Northwest Iowa Radio Iowa) — One analyst predicts gasoline prices could rise between ten and twenty-five cents a gallon over the next week or two, all thanks to Hurricane Harvey.
Gail Weinholzer, of Triple-A-Iowa, says oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico were shut down as a precaution as the massive storm approached and they’ll reopen soon. The problem is — the historic storm is still causing big troubles inland.
The storm, which is blamed for several deaths, is causing widespread flooding in Texas and Louisiana and may force the evacuation of 30-thousand people. The significant disruption to those key oil producing areas will be felt far away, even here in northwest Iowa.
Gas prices in northwest Iowa are now averaging within a few cents of two-dollars and 30-cents a gallon while nationwide, it’s two-37 a gallon.
While the storm’s impact won’t be as devastating as Hurricane Katrina 12 years ago, Weinholzer says it will still likely affect gas prices into mid- or late September.
