As if there weren't enough factors driving up the price of gas, now we have another thing to worry about…hurricane season.  Virginia's WRIC reports, "Analysts are predicting that the cost of a gallon of gas could jump to $5 or $6 if a bad storm threatens to disrupt pipelines or refineries, especially along the Gulf Coast."  Hurricane season officially began this past weekend, and the first named storm of 2008, Tropical Storm Arthur, is already "causing problems in Mexico." 

CNN Money says the 2008 hurricane season is "expected to be a rough one, threatening to upend refineries and disrupt pipelines in the southern United States. …  Peter Beutel, oil analyst at Cameron Hanover Beutel, said if a Katrina-like hurricane were to hit in July, gas prices could go as high as $5 or even $6."  Beutel adds, "The last thing this market needs at this time is a hurricane, because we can't afford to lose any of our refining capacity at this point.  If anything bullish happens with the market in this state, it would make it go absolutely crazy."

St. Louis' Fox 2 points out, "In the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, gas prices rose 17% in a week's time."  About half of U.S. refining capacity is located in gulf states, in prime hurricane territory.  "It won’t take a category 5 storm to fuel higher prices; even the threat of a weaker storm is enough to disrupt production," according to Fox 2.  Refineries often have to halt production and take measures to protect themselves against damage when forecasters predict that storms could be headed their way.

Florida State Emergency Management Director Craig Fugate told ABC affiliate WMBB that his state's "fuel distribution system is vulnerable because most fuel comes through the ports and even the threat of a hurricane could send gas prices soaring to $6 a gallon or more."

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