TULSA — You don’t have to be in Harvey’s path for it to cost you.
Gasoline prices could rise across wide portions of the United States, including Oklahoma, as Hurricane Harvey shuts down refineries in the nation’s largest refining hub in Texas.
Experts predict an increase of five to 15 cents over the weekend as Hurricane Harvey forces the evacuation of dozens of oil platforms off the coast of Texas.
“While the picture continues to change, one thing is nearly guaranteed: gasoline prices in every state will be impacted to varying degrees over the next 1-2 weeks, possibly longer, so buckle up and be ready,” said Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst at GasBuddy.
GasBuddy says a major refining hub in Houston continues to operate, but may come under attack from Harvey over the weekend, resulting in a possible large disruption to gasoline supply.
The shutdowns have led wholesale gasoline prices to rise nearly 10 cents per gallon.