Snowstorm shuts down oil refineries in Texas causing an increase in gas prices

Even though this winter storm did not affect everyone with low temperatures and snowflakes, all U.S citizens will see the effects of the storm through gas prices.

This is the time of year when gas prices are relatively low, but the snowstorms that heavily impacted texas caused prices to spike all over the country.

“The national average now at its highest level in over a year at $2.47 a gallon,” said Patrick DeHaan, Head of Petroleum Analysis at GasBuddy.

According to Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at gas buddy, refineries do not work well in sub-freezing temperatures.

While one local consumer filled up his tank, he says he noticed a drastic change in the cost.

“Well, I feel bad about it. it’s cost me an additional ten dollars to fill up my truck than it normally would a couple of weeks ago,” said Mike Richardson

And Richardson, who says he drives a distance regularly for dog grooming appointments, is anxious for what’s ahead.

“And I can only help but wonder what will it go to next. we take the dog to get groomed, and we have to go all the way to Humboldt to do that. sometimes we go to Trenton to do that.”

With refineries closed in Texas because of the weather, consumers can expect gas prices to rise by ten to twenty cents a gallon within the next couple of days.

“Next week will it be another ten dollars, will it be twenty dollars, and it’s scary,” said Richardson.