Here’s Where Gas Prices Are Expected to Skyrocket This Weekend

Fun Fact: The highest average of gas prices in the Los Angeles area recorded was in July of 2008 at $4.103 per gallon.

According to a consumer group’s latest forecast, seasonality in California’s refinery operations could cause gasoline prices in the Golden State to leap by about 37 cents per gallon over the weekend.

Some stations have even been selling fuel for less than $2.

Over the next couple of days the price of gas is expected to jump and it’s all because of the switch to Southern California’s summer blend.

Refineries in California are required to transition every spring to a summer fuel blend, which burns cleaner than the state’s winter blend but is also more expensive to produce. Prices subsequently dropped at a quicker pace than expected as refiners then emptied their inventories of surplus winter blend, with California moving to the greener summer blend in the run-up to this summer’s driving season.

But this month’s rare, $2-and-change prices in SoCal were probably affected by anticipation of the seasonal changeover, said GasBuddy senior petrolium analyst Patrick DeHaan. “It’s the yearly draw down, with a glut of supply”. Some stations price may increase faster than others.

The summer blend is to be in gas stations by April 1.

Today in Los Angeles drivers lined up at places like Costco to full up before the prices get higher. California’s average gas price is now $2.34 per gallon, compared to $1.73 per gallon nationally, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA). While some drivers are upset with the increase, most around town say they welcome the higher prices.

Since oil experts believe the cost of crude oil will remain low, AAA predicts gas will continue to be cheaper for much of this year, and West echoed the same sentiment.