Hurricane Alley is where many hurricanes form in an area of warm water in the Atlantic Ocean that stretches from the west coast of northern Africa to the east coast of Central America and Gulf Coast of the Southern United States. The sea surface temperature in this area has risen steadily over the last two decades, which many climate scientists blame for the increase in hurricane activity here. Most notably in 2017 and 2018, hurricanes that formed in this region brought extensive destruction to areas of Florida, Louisiana and Texas following Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Of similar catastrophic significance, Hurricane Maria also occurred during this time frame, devastating Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In the slideshow above are 20 fast facts about the recent historic Atlantic hurricane seasons, reflecting on Hurricane Harvey and Irma's effects and consequences in Florida, Texas and Louisiana. Analyzing the fallout and numbers of these events, here are some details to keep in mind about Atlantic hurricanes and Hurricane Alley ahead of the 2019 hurricane season. Related: Forecasting the 2019 hurricane season: A look back and ahead