Texas pilots suspend some operations around ports as winter storm hits

Texas pilots suspended some operations on Monday as frigid weather conditions hit the state.

All of Port Houston's eight public facilities will be closed on Tuesday, January 21, the port said, adding that vessel operations were suspended on Monday and container terminal truck gates were closed from Monday evening.

The Brazos Santiago Pilots were scheduled to halt ship movements just before midnight on Monday as offshore conditions worsened, according to a notice from a shipping agent.

The Lake Charles Pilots suspended service ahead of the storm and will review possible movements on Wednesday afternoon, the notice said.

A winter storm warning is in effect from Monday evening until Tuesday evening for parts of the US Gulf Coast, according to the National Weather Service, with as much as four to six inches of snow anticipated around the Houston area.

(Reporting by Arathy Somasekhar in Houston; Writing by Liz Hampton in Denver; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)