Gas prices fall after hurricanes

Gas prices in Central Florida are finally coming down after hurricanes Harvey and Irma sent prices skyward over the last month.

Regular unleaded gasoline prices have dropped about 6 cents in the last week, according to AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report. The average is now $2.62 a gallon, but a handful of stations lowered prices again overnight Tuesday to $2.49 a gallon.

Prices peaked in the Orlando area mid-September at $2.71 a gallon, after selling for as low as $2.17 a gallon in the middle of August.

“Gas prices are getting cheaper by the day,” AAA spokeswoman Jeanette Casselano said in a statement. “Pump prices may not be dropping as fast as motorists would like, but with the switchover to winter-blend gasoline, consumer demand beginning to slow and Gulf Coast refineries getting closer to normal operations, consumers can expect gas prices to continue to be less expensive through October.”

While Harvey and Irma didn’t cause much damage to refineries and gasoline infrastructure, it closed down processing plans and blocked crucial supply lines.

In Florida, gas stations couldn’t keep up with demand before the storm. Hundreds of stations lost power after Hurricane Irma. Statewide power outages also had customers fueling up gas cans for generators, creating extra demand.