Arizona, nationwide gas prices will jump because of Hurricane Harvey

PHOENIX — Drivers across the country will be paying more for gas over Labor Day weekend after Hurricane Harvey forced some of the nation’s oil refineries to temporarily close, including those in Arizona.

Patrick DeHaan, a senior analyst at fuel price tracking site GasBuddy.com, said Arizonans should expect to pay about 10 to 20 cents more per gallon in the coming days and weeks.

“I would say the elevated gas prices could last for three to four weeks before we see some good relief,” he said.

GasBuddy said Arizona was paying an average of $2.26 per gallon on Wednesday.

CNBC reported that about 20 percent of the nation’s refineries were shuttered Wednesday, including the largest one in the country. DeHaan said pump prices will be higher until refinery doors reopen.

“The increase in gas prices is going to be subject to when refineries get back online,” he said. “Once they do start turning out gasoline, expect prices to start coming back down.”

Tom Kloza, the founder of the Oil Price Information Service, said it would take days to resume refining.

“Extensive flooding in Houston and Baytown and perhaps even Port Arthur has probably removed some refining for a period of a week or two,” he said.

Kloza said Arizona drivers irked by higher fuel prices should keep in mind the havoc Harvey has wreaked.

“We’re looking at some maybe some inconvenience and annoyances,” he said. “If you keep that in perspective of what’s happening to people in coastal Texas, I think you’ll have the right idea.”

So far, 20 people have died as Houston faced some of the worst flooding in the nation’s history.

KTAR News’ Jim Cross contributed to this report.