocean cyclone season India, Bangladesh , Myanmar , Maldives , Sri Lanka , Yemen , Oman , Saudi Arabia , Somalia , Djibouti , Eritrea 4 2 $56.7 million 182 2011–12 Australian region cyclone season 5 Indonesia , Australia, Solomon Islands , Papua New Guinea 15 4 $230 million 16 2012–13 Australian region cyclone season 5 Solomon Islands , Western Australia 2 1 None None 2011–12 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season 5 Madagascar , Mozambique , Mauritius , Réunion , South Africa, Zimbabwe , Swaziland 8 8 None 164 2012–13 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season 5 Madagascar , Mozambique , Mauritius , Réunion 5 4 $46 million 2 2011–12 South Pacific cyclone season 5 Fiji , New Caledonia , Vanuatu , Tonga , New Zealand, Samoan Islands , Wallis and Futuna , Niue , Solomon Islands 18 3 >$17.2 million 18 2012–13 South Pacific cyclone season 5 Fiji , New Caledonia , Vanuatu , Tonga , New Zealand, Samoan Islands , Wallis and Futuna , Niue , Solomon Islands 6 2 $316 million 17 Worldwide (See above) 128 85 > $93.81 billion 3,248
Notes 1 Only systems that formed either on or after January 1, 2012 are counted in the seasonal totals. 2 Only systems that formed either before or on December 31, 2012 are counted in the seasonal totals. 3 The wind speeds for this tropical cyclone/basin are based on the IMD Scale which uses 3-minute sustained winds. 4 The wind speeds for this tropical cyclone/basin are based on the Saffir Simpson Scale which uses 1-minute sustained winds. 5 The wind speeds for this tropical cyclone are based on Météo-France which uses gust winds.
References ↑ "Mozambique: Mozambique: Floods, storms kill 22 and cut off Maputo" . Global Post . January 23, 2012. Archived from the original on January 26, 2012. Retrieved January 24, 2012 . ↑ "L'île Rodrigues épargnée par Ethel – – Informations Océan Indien" . Linfo.Re . September 22, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2012 . ↑ Storm and Cyclone - Emergency Appeal n° MDRMZ009 . International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies (Report). February 22, 2012. ReliefWeb. Retrieved June 27, 2023 . ↑ "Indonesia cleaning up in wake of Cyclone Iggy" . Australian Broadcasting Corporation. January 31, 2012. ReliefWeb. ↑ "Madagascar : la côte est durement touchée par le cyclone Giovanna" . Radio France International . February 16, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2013. Retrieved February 16, 2012 . ↑ "Madagascar cyclone death toll at 31" . February 24, 2012. Retrieved February 24, 2012 . ↑ Western Australian Regional Office. Severe Tropical Cyclone Lua Impacts (PDF) (Report). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 28 January 2013 . ↑ March 2012 Global Catastrophe Recap (PDF) (Report). AON Benfield. 4 April 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2013 . ↑ Đặc điểm Khí tượng Thủy văn năm 2012 , VNCHMF. ↑ "SitRep No.6 re Effects of the SW Monsoon Enhanced by TS "Dindo" (PDF) . National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. July 1, 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2013-08-23. Retrieved August 7, 2012 . ↑ "SitRep No.21 re Effects of Typhoon "Gener" (Saola) Enhanced by Southwest Monsoon" (PDF) . National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. August 6, 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved August 6, 2012 . ↑ Huang Chiao-wen; Hanna Liu (August 6, 2012). "Typhoon Saola causes over US$27 million in agricultural losses" . Focus Taiwan. Retrieved August 6, 2012 . ↑ "SitRep No.4 re Effects of Southwest Monsoon Enhanced by TS "Haikui" (PDF) . National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. August 8, 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-08-08. Retrieved August 8, 2012 . ↑ "SitRep No.11 re Effects of Tropical Storm "Helen" and Enhanced Southwest Monsoon" (PDF) . National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. August 19, 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2013-08-23. Retrieved August 19, 2012 . ↑ "Typhoon Kai-Tak leaves dozens dead in Vietnam" . Al Jazeera. August 20, 2012. Archived from the original on August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 20, 2012 . ↑ "Igme claims first casualty" . ABS-CBN News . ABS-CBN. August 21, 2012. Retrieved August 21, 2012 . ↑ "Tembin affects thousands in S. Taiwan" . The China Post . Asia One. August 29, 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2012 . ↑ "8 dead in PH due to 'Igme' . ABS-CBN News . ABS-CBN. August 29, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2012 . ↑ Sam Kim (August 28, 2012). "Typhoon hits N. Korea, still reeling from floods" . Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on September 1, 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2012 . ↑ "Typhoon Bolaven: North Korea reports storm damage" . BBC News. August 29, 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2012 . ↑ "SitRep No. 17 re Effects of Tropical Storm "Ofel" (Son-Tinh)" (PDF) . National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. November 1, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 17, 2013. Retrieved November 15, 2012 . ↑ "Effects of Typhoon Pablo" (PDF) . Archived from the original (PDF) on January 21, 2013. ↑ Padua, David M (2012). "Tropical Cyclone Logs: Pablo (Bopha) 2012" . Typhoon 2000. Retrieved December 8, 2011 . ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF) . Archived from the original (PDF) on November 10, 2013. Retrieved June 2, 2014 . {{cite web }}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link ) ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF) . ndrrmc.gov.ph . Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2022 . {{cite web }}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link ) ↑ "Body of missing New Caledonia teenager found" . Radio New Zealand International. January 7, 2013. Retrieved March 23, 2013 . External links Regional Specialized Meteorological Centers
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