Gas prices rise ahead of holiday weekend after Hurricane Harvey

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Historic flooding along the Gulf Coast has sparked fears of a gasoline shortage caused by refinery outages, port closures and pipeline shutdowns. Gas prices in Chicago have hit a new high for the year.

It's all a matter of perspective, however. Courtney Enge recently moved to Chicago from San Diego, and the high prices here don't seem so steep.

"It's amazing. Honestly, in California it's probably up to $3.30 right now. When I was younger it used to get up to $4. This is amazing," she said.

Prices are rising across the country in the aftermath of Harvey. The Midwest, in particular, is impacted because of a pipeline in the region.

"There is a pipeline that rings oil from the Gulf Coast to the Midwest that has been shut down. The good news is that the pipeline is supposed to go back online this weekend," said Beth Mosher, AAA spokeswoman.

Right now Illinois gas prices average $2.50 a gallon. A year ago, they were $2.33. It's a similar story in Indiana; today a gallon will cost, on average, $2.49. A year ago you saved nearly a quarter per gallon. And some drivers are taking advantage of that difference.

"I'm always going to Indiana and the suburbs to fill up, only because it's cheaper," said Mustafa Marga, Chicago driver.

"I saw the prices when I came here and all of a sudden they were a lot higher than normal. You gotta pay the gas prices in order to get gas," said Johnathan Svigos, Chicago driver.