Gas prices hit 2023 peak after Florida floods. Experts 'optimistic' prices won't stay high

Ana Goñi-Lessan, Tallahassee Democrat
·1 min read
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After historic flooding in South Florida shut down gasoline terminals, the average price of gas surged 15 cents last week to a new yearly high.

Port Everglades, the largest hub for gas trucks in Florida, shut down, which forced Tampa, Orlando, Port Canaveral and Jacksonville to pick up the slack. Prices in those areas rose double digits, said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA - The Auto Club Group.

Gas outages in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach, the areas most affected by flooding, have largely been resolved.

On Friday, the price per gallon hit $3.72, which was a new 2023 high and the most expensive daily average price since August 2022.

"There is reason to be optimistic that gas prices won't hang around these highs for long," said Jenkins. "Oil prices dropped to a 3-week low and gas prices began drifting lower through the weekend. There's hope that the upward pressure on pump prices will begin to ease as supplies stabilize around the state."

Gas at a glance

  • Most expensive metro markets – West Palm Beach-Boca Raton ($3.88), Port St. Lucie ($3.77), Naples ($3.77)

  • Least expensive metro markets – Crestview-Fort Walton Beach ($3.38), Pensacola ($3.39), Panama City ($3.40)

  • Daily gas price averages can be found at Gasprices.aaa.com

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida gas prices see 2023 high after South Florida flooding