Surging gas prices show no signs of stopping in Florida

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The summer travel season has arrived, and rising gas prices show no signs of stopping.

Currently, the average price of gas in Florida is $4.62, but it likely won't last for long, according to an analyst with GasBuddy.com.

Patrick De Haan with GasBuddy.com sent a string of tweetsTuesday saying that multiple states, and possibly Florida, will see a "noticeable jump" in gas prices.

RELATED: Check local gas prices

WPTV

The average price of gas in the U.S. is currently $4.62, according to AAA.

However, De Haan said $5 a gallon could be on the horizon soon. He tweeted Tuesday that the national average could hit $5 by June 17.

Oil prices rose Tuesday after the European Union agreed to block the majority of oil imports from Russia because of its invasion of Ukraine.

Benchmark U.S. crude was up 1.8% at $117.19 per barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, was up 0.2% at $117.86 after earlier topping $120.

"Keep in mind, with supplies very tight and oil prices very high, we're coming into a very charged atmosphere, and I'm not referring to hurricane season, which is likely to be above average," De Haan told WPTV on Tuesday.

Hurricanes can wreck fuel supplies and drive prices up in a normal year.

"If there is a summer, I dare say from hell when it comes to gas prices, this very much could be it," De Haan said.

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De Haan tweeted that gas prices appeared to have reached $4.75 in Florida on Tuesday.

"These 'price cycles' can start late morning or early afternoon as fuel pricing analysts at major chains look at awful margin data and rising wholesale prices," De Haan tweeted. "Then by late morning/early afternoon start raising their prices systemwide."

Portions of this article courtesy of the Associated Press