AAA: TS Gordon Could Cause Rise In Florida Gas Prices

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Daytona Beach, FL - Tropical Storm Gordon will soon bring high winds and rain to the Gulf Coast and possibly higher gas prices to Florida's east coast.

According to the latest report by AAA, the storm has not affected gas prices yet, but that could change if refineries suffer damage or go offline.

The National Hurricane Center is expecting Gordon to strengthen to a Category 1 hurricane before making landfall sometime tonight (September 4th).

Facilities in Louisiana and Mississippi are preparing for the storm, but none have shut down yet, per AAA spokesperson Mark Jenkins.

"It's too early to know just how much of an impact - if any - Gordon will have on prices at the pump," Jenkins added. "Market watchers will pay close attention to how refineries respond to this storm. Any supply outages would likely cause prices to climb."

The average gas price in Florida jumped eight cents to $2.80 per gallon of regular unleaded in anticipation of the Labor Day holiday weekend.

Volusia drivers are seeing an average of $2.78 per gallon of regular unleaded, three cents more than last week. Flagler drivers are seeing an average of $2.80 per gallon, four cents higher than last week's numbers.

AAA's report also says that Labor Day's prices were the highest they've been in four years, with averages sitting between 50 and 60 cents higher than last year's holiday.