A low-pressure area that formed from a tropical wave south of Mexico became a tropical depression around 1800 UTC on 20 May 2012, about 450 nautical miles south of Acapulco. The system became a tropical storm on 22 May and then a hurricane late on 23 May. Bud strengthened rapidly and turned northeastward; it reached peak strength about 0000 UTC 25 May roughly 165 nmi southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico. After peak, increasing wind shear and interaction with Mexico’s terrain caused fast weakening, and the circulation lost tropical characteristics and dissipated just offshore by 1800 UTC 26 May.
Bud did not make a direct inland landfall as a hurricane. The center passed very near the coast of southwestern Mexico on 25 May, brushing the shoreline near Manzanillo and producing tropical-storm conditions there late on 25 May. Warnings and watches were issued along portions of the coast (for example Manzanillo to Cabo Corrientes) from 24–26 May as the cyclone approached and weakened.
The maximum analyzed intensity was 100 knots (115 mph), with an estimated minimum central pressure of 961 mb, making Bud a Category 3 hurricane at peak intensity (major hurricane) around 0000 UTC 25 May. Intensity estimates are based primarily on Air Force reconnaissance flight-level winds and surface wind measurements.
Reported storm surge effects were limited; specific surge heights were not noted in available observations, but tropical-storm-force winds and near-coast impacts occurred near Manzanillo. Rainfall totals produced only minor impacts; the report cites washing out of a few roads near Manzanillo but does not list large rainfall totals for other named cities or counties.
There were no reported fatalities and only minor damage in southwestern Mexico, mainly washed-out roads near Manzanillo. Forecasts of Bud’s origin were challenging: the system’s formation was poorly anticipated and official genesis probabilities were increased only about 18 hours before formation. Track forecasts showed some southward bias at longer ranges, and intensity forecasts handled the rapid strengthening reasonably well but had difficulty with the rapid weakening phase.
Paid members can generate summaries tailored to the counties of their choice. The Bud TCR covers impacts across many counties and states — a Pinellas County resident doesn't need the Asheville detail, and a Buncombe County resident doesn't need the Tampa surge data.
Upgrade for county-specific summariesSummary above produced from the National Hurricane Center's official post-storm Tropical Cyclone Report. Read the full report for casualty lists, damage estimates by area, forecast critique, and detailed meteorological discussion:
📄 Read NHC's full report on Bud → (opens at nhc.noaa.gov)| Time (UTC) | Status | Lat | Lon | Winds (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-05-20 12:00 | LO | 9.00 | -98.10 | 25 | 1006 | |
| 2012-05-20 18:00 | TD | 9.10 | -98.70 | 25 | 1006 | |
| 2012-05-21 00:00 | TD | 9.10 | -99.30 | 30 | 1005 | |
| 2012-05-21 06:00 | TD | 9.20 | -99.90 | 30 | 1005 | |
| 2012-05-21 12:00 | TD | 9.30 | -100.40 | 30 | 1005 | |
| 2012-05-21 18:00 | TD | 9.40 | -100.90 | 30 | 1005 | |
| 2012-05-22 00:00 | TS | 9.70 | -101.60 | 35 | 1004 | |
| 2012-05-22 06:00 | TS | 10.20 | -102.60 | 35 | 1004 | |
| 2012-05-22 12:00 | TS | 10.80 | -103.60 | 35 | 1004 | |
| 2012-05-22 18:00 | TS | 11.70 | -104.60 | 40 | 1003 | |
| 2012-05-23 00:00 | TS | 12.50 | -105.60 | 45 | 1001 | |
| 2012-05-23 06:00 | TS | 12.90 | -106.60 | 50 | 999 | |
| 2012-05-23 12:00 | TS | 13.10 | -107.40 | 55 | 997 | |
| 2012-05-23 18:00 | TS | 13.60 | -107.70 | 60 | 993 | |
| 2012-05-24 00:00 | HU | 14.10 | -107.70 | 70 | 985 | |
| 2012-05-24 06:00 | HU | 14.60 | -107.40 | 80 | 978 | |
| 2012-05-24 12:00 | HU | 15.20 | -107.00 | 90 | 970 | |
| 2012-05-24 18:00 | HU | 16.00 | -106.50 | 95 | 962 | |
| 2012-05-25 00:00 | HU | 16.80 | -106.10 | 100 | 961 | |
| 2012-05-25 06:00 | HU | 17.50 | -105.80 | 95 | 964 | |
| 2012-05-25 12:00 | HU | 18.20 | -105.60 | 85 | 973 | |
| 2012-05-25 18:00 | HU | 18.90 | -105.50 | 70 | 990 | |
| 2012-05-26 00:00 | TS | 19.50 | -105.60 | 55 | 996 | |
| 2012-05-26 06:00 | LO | 20.10 | -105.70 | 40 | 1002 | |
| 2012-05-26 12:00 | LO | 20.50 | -105.80 | 25 | 1007 |
Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 best-track database (nhc.noaa.gov/data). Data is in the public domain. Best-track positions and intensities are post-storm reanalysis estimates and may differ from real-time advisories.