Not sure how the Arctic could be described as dramatically worse than 2012 at same date?
2016 leads in Beaufort with both open water, and how far the dispersed ice penetrate towards CAB. The area of dispersed ice towards Laptev/CAB/ESS border is worse this year. More open water in Laptev in 2012. More open water in Kara, and penetration of dispersed ice towards CAB from Kara direction in 2012. Similar border between CAB and Atlantic waters both years, but ice caught up against islands in 2012, and all ice around islands gone this year. Maybe a slight lead to 2012 overall, which is reflected by 2012's small lead in ice extent.
But surface melt has lagged behind 2012, due to significantly cooler conditions since late May according to Slater's page. In contrast 2012 had a major heat wave in early June. This is reflected in the fact that area is currently only 3rd or 4th overall in area stat, and a good way behind 2012 on this measure. 2012 had a cool patch in late June, and currently MODIS channel 3-6-7 suggests area of surface melt is now similar for the two years, however lots of clouds both years make it quite hard to tell. In 2012 ADS picks up large areas of reduced concentration that do not correspond to areas of dispersed ice visible in MODIS, and no such areas are visible this year. I have found in the past that such areas are only picked up with sustained strong melting early in the season, and believe this reflects deeper melt ponding than exists this year.
From now 2012 enters a period of near record heat for early July. With the lack of melt pond momentum this year it will be very hard for this year to keep up in this period, and unless we see similar extreme heat 2016 will fall a long way behind in area, and probably lose its extent lead as melting momentum begins to bite. Late in July 2012 cools down, which I think is 2016's big chance to catch up. Extent and area loss were still quite rapid during late July 2012, and I think this is a case of strong melt momentum built up by the 2012 pattern of early June heat, late June dispersal, early July more heat. After that there is the GAC in early August, more strong heat in late August. There was a reason 2012 smashed records, and there aren't too many weak periods for other years to gain ground.