Houston
The Bayou City
Almanac
The Bayou City Almanac
Adapted from previous version written by:
Felesa Baker
Cindy Sherman
Conni Whitton
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Houston has grown to be the fourth largest city in the United States. The only
cities in which more people live are New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
Find Houston on the map of the United States. In what part of the country do you
find Houston?
The United States
New York
Chicago
Los Angeles
TEXAS
N
Houston
E
W
S
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Look at the map below. Find Houston. It is in the southeastern part of the state.
What large body of water is near Houston?
Dallas
El Paso
TEXAS
Austin
Houston
GULF OF MEXICO
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Houston’s Climate
Climate is the kind of weather a place has over a long period of time. Houston’s
climate is warm and humid. This is because Houston is so close to the Gulf of Mexico.
Mild Winters
Many people move to Houston so they can enjoy the outdoors much of the year.
Winters are usually not very cold. Winter temperatures average 65 F in the daytime
and 45 F at night.
Once in a while, Houston does have cold winter weather. The cold temperatures
are caused by cold air coming from the north. We call this cold air a “blue norther”.
The temperature of the air may drop below 32 F. When the temperature is this
low, we say it is freezing. At times, snow may even fall. But the freezing temperatures
and snow do not last very long. Have you ever seen it snow in Houston?
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Hot Summers
Summers in Houston are often very long and hot. The city usually has about 97
days during the year when the temperature is 90or higher.
Air conditioner’s help people stay cool. Most people have air conditioned houses
and cars. In fact, Houston has been called the most air conditioned city in the world.
Abundant Rainfall
Houston averages 48 inches of rain each year. The city’s rainfall, mild
temperatures, and fertile soil help many plants to grow here. Tall trees and grasses
cover the land.
The plentiful rainfall has made Houston important for ranching and farming. More
rice is grown in the Houston area than in any other part of the United States. Although
Houston is a large city, over one-third of the land in Harris Country is still used for
ranching and farming.
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Look at the climate chart below. Which city has the warmest temperature? Which
city has the most rainfall? What is the difference between Houston and El Paso’s
rainfall?
Climate Chart
CITY
AVERAGE SUMMER
AVERAGE WINTER
RAINFALL
TEMPERATURE
TEMPERATURE
Houston
94
45
54”
Dallas
95
36
35”
El Paso
94
32
7”
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Dangers of Houston’s Climate
Most of the year, the people in Houston enjoy beautiful weather. Sometimes,
however, the city is faced with dangerous weather. The dangerous weather is caused
by Houston’s nearness to the Gulf of Mexico.
Floods
Floods are one of these dangers. When it has rained a great deal over a short
period of time, often times many areas of Houston flood. The water has no place to go
because the city’s land is so flat. Many homes become filled with water and much
property is damaged and destroyed.
The Harris County Flood Control District works on plans to control flooding. One
of the district’s plans has been to turn land near flooding bayous into parks. Builders
are warned not to build houses where it is likely to flood. In some places where new
homes are built, lakes are being made. The lakes give the water a place to drain.
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Hurricanes
Hurricanes are another danger to our city. Sometimes, a storm will form in the
Gulf of Mexico. When the winds become very strong, the storm is called a hurricane.
If you were living in Houston in September 2008, you probably remember Hurricane
Ike. Hurricane Ike was the third most destructive hurricane to ever make landfall in the
United States. It made its landfall east of Galveston, Texas.
Hurricane Ike blew down trees and power lines. Many people were without electricity,
phone service, and water. Downtown Houston looked like a ghost town. Broken glass
from the windows of skyscrapers fell into the city streets.
The key to hurricane safety is to be ready for the storm. The National Weather
Bureau is trying to let people know three days ahead of time where and when a
hurricane may strike. Newspapers, as well as television and radio announcers, tell
people in Houston how to get ready. Everyone needs to know where to go and what to
do during a hurricane. Has your family made hurricane plans? What are they?
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A Flat, Coastal City
Houston is on low, flat land near the coastline of Texas. A coastline is where land
and water meet. The city is about 50 miles from the Gulf of Mexico.
Two kinds of waterways link Houston with the Gulf of Mexico. One of the
waterways is a bay. A bay is a body of water partly surrounded by land. The Gulf of
Mexico flows into Galveston Bay. Find Galveston Bay on the map below.
The other waterway is called a bayou. A bayou is a stream of slow moving water.
Buffalo Bayou flows from the city into Galveston Bay.
Part of Buffalo Bayou was made deeper so that large ships could travel to and
from Houston. This part of Buffalo Bayou is now called the Houston Ship Channel. The
ship channel has made Houston an important port city. Ships from all over the world
use the Houston Ship Channel.
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