Port Houston announced on its website it will suspend all operations Wednesday due to the approaching Hurricane Laura.
Laura could become a major Category 3 hurricane just before it hits the Gulf Coast Wednesday night near the Texas and Louisiana border, according to Nick Austin, FreightWaves’ senior meteorologist.
Port Houston said it will stop all terminal operations at its Barbours Cut and Bayport container terminals by Tuesday evening. The port will also suspend operations at its general cargo/ multipurpose terminals.
“We anticipate to be fully closed Wednesday and possibly Thursday depending on the storm track,” the port said in a statement. “Weekend gate operations will be evaluated based on local/regional impacts. Container free time extensions will be made once the length of terminal closures are defined.”
Port Houston officials added the general cargo/multipurpose terminal gates at the Cargo Bay Road and Ramp Road Six plan to remain open Wednesday and Thursday.
Hurricane Laura could impact areas from Houston and Galveston, north into the Beaumont-Port Arthur region, as well as areas farther northeast, including Lake Charles, Louisiana.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has projected that Laura will become a Category 3 hurricane before landfall, with winds up to 115 mph.
The NHC said Laura could produce 4 to 8 inches of rain from Wednesday night through Saturday, as well as a storm surge of 7 to 11 feet of water along portions of the coast.
The threat from Hurricane Laura already has sparked mass evacuations across Texas and Louisiana. The Texas cities of Galveston and Port Arthur issued mandatory evacuation orders for all residents Tuesday morning.
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