Winter Storm Hits Southern US... GM Shuts Down Operations at 4 Plants

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Joeslgina] A severe winter storm has struck the southern United States, prompting cold wave warnings for 150 million residents across 25 states. Automobile company General Motors (GM) has halted operations at factories in four locations, including Tennessee and Texas. Aramco's U.S. refining subsidiary Motiva has also temporarily closed its Texas refinery.

According to local media such as The New York Times (NYT) and Fox Business, the U.S. National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings on the 15th (local time) for 25 states from northern Maine to southern Texas. Due to a strong high-pressure system descending from the Arctic Circle, cold wave advisories have been issued for southern regions, and temperatures in the central region are expected to reach record lows.

As the cold wave and heavy snowfall hit the central and southern regions, some factories have come to a complete stop. GM announced it would suspend shift work at factories in four locations: Spring Hill, Tennessee; Arlington, Texas; Bowling Green, Kentucky; and Wentzville, Missouri. Local media reported that approximately 8,000 workers will be directly affected.

Ford Motor Company also temporarily halted operations at its Kansas City, Missouri plant, which produces the F-150 pickup truck. Oil company ExxonMobil suspended operations at its facilities in Baytown and Beaumont, Texas. Saudi Arabia's Aramco U.S. refining subsidiary Motiva also temporarily closed its refinery in Port Arthur, Texas. Additionally, Nissan North America has currently stopped production at four plants but is reportedly considering resuming operations as early as today.

According to the flight tracking website 'FlightAware,' over 3,000 flights were canceled that morning.

Governments of seven states?Alabama, Oregon, Oklahoma, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Texas?have declared emergencies in preparation for the cold wave. Sudden cold has caused numerous accidents across various locations, resulting in significant casualties.