Ports from Houston to New Orleans and Mobile have been severely impacted by unprecedented snowstorms and record-low temperatures. Snow accumulations ranging from 1 to 6 inches have paralyzed these ports, which lack equipment to handle such conditions.

Weather reports indicate that an unusual weather pattern moving along the U.S. Gulf Coast could affect as many as 40 million people. Authorities from Texas to Louisiana and the Carolinas have urged residents to stay home.

Reports suggest that up to 2,000 flights have been canceled, and major seaports have suspended operations.

On January 21, Kuehne+Nagel, the world's largest sea freight forwarder, issued an urgent notice stating that severe weather conditions had forced the closure of ports in Houston, New Orleans, and Mobile. The notice warned that snow and freezing temperatures are expected to significantly affect Gulf Coast ports.

The busiest port along the Gulf Coast, the Port of Houston, issued a warning: “The truck gates for container terminals will close as scheduled at 4 p.m. on Monday. Vessel operations were suspended later that evening due to local weather conditions.” On Tuesday, January 21, the port's operations center remained closed, and it announced that facilities would remain shut on Wednesday. Plans are underway to extend operating hours on Saturday to help customers mitigate delays.

Freezing warnings in Texas are expected to last until Wednesday morning.

According to Reuters, ship pilots responsible for vessel movements have issued alerts to suspend operations. Temperatures are expected to rise above freezing by Wednesday, allowing vessel operations to resume. By the weekend, temperatures are forecasted to return to around 60°F.

In eastern Louisiana, a blizzard warning was issued for the first time, with snow accumulations expected to reach 3 to 6 inches. Officials reported that they hadn’t experienced such significant snowfall since 1960, with snowfall records dating back to 1895. On Monday, January 20, the Port of New Orleans was closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. New Orleans terminals and other U.S. ports remained closed on Tuesday due to icy conditions, with operations expected to resume on Thursday, January 22.

The Alabama Port Authority announced that operations were suspended at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, January 21, closing all offices and facilities. If conditions permit, port facilities are scheduled to reopen and resume operations at 7 a.m. on Thursday, January 23.