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| Tropical cyclones in 2012 | |
|---|---|
 Year summary map | |
| Year boundaries | |
| First system | 06U and Chanda |
| Formed | January 5, 2012 |
| Last system | Dumile |
| Dissipated | January 5, 2013 |
| Strongest system | |
| Name | Sanba |
| Lowest pressure | 900 mbar (hPa); 26.58 inHg |
| Longest lasting system | |
| Name | Nadine |
| Duration | 24 days |
| Year statistics | |
| Total systems | 128 |
| Named systems | 85 |
| Total fatalities | 3,248 total |
| Total damage | $93.81 billion (2012 USD) |
Among them, 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 fourth-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.