Houston Texas Facts

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 601.7 square miles (1,558.4 km²); this comprises 579.4 square miles (1,500.7 km²) of land and 22.3 square miles (57.7 km²) of water.

Most of Houston is located on the gulf coastal plain, and its vegetation is classified as temperate grassland and forest. Much of the city was built on forested land, marshes, swamp, or prairie, which are all still visible in surrounding areas. Flatness of the local terrain, when combined with urban sprawl, has made flooding a recurring problem for the city. Downtown stands about 50 feet (15 m) above sea level, and the highest point in far northwest Houston is about 125 feet (38 m) in elevation. The city once relied on groundwater for its needs, but land subsidence forced the city to turn to ground-level water sources such as Lake Houston and Lake Conroe.

Houston has four major bayous passing through the city. Buffalo Bayou runs through downtown and the Houston Ship Channel, and has three tributaries: White Oak Bayou, which runs through the Heights neighborhood and towards downtown; Braes Bayou, which runs along the Texas Medical Center; and Sims Bayou, which runs through the south of Houston and downtown Houston. The ship channel continues past Galveston and then into the Gulf of Mexico.

Houston s climate is classified as humid subtropical (Cfa in Köppen climate classification system). Spring supercell thunderstorms sometimes bring tornadoes to the area. Prevailing winds are from the south and southwest during most of the year, bringing heat across the continent from the deserts of Mexico and moisture from the Gulf of Mexico.

During the summer months, it is common for the temperature to reach over 90 °F (32 °C), with an average of 99 days per year above 90 °F (32 °C). However, the humidity results in a heat index higher than the actual temperature. Summer mornings average over 90 percent relative humidity and approximately 60 percent in the afternoon. Winds are often light in the summer and offer little relief, except near the immediate coast. To cope with the heat, people use air conditioning in nearly every vehicle and building in the city; in fact, in 1980 Houston was described as the "most air-conditioned place on earth". Scattered afternoon thunderstorms are common in the summer. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Houston was 109 °F (43 °C) on September 4, 2000.

Winters in Houston are fairly temperate. The average high in January, the coldest month, is 63 °F (17 °C), while the average low is 45 °F (7 °C). Snowfall is generally rare. The last snowstorm to hit Houston was on December 24, 2004. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Houston was 5 °F (−15 °C) on January 23, 1940.[44] Houston receives a high amount of rainfall annually, averaging about 54 inches a year. These rains can cause floods over portions of the city.

Houston has excessive ozone levels and is ranked among the most ozone-polluted cities in the United States. Ground-level ozone, or smog, is Houston’s predominate air pollution problem, with the American Lung Association rating the metropolitan area s ozone level as the 6th worst in the United States in 2006. The industries located along the ship channel are a major cause of the city s air pollution.

• AAA Corporate Car & Limo - Limo transportation services in the greater Houston area. Online reservations.
• Citiwide Limousine and Transportation - Offers limousines for airport transfers, weddings, and any special occasion.
• Courtesy Limousine Services - Buses, vans, sedans, and limousines, available for all occasions. Information on amenities, rates, and reservations.
• Grand Parkway - The official page for the proposed outer-outer-beltway around Houston, also called TX 99. Maps, hearing records, and general information.
• Gulf Coast Limousine Services, Inc. - Luxury transportation for Houston, The Woodlands, Conroe, and surrounding Gulf Coast communities. Sedans, limousines-Rolls Royce. All Houston Airports.
• Houston Limousines - Offers classic stretch and truck limousines.
• Katy Freeway - Information and schedule for the I-10 Katy Freeway segment construction project scheduled to begin in 2003. Offers program overview, timeline, news, and FAQ.
• Limo Houston - Information on services, vehicles, and rates.
• Royal Carriages Limousine - Offers luxury transportation services, including chauffeur-driven limousines, sedans, town cars, vans, and party buses.
• Towncar Connection - Information on services, rates, and reservations.