What’s going on with gas in South Florida? What’s happening with prices? What to know
What’s up with gas in South Florida?
Lines formed over the weekend and some gas stations ran out of fuel. Authorities say the Fort Lauderdale flood disrupted operations at Port Everglades, the hub for about 40% of the gasoline into Florida. On Monday afternoon, about half of the companies that distribute petroleum products from the port such as propane, diesel and gasoline were delivering to retailers and other consumers. And on Tuesday morning, the majority were in operation, according to port officials.
AAA says the supply is flowing again — and that there’s no reason for consumers to panic at the pumps. Gas was brought in from Port Canaveral Tampa and Orlando when Port Everglades had flood disruptions.
“The good news is that operations have reportedly been restored at Port Everglades and gasoline supplies in the region should return to normal very soon,” said AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins. “It’s just a matter of filling the gasoline trucks at the terminals and delivering the fuel to the gas stations that need it.”
READ MORE: King tides might cause more flooding in Fort Lauderdale. Here’s what you need to know
Broward County Mayor Lamar P. Fisher and port authorities echoed AAA’s recommendation during a news conference on Monday.
“Port Everglades is assisting our petroleum partners with berthing for their ships and logistics support to efficiently get their fuel trucks in and out of Port Everglades,” Fisher said. “The resources and supplies are available. One hurdle for the companies is getting the fuel out regionally to make up for the time lost during this unprecedented flooding event.”
Meanwhile, the price of gas in the Miami area is up more than 2 cents a gallon from last week, according to GasBuddy, a fuel monitoring service that surveyed nearly 1,700 stations in the Miami area. That’s an expected trend this spring, even without weather interruptions.
It’s possible that prices can go up this week if supply continues to be an issue.
Here’s what to know heading into the week:
Cheapest and most expensive gas in the Miami area
▪ The cheapest gas in the Miami area: $3.23 a gallon on Monday, according to a GasBuddy survey of about 1,700 stations in the region.
▪ The highest price: $4.99 a gallon.
▪ The average price: $3.61, up 2.4 cents a gallon from last week.
Florida price at the pump
Average: The average price for a gallon of gas in Florida on Monday, according to AAA, was $3.56.
Gas prices around Florida
Cape Coral: $3.51 a gallon
Naples: $3.57
Sarasota: $3.50
Most expensive areas: West Palm Beach/Boca Raton, Naples, Fort Lauderdale
Least expensive areas: Crestview-Fort Walton Beach, Panama City, Pensacola
U.S. price at the pump
Average: The average price for a gallon of gas across the country on Monday, according to AAA, was $3.67.
What the experts are saying
▪ Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy: “With oil prices touching their highest level of 2023 at nearly $83 per barrel, the national average price of gasoline has continued to inch higher, with 45 of the nation’s 50 states seeing prices rise over the last week. ... Oil prices remain a wildcard, but we’re likely a few weeks away from seeing the national average peak. Whether it hits $4 per gallon or not is still perhaps a 50/50 chance.”
How to find cheap gas near you
There’s an app to help: The GasBuddy app was built to show motorists prices around them and a fuel tracker can update users on stations that have or don’t have fuel based on supply changes.
Interactive map: Use the interactive Florida map below, with data from AAA, to see the average gas price by county. Just hover over an area and the price pops up. Keep in mind that there may be a lag in the data.
