Drivers across Texas are seeing higher gas prices following a major winter storm. The statewide average price for regular unleaded gasoline rose to $2.50 per gallon, up five cents from the previous week. Prices in the Houston area have also increased but remain below the national average, as fuel supplies tighten and demand rises, as reported by Click2Houston.
A severe winter storm disrupted U.S. oil and gas infrastructure over the weekend, briefly slashing crude output by as much as 2 million barrels per day, with the Permian Basin down about 4% or 250,000 bpd as producers slowly restart operations. In Texas, fuel prices rose as production slowdowns, delivery delays, and pre-storm demand collided, with AAA Texas noting that “Severe winter weather can disrupt multiple parts of the fuel supply chain.”
Nationally, recovery is gaining traction as North Dakota restores roughly 80,000–110,000 bpd, and officials see limited risk of renewed disruptions, saying, “With relatively mild winter conditions and limited precipitation in the coming week, I am not expecting any additional curtailments in the near term,” as per Reuters. While easing weather points toward stabilization, Texas motorists are still feeling the short-term impact of the storm-driven fuel supply squeeze.
