2012 one of the most active hurricane seasons

http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/climate-weather/stories/2012-one-of-the-most-active-hurricane-seasons

The large number of hurricanes seen this season resulted, in part, from above-average surface temperatures throughout the Atlantic.

This year's hurricane season officially ended on Nov. 30 and will be remembered primarily for Hurricane Sandy, for obvious reasons. But Sandy was only the last hurricane in a very active — and unusual — season.

 

One of the busiest on record, the 2012 season also saw weaker-than-average cyclones and began earlier than usual, said Brian McNoldy, a researcher at the University of Miami.

 

There were 19 named tropical storms this year in the Atlantic Ocean basin tying 2012 at third for most named-storms in recorded history, McNoldy told OurAmazingPlanet. The top spot goes to the 2005 season, which saw 28 named storms. A storm is named once it attains tropical storm status, defined as a rotating, organized storm with maximum sustained winds of at least 39 mph (63 kph).