In the Atlantic Basin, which includes storms that form in the Atlantic, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of America (formerly known as Gulf of Mexico), hurricane season lasts from June 1 until Nov. 30. Historically, 97% of all tropical cyclones in the Atlantic will form between those two dates.

The Gulf of Mexico has recently warmed from a heat dome, and the Pacific is cooling. These factors may be conducive to a fast start to hurricane season.

The start of this year's Atlantic hurricane season has arrived and here is what Houston and Southeast Texas should know about the season and what we should watch for in the next six months. What's hurricane season?