Explainer: Will Hurricane Ian impact gas prices in NC?

Gas experts say it’s unlikely Hurricane Ian will have a direct impact on our supply of gas and how much we pay in North Carolina.

Many drivers are wondering how Ian, a Category 4 storm headed for Fort Myers, Florida, on Wednesday will affect gas prices and the travel industry.

After seeing a steady decline for weeks, some gas prices are trickling back up. The national gas price average is up 8 cents compared to last week.

In Raleigh, the average price for a gallon of regular gas is $3.32. Experts said it is highly unlikely Hurricane Ian will have a direct impact on the supply and price of gas.

Floridians are already struggling to find stations with a steady supply of gas as Hurricane Ian nears the west coast.

Tiffany Wright, a spokesperson with AAA, said the impact from the storm will be localized because Florida is not huge gas producer or refiner. However, the market could react to the storm in advance by increasing the prices slightly to balance off any potential cut offs.

According to Wright, the chances of a ripple effect in North Carolina is slim, but it really all depends on the severity of the storm.

“Anytime there’s a natural disaster, anytime there’s a chance for refineries to go offline, anytime there’s a chance for oil production to be cut, the oil market reacts,” Wright said. “We see prices for crude oil go up and gas prices tend to follow.”

Wright tells drivers not to panic and stock up on gas, because that’s what leads to shortages.