Gas prices may rise as Tropical Storm Gordon approaches the Gulf Coast

While we may be out of the woods local for flooding, Tropical Storm Gordon could still have an impact on Central Florida, especially at the gas pump.

Just over this Labor Day holiday weekend, AAA says that drivers paid more for gas than they have in the past four years. Gas prices could get more expensive depending on the path and severity of Tropical Storm Gordon.

The National Hurricane Center expects Gordon to strengthen into a hurricane before making landfall somewhere between Louisiana and the Florida coastlines. 

So far, the storm has not affected gas prices, but that could change if refineries suffer damage or go offline. AAA says that refineries in Louisiana and Mississippi began making preparations for the storm on Monday. 

The Gulf Coast is home to nearly half of the nation's refinery capacity. Last year, pump prices surged by $0.40 to $0.50 after Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas as a Category 4 storm. 

Right now, gas prices in Florida average $2.80 a gallon. AAA says that right now, it is too early to tell just how much of an impact, if any, Gordon will have on prices at the pump. Any supply outages would likely cause prices to climb, though.

Keep up with the latest on the 2018 Hurricane Season HERE. And you can download your Hurricane Guide in English HERE or in Spanish HERE