NOTE: I just made this season for fun and it is not meant to be taken seriously.
The 2012 Atlantic hurricane season was an extremely active and devastating season, the 2nd most active in history (behind 2005), and the costliest and deadliest season of all time. The season began on June 1, 2012, and it ended on November 30, 2012, dates of which conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. However, the season exceeded these bounds when Alberto formed on May 20 and William formed in December. Overall, the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season produced 22 tropical cyclones, of which 21 developed into tropical storms; 14 storms attained hurricane intensity, and eight hurricanes further reached major hurricane status. The activity in this season was hyperactive, with 21 storms. The strongest and most devastating storm of the season was Hypercane William, which was the first hypercane ever recorded. It got that strong due to a large asteroid impact in the Gulf of Mexico, which caused it to explode in intensity to levels never seen before. William affected Central America and the U.S, and caused a grand total of $845 billion dollars in damage and 81,762 deaths throughout its path, becoming the costliest and deadliest storm in Atlantic history. Coincidentally, it was also the last storm of the season and struck the U.S. during the week of December 21, 2012.
Also of note, hurricanes Ernesto, Gordon, Kirk, Leslie, and Sandy caused extreme destruction to the U.S and the Caribbean. All four of these storms each caused more than $10 billion dollars in damage, with Leslie and Sandy each causing more than $75 billion in damage. Ernesto only devastated the Caribbean region. Gordon was a Category 4 that struck the U.S. Gulf Coast. Kirk was a Category 5 that became the deadliest hurricane since Mitch when it struck Central America at peak intensity, and it later went on to strike Florida and the U.S. East Coast as a weaker hurricane. Leslie was another C5, and it caused destruction in the Caribbean and the U.S. Gulf Coast, especially on the Gulf Coast where it hit at near peak intensity, causing $82 billion in damage. Sandy was a Category 5 that caused untold devastation to the East Coast and also affected the Caribbean, with damages exceeding $150 billion. Also, Nadine became the longest-lived hurricane ever recorded in the world, lasting a month and then a few additional days after that. It formed in the Central Atlantic, approached the Azores, and then wandered around the Azores area for a few weeks. Nadine reached Category 2 intensity 4 times during its lifespan, but never reached major hurricane intensity. Michael became one of few Category 5 hurricanes not to get its name retired. Finally, Beryl was another long-lived hurricane that wandered around the northwest Atlantic during June, and Isaac and Patty were hurricanes that also struck the U.S, but they were less destructive than Gordon, Kirk, Leslie, and Sandy.
Season summary[]
Pre-season[]
The season began with Tropical Storm Alberto, which formed on May 20, a couple weeks before the official start of the season. Alberto slightly affected the Carolinas. No other storms formed in the pre-season.
June[]
In June, Beryl, Chris, and Debby formed. Beryl was a long-lived Category 1 that looped around the northwest Atlantic near Bermuda, Tropical Storm Chris struck Texas, and Tropical Storm Debby struck Florida and the Carolinas. Debby crossed over into July. The formation of Debby in June made it the earliest fourth named storm on record, beating the old record of Dennis in 2005, which formed in early July.
July[]
The month started with Debby active in the Florida area. After Debby dissipated, no storms formed in July, which is somewhat unusual and is the first time since 2009 that happened. This was due to upper-level winds dominating the Atlantic.
August[]
August saw a sudden burst of activity, due to a sudden dissipation of wind shear and very warm SSTs. 9 storms formed in the month (Ernesto, Florence, Gordon, Helene, TD Nine, Isaac, Joyce, Kirk, and Leslie), and 5 major hurricanes (Ernesto, Gordon, Helene, Kirk, and Leslie) formed. This was the most active August on record. Ernesto was a Category 5 that caused lots of devastation in the Caribbean; Florence was a Category 1 that didn't affect land; Gordon was a Category 4 that affected the Windward Islands, the Bahamas, Florida, and the U.S Gulf Coast; Helene was a Category 4 Cape-Verde type hurricane that affected Cape Verde, the Lesser Antilles, and Atlantic Canada; Tropical Depression Nine affected Mexico and Texas; Isaac was a Category 2 that affected the Greater Antilles, the Bahamas, Florida, and the U.S Gulf Coast; Joyce was a tropical storm that didn't affect land; Kirk was a Category 5 that affected the Windward Islands, Venezuela, Central America (where it caused lots of devastation), and the United States; and finally, Leslie was a Category 5 that affected the Lesser Antilles, Hispaniola, the Bahamas, Florida, and the U.S. Gulf Coast (which it devastated). Kirk and Leslie crossed over into September.
September[]
The month started with Kirk in the southwestern Caribbean near South America and Leslie near the Lesser Antilles. 6 storms existed in the month, while 4 storms formed in the month (Michael, Nadine, Oscar, and Patty). Michael was a long-lived Cape-Verde type hurricane that reached Category 5 intensity and affected the Cape Verde islands, the Bahamas, Bermuda, and Newfoundland; Nadine was the longest-lived tropical cyclone on record, reached Category 2 intensity, and it formed in the central Atlantic, later affecting the Azores and staying in the region for a few weeks; Oscar was a strong tropical storm that affected Central America and Mexico; and Patty was a Category 2 that affected Cuba, the Bahamas, and the southeastern United States. Patty and Nadine crossed over into October.
October[]
October began with Patty strengthening near Cuba and Nadine near the Azores. 5 storms existed in the month, while 3 storms formed in the month (Rafael, Sandy, and Tony). Rafael was a Category 1 that slightly affected Cape Verde and the Azores, and Sandy was a devastating Category 5 which formed in the Caribbean and hit Cuba as a Category 4 and the U.S East Coast as a massive 1000+-mile-wide Category 3, and it peaked as a Category 5 near Bermuda. Sandy caused extremely massive destruction along its path. Tony was a tropical storm that affected Mexico.
November[]
November had only one storm form in the month, Valerie. Valerie was a tropical storm that stayed out in the open Atlantic and didn't affect land.
Post-season, and the devastating Hypercane William[]
After the season has ended, William formed on December 13 in the Caribbean. Unusually favorable conditions for the time of year allowed it to strengthen into a hurricane before hitting the Yucatan. William weakened into a TS over land, but in the Gulf of Mexico, it did a loop and re-strengthened into a hurricane. After that, the unthinkable happened. A large asteroid impacted the Gulf of Mexico just southwest of William's location early on December 20, becoming one of the lots of extreme disasters that happened on or around December 21st, 2012. The asteroid created a megatsunami that wiped out the coasts of the U.S. Gulf Coast and the Mexican coastline, as well as many other coastlines around the Atlantic and East Pacific. The asteroid also warmed the SSTs to more than 130 F, causing William to explode at a rate never seen before in history. Nine hours after the asteroid impact, William strengthened to surpass Typhoon Tip's record. On December 21, it explosively deepened to 500 mph, becoming the first hypercane on record. It also had a wind field of more than 1500 miles wide. Later that day, its center made landfall in Louisiana, becoming the most devastating disaster in U.S history. William later turned east to hit Florida, and then turned to hit the east coast and New England (these landfalls were at hypercane status), causing even more mass destruction. Over land, William started to weaken rapidly as it entered Canada, and on December 31, it became extratropical in the far northern Atlantic while still producing Category 2-force winds. The extratropical system later reached the United Kingdom and Norway. Overall, William was an extremely devastating storm, almost entirely wiping out the Gulf Coast, Florida, and the East Coast, and causing a grand total of $845 billion dollars in damage and 81,762 deaths throughout its devastating track. The death toll was only >81,000 thanks to the largest evacuation in U.S. history, moving tens of millions of people away from the Gulf Coast and the East Coast and further inland towards Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and the Dakotas, where they won't be affected by the large size of the storm. Most of the people who died failed to evacuate or died in car crashes during evacuation. No other storms formed in the post-season.
Overall, this season was extremely active and exceptionally catastrophic, mainly due to storms Leslie, Sandy, and William, especially William.
Timeline[]
List of storms[]
Tropical Storm Alberto[]
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | May 20 – May 22 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 60 mph (95 km/h) (1-min) 994 mbar (hPa) |
An area of disturbed weather south of the Carolinas developed into Tropical Storm Alberto on May 20, a couple weeks before the official start of the season. Alberto moved northward and skirted the Carolinas before turning eastward. Along the way, it peaked with winds of 60 mph and a pressure of 994 mbar. On May 22, Alberto dissipated east of North Carolina due to wind shear, but its remnants were monitored for possible regeneration afterward. It failed to regenerate, and its remnants dissipated on May 25 in the open Atlantic. Alberto caused rain in the Carolinas but didn't cause any damage/deaths.
Hurricane Beryl[]
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | June 5 – June 24 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 80 mph (130 km/h) (1-min) 985 mbar (hPa) |
Beryl formed on June 5 just south of Bermuda. It moved slowly westward, and gradually strengthened. Beryl reached its first peak intensity of 50 mph before it started to get affected by wind shear, and it weakened into a depression on June 8 as it turned northward. Beryl soon moved into a more favorable environment, which allowed it to strengthen back into a tropical storm, and ultimately, a hurricane early on June 11. At this point, Beryl was moving eastward, and it soon reached its peak intensity of 80 mph and 985 mbar. Another bout of wind shear weakened it once again, and it weakened into a tropical storm as it turned northward and began to loop. It dissipated early on June 16 as it turned southward. Beryl's remnants were monitored for regeneration as it turned back towards the east, and it regenerated on June 17 east of Bermuda. Favorable conditions allowed Beryl to once again attain hurricane status early on June 19. Beryl reached a third peak intensity of 80 mph and 987 mbar before weakening for good. Beryl made another loop and turned west and then north as it weakened further. On June 24, it finally dissipated south of Newfoundland. Beryl didn't cause any damage/deaths because it didn't significantly affect land, although it did bring some rain to Bermuda.
Tropical Storm Chris[]
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | June 14 – June 18 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 60 mph (95 km/h) (1-min) 995 mbar (hPa) |
Chris formed in the Gulf of Mexico on June 14. Environmental conditions allowed for the gradual strengthening of Chris as it moved northwestward towards Texas, and it reached its peak intensity of 60 mph and 995 mbar on June 16. After that, it made landfall near Galveston, Texas at 2 a.m. on June 17, and began weakening over land. Chris dissipated on June 18 over Texas. Chris caused $465 million dollars in damage and killed 7 people, mainly due to heavy rain and strong winds associated with Chris.
Tropical Storm Debby[]
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | June 29 – July 3 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 65 mph (100 km/h) (1-min) 992 mbar (hPa) |
An area of disturbed weather developed into a depression on June 29 near the Yucatan. As it moved into the Gulf of Mexico, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Debby, and continued to strengthen as it headed towards Florida. Debby reached its peak of 65 mph and 992 mbar before making landfall near Tampa, Florida on June 30. Over land, it weakened to 45 mph, but after emerging into the Atlantic, began to strengthen again. Debby reached a second and final peak of 60 mph and 995 mbar before making landfall in North Carolina early on July 2. It quickly weakened over land before dissipating early on July 3. Debby caused a total of $398 million dollars in damage and 4 deaths throughout its path.
Hurricane Ernesto[]
| Category 5 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | August 4 – August 18 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 165 mph (270 km/h) (1-min) 910 mbar (hPa) |
Ernesto formed in the central Atlantic on August 4. Gradual strengthening took place as it moved westward, and on August 8, it struck the Windward Islands as a Category 2. Wind shear weakened it to a C1 in the eastern Caribbean, but later on, Ernesto passed close to Jamaica as a Category 4 and strengthened into a Category 5 in the western Caribbean. Ernesto struck Belize as a Category 4, weakened over land, and emerged into the Bay of Campeche as a Category 2. In the Bay of Campeche, it rapidly intensified to a Category 5, the first ever recorded in the Bay of Campeche, and it then made landfall near Veracruz. Mexico's mountains caused the dissipation of the storm on August 18. Ernesto is responsible for $23 billion dollars in damage and 358 deaths throughout its destructive path.
Hurricane Florence[]
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | August 10 – August 16 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 85 mph (140 km/h) (1-min) 984 mbar (hPa) |
A tropical wave developed into Florence on August 10 west of the Cape Verdes. Florence moved westward and reached its initial peak intensity of 45 mph before it weakened into to a depression due to wind shear. The wind shear weakened later on, allowing it to strengthen into a hurricane and reach a peak intensity of 85 mph/984 mbar as it turned northward. Florence later weakened under cooling waters, and it dissipated on August 16 hundreds of miles east of Newfoundland. Florence didn't affect land and thus didn't cause any damage/deaths.
Hurricane Gordon[]
| Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | August 13 – August 21 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 145 mph (230 km/h) (1-min) 938 mbar (hPa) |
Gordon formed on August 13 near the Windward Islands. It later struck Puerto Rico and affected Hispaniola, before strengthening into a hurricane on August 16 in the Turks & Caicos Islands under favorable conditions. Later on, Gordon struck the Florida Keys as a Category 2, and in the Gulf of Mexico, it quickly intensified into a Category 4. Early on August 20, Gordon made landfall in Mississippi, quickly weakened over land, and dissipated on August 21 while entering the Carolinas. Gordon caused $36 billion dollars in damage and 74 deaths throughout its path.
Hurricane Helene[]
| Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | August 16 – August 27 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 150 mph (240 km/h) (1-min) 936 mbar (hPa) |
On August 16, Helene formed near the Cape Verdes from a tropical wave. Gradual strengthening took place along its westward track, and it later passed near the Lesser Antilles during the night of August 21–22 as a Category 3. Helene reached Category 4 intensity, reaching a peak of 150 mph/936 mbar before weakening into a Category 3 due to an eye-wall replacement cycle. During this time, it slightly threatened the U.S. east coast, but luckily it turned northeast away from the U.S. After weakening, Helene strengthened back into a C4, before weakening again due to cooler waters. It slightly affected Nova Scotia and made landfall in Newfoundland as a Category 1, before dissipating on August 27. Helene caused a total of $66 million dollars in damage and 8 deaths throughout its path.
Tropical Depression Nine[]
| Tropical depression (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | August 19 – August 20 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min) 1004 mbar (hPa) |
A disturbance developed into Tropical Depression Nine near Texas on August 19. It made landfall slightly north of the Texas-Mexico border before dissipating on August 20. TD 9 caused $21 million in damage and no deaths.
Hurricane Isaac[]
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | August 21 – August 29 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 100 mph (155 km/h) (1-min) 976 mbar (hPa) |
On August 21, a depression formed near Puerto Rico and Hispaniola. It skirted the northern coast of Hispaniola, and land interaction prevented strengthening for a day before finally becoming Isaac late on August 22. Isaac moved northwestward and gradually strengthened, and on August 25, it made landfall near Miami, Florida as a Category 1 hurricane. Isaac weakened over land, but once it emerged into the Gulf of Mexico, it strengthened into a Category 2. It then made landfall near New Orleans, Louisiana on August 28. Isaac quickly weakened over land and dissipated on August 29 in Alabama. Throughout its path, Isaac caused $695 million in damage and killed 54 people.
Tropical Storm Joyce[]
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | August 26 – August 28 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min) 997 mbar (hPa) |
Joyce formed on August 26 northeast of Bermuda. It didn't strengthen much, and reached a peak of 45 mph/997 mbar before succumbing to cooler waters. Joyce dissipated on August 28 hundreds of miles southeast of Newfoundland. It didn't affect land so no damage and deaths were caused by Joyce.
Hurricane Kirk[]
| Category 5 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | August 26 – September 14 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 180 mph (285 km/h) (1-min) 896 mbar (hPa) |
Kirk formed in the central Atlantic on August 26. Environmental conditions allowed for the gradual strengthening of Kirk as it moved westward, and late on August 28, it struck the Windward Islands as a strong tropical storm. After entering the Caribbean, it became a hurricane, and reached an initial peak of 80 mph before succumbing to wind shear as it approached Venezuela. Kirk made landfall in northeast Venezuela as a TS, and moved into Colombia before emerging back into the Caribbean. In the southwestern Caribbean, environmental conditions allowed Kirk to quickly strengthen into a Category 5, and it reached its peak of 180 mph/896 mbar before making landfall in Guatemala at Category 4 intensity, where it caused massive destruction due to very heavy torrential rains, very powerful winds, and lots of flash flooding. Over the mountains of Central America, it rapidly weakened into a tropical storm before emerging into the Bay of Campeche as a weak, disorganized 45 mph TS. Kirk moved quickly northward and then turned northeastward, and strengthened into a Category 2 before making landfall in northern Florida, where it weakened into a Category 1 before emerging into the Atlantic Ocean. It restrengthened into a Category 2, and reached it's final peak intensity of 110 mph before making landfall in New York City as a Category 1. The land caused Kirk to rapidly degenerate and dissipate on September 14. Throughout its destructive path, Kirk caused $58 billion dollars in damage and 18,464 deaths. Most of the deaths were in Central America, and it was the deadliest hurricane since Mitch in 1998. It was also initally the 2nd costliest hurricane in history, before being beaten by some of the destructive hurricanes later that year.
Hurricane Leslie[]
| Category 5 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | August 30 – September 12 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 165 mph (270 km/h) (1-min) 906 mbar (hPa) |
Leslie formed from a tropical wave in the central Atlantic on August 30. Along its westward track, it gradually strengthened, and struck the Windward Islands as a strong TS late on September 1. After that, Leslie strengthened into a hurricane, and struck the Puerto Rico-Hispaniola region on September 3. It weakened into a tropical storm due to land interaction, but once it entered the Bahamas, it strengthened again. Later on, Leslie struck Florida as a Category 2, and once it emerged into the Gulf of Mexico, it strengthened into a Category 5 due to extremely favorable conditions. Leslie turned north towards Louisiana, and made landfall in the state as a Category 4, creating a huge storm surge that broke many of the levees in the region, lots of catastrophic flooding, and lots of damage and deaths. The storm continued north and weakened over land, before dissipating on September 12 while entering Ohio. Leslie caused a grand total of $82 billion dollars in damage and 904 deaths, breaking Kirk's very short-lasting record as the 2nd costliest hurricane in history, behind Katrina in 2005.
Hurricane Michael[]
| Category 5 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | September 3 – September 20 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 160 mph (260 km/h) (1-min) 923 mbar (hPa) |
Micheal formed on September 3 east of the Cape Verde Islands. It struck the Cape Verde islands before gradually strengthening as it moved slowly through the Atlantic. Michael became a major hurricane in the central Atlantic, before slightly weakening due to moderate wind shear. The wind shear weakened, allowing Michael to continue strengthening. It became a Category 5 hundreds of miles north of the Lesser Antilles (the 3rd one in a row, the first time on record this happened), and initially threatened the Bahamas and Florida before turning sharply northward. It started to weaken afterwards, and passed near Bermuda as a Category 3 as it moved northeastward. Later on, Michael impacted Newfoundland as a Category 1, before dissipating on September 20. Michael caused $68 million dollars in damage and 14 deaths throughout its path.
Hurricane Nadine[]
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | September 9 – October 12 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 110 mph (175 km/h) (1-min) 966 mbar (hPa) |
Nadine formed in the central Atlantic on September 9. Gradual strengthening took place as it moved slowly westward, and by September 14, it was a Category 2 hurricane. Nadine turned northward and weakened into a Category 1, before turning eastward and restrengthening into a Category 2. It moved rapidly eastward before stalling south of the Azores, and then weakened into a C1. Nadine turned southward and weakened into a TS, before turning back towards the north and restrengthening into a hurricane. Nadine continued to wander in the area, before weakening again and dissipating late on September 27 southwest of the Azores. The remnants of Nadine regenerated, moved eastward, and strengthened back into a hurricane. It then turned sharply westward and restrengthened into a Category 2. After that, Nadine again weakened into a Category 1, before strengthening into a Category 2 for the 4th time as it moved southward. It turned eastward and then northeastward, and started to weaken again, this time permanently. It weakened into a tropical storm before finally dissipating on October 12. Throughout its enormous lifespan, it only affected the Azores and caused $41 million dollars in damage and 1 death in the islands. Nadine was the longest-lived cyclone ever recorded, remaining tropical for more than a month.
Tropical Storm Oscar[]
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | September 17 – September 22 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 70 mph (110 km/h) (1-min) 989 mbar (hPa) |
A disturbance developed into Tropical Storm Oscar on September 17 near Nicaragua. It strengthened to 45 mph before making landfall early on September 18, and it weakened into a depression over land. Oscar survived to the northwest Caribbean, where it restrengthened to 50 mph before making landfall in the Yucatan Peninsula late on September 19. Again, it weakened into a depression over the peninsula, before emerging into the southwest Gulf of Mexico. In the Gulf of Mexico, Oscar quickly strengthened to 70 mph (almost reaching hurricane status), and then made landfall near Veracruz on September 21. It weakened over land before dissipating on September 22. Oscar caused $58 million in damage and 21 deaths throughout its path.
Hurricane Patty[]
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | September 28 – October 5 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min) 974 mbar (hPa) |
Patty formed in the western Caribbean on September 28. It moved northeastward and made landfall in Cuba on the 29th, strengthened into a hurricane as it passed through the Bahamas on the 30th, and executed a cyclonic loop on October 1, where it weakened into a tropical storm. Patty turned westward and restrengthened into a hurricane, later becoming a Category 2 on October 3 as it approached Florida. It weakened into a Category 1 before making landfall near Jacksonville, Florida on October 4. Patty quickly weakened over land before dissipating on October 5 while in northern Georgia. Patty caused $1.6 billion dollars in damage and 48 deaths throughout its path. The name wasn't retired despite the damage total.
Hurricane Rafael[]
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | October 11 – October 18 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 90 mph (150 km/h) (1-min) 981 mbar (hPa) |
Rafael formed south of the Cape Verde Islands on October 11. It gradually strengthened as it moved northward. Rafael impacted the Cape Verdes soon after it formed, bringing lots of rain and gale-force winds. Late on October 13, it became a hurricane while hundreds of miles north of the Cape Verdes. Rafael turned towards the west and reached its peak of 90 mph and 981 mbar late on October 14, before weakening into a tropical storm. It turned northwest and then northeast, before dissipating on October 18 near the Azores. Rafael caused $9 million dollars in damage and no deaths.
Hurricane Sandy[]
| Category 5 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | October 21 – October 31 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 165 mph (270 km/h) (1-min) 888 mbar (hPa) |
Sandy formed in the central Caribbean on October 21. It moved westward before strengthening into a hurricane while turning sharply northward. Sandy quickly intensified under favorable conditions and impacted Jamaica as a Category 3 and Cuba as a Category 4. It then passed through the Bahamas as a C3/C4 and strengthened into a Category 5 after turning northeastward. It threatened Bermuda before turning northwestward towards the U.S. east coast. Soon, Sandy weakened into a Category 4 and grew to an exceptionally large size of 1500 miles wide, and at this point, it was already affecting a large swath of the east coast and it was still affecting Bermuda. Sandy weakened into a Category 3 before its center made landfall near New York City. Soon after landfall on Halloween, it became extratropical while still packing Category 2-force winds.
Sandy caused extremely catastrophic devastation of $156 billion dollars in damage and 3,682 deaths, becoming the most devastating storm in the history of the U.S, a record that would later be beaten by William in December. While it was approaching the U.S, it was known from the media by nicknames such as "Superstorm Sandy", "Superstorm Sandy Cheeks", and because it struck on Halloween, "Frankenstorm", "The Great Big Scare", and "The Evil Halloween Storm". The New York subways were flooded, lots of coastal towns were flooded and submerged, and lots and lots of buildings were damaged and destroyed beyond repair. This storm will never be forgotten. It was later retired and replaced by Sara for the 2018 season.
Tropical Storm Tony[]
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | October 28 – October 30 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min) 995 mbar (hPa) |
Tony formed in the Bay of Campeche on October 28. It gradually strengthened to its peak of 50 mph and 985 mbar, before making landfall near Veracruz early on October 30. Tony dissipated later that day over the high mountains of Mexico. Tony caused a total of $53 million dollars in damage and killed 11 people.
Tropical Storm Valerie[]
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | November 12 – November 14 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 65 mph (100 km/h) (1-min) 993 mbar (hPa) |
Valerie formed as a tropical storm on November 12 southeast of Bermuda, skipping depression status. It strengthened to its peak of 65 mph and 993 mbar before dissipating late on November 14 under rapidly increasing wind shear. Valerie didn't affect land, so it didn't cause any damage/deaths.
Hypercane William[]
| Hypercane | |
  | |
| Duration | December 13 – December 31 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 540 mph (870 km/h) (1-min) 604 mbar (hPa) |
See here.
Storm names[]
The following names were used to name tropical cyclones this year. This is the same list used in the 2006 season. The names Kirk, Oscar, Patty, Rafael, Sandy, Tony, Valerie, and William were used in the Atlantic for the first time this year. Kirk replaced the name of a devastating hurricane that affected Mexico in 2000, but was not used in 2006. Unused names are marked in gray.
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Retirement[]
Due to extensive damage and deaths, the names Ernesto, Gordon, Kirk, Leslie, Sandy, and William were officially retired, and will never be used again to name an Atlantic hurricane. They were replaced by Edward, Gary, Kieran, Lana, Sara, and Wilton for the 2018 season.
List for 2018:
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Season effects[]
This is a table of the storms and their effects in the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season. This table includes the storm's names, duration, peak intensity, Areas affected, damages, and death totals. Damage and deaths include totals while the storm was extratropical, a wave or a low. All of the damage figures are in 2012 USD (the listed damage figure is in millions).
| Storm name |
Dates active | Storm category at peak intensity |
Max 1-min wind mph (km/h) |
Min. press. (mbar) |
Areas affected | Damage (USD) |
Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberto | May 20 – May 22 | Tropical storm | 60 (95) | 994 | The Carolinas | None | 0 |
| Beryl | June 5 – June 24 | Category 1 hurricane | 80 (130) | 985 | Bermuda | None | 0 |
| Chris | June 14 – June 18 | Tropical storm | 60 (95) | 995 | Texas, Louisiana | 465 | 7 |
| Debby | June 29 – July 3 | Tropical storm | 65 (100) | 992 | Yucatan Peninsula, Cuba, Florida, The Carolinas | 398 | 4 |
| Ernesto | August 4 – August 18 | Category 5 hurricane | 165 (270) | 910 | Windward Islands, Lesser Antilles, Jamaica, Belize, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico | 23,000 | 358 |
| Florence | August 10 – August 16 | Category 1 hurricane | 85 (140) | 984 | None | None | 0 |
| Gordon | August 13 – August 21 | Category 4 hurricane | 145 (230) | 938 | Windward Islands, Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Turks & Caicos Islands, The Bahamas, Cuba, Florida, U.S. Gulf Coast, Southeast U.S. | 36,000 | 74 |
| Helene | August 16 – August 27 | Category 4 hurricane | 150 (240) | 936 | Cape Verde Islands, Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland | 66 | 8 |
| Nine | August 19 – August 20 | Tropical depression | 35 (55) | 1004 | Texas, Northeastern Mexico | 21 | 0 |
| Isaac | August 21 – August 29 | Category 2 hurricane | 100 (155) | 976 | Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Turks & Caicos Islands, Cuba, The Bahamas, Florida, U.S. Gulf Coast | 695 | 54 |
| Joyce | August 26 – August 28 | Tropical storm | 45 (75) | 997 | None | None | 0 |
| Kirk | August 26 – September 14 | Category 5 hurricane | 180 (285) | 896 | Windward Islands, Venezuela, Colombia, Nicaragua, Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, Mexico, U.S. Gulf Coast, Florida, Southeast U.S., The Carolinas, U.S. East Coast, New England | 58,000 | 18,464 |
| Leslie | August 30 – September 12 | Category 5 hurricane | 165 (270) | 906 | Windward Islands, Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Turks & Caicos Islands, The Bahamas, Florida, U.S. Gulf Coast | 82,000 | 904 |
| Michael | September 3 – September 20 | Category 5 hurricane | 160 (260) | 923 | Cape Verde Islands, The Bahamas, Bermuda, Newfoundland | 68 | 14 |
| Nadine | September 9 – October 12 | Category 2 hurricane | 110 (175) | 966 | Azores | 41 | 1 |
| Oscar | September 17 – October 22 | Tropical storm | 70 (110) | 989 | Nicaragua, Honduras, Belize, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico | 58 | 21 |
| Patty | September 28 – October 5 | Category 2 hurricane | 105 (165) | 974 | Cuba, The Bahamas, Florida, Southeast U.S. | 1,600 | 48 |
| Rafael | October 11 – October 18 | Category 1 hurricane | 90 (150) | 981 | Cape Verde Islands, Azores | 9 | 0 |
| Sandy | October 21 – October 31 | Category 5 hurricane | 165 (270) | 888 | Jamaica, Cuba, The Bahamas, Bermuda, U.S. East Coast, The Carolinas, New England | 156,000 | 3,682 |
| Tony | October 28 – October 30 | Tropical storm | 50 (85) | 995 | Mexico | 53 | 11 |
| Valerie | November 12 – November 14 | Tropical storm | 65 (100) | 993 | None | None | 0 |
| William | December 13 – December 31 | Category 5 hurricane | 540 (870) | 604 | Nicaragua, Honduras, Yucatan Peninsula, U.S. Gulf Coast, Florida, Southeast U.S., The Carolinas, U.S. East Coast, New England, Atlantic Canada, Newfoundland | 845,000 | 81,762 |