ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tropical Storm Nicole is expected to impact much of Florida as the massive system makes its way to landfall along the state's east coast. The Tampa Bay area is also expected to feel Nicole's impacts in the form of gusty winds and heavy rainfall, and even possibly some storm surge in some parts.
With gas prices jumping quite a bit this week in Florida — due mostly to the state's month-long tax holiday ending on Nov. 1 — you may be wondering if filling up at the pump will get more expensive because of Nicole.
Despite average prices jumping from $3.34 to $3.53 per gallon Tuesday morning, it's not directly tied to the storm and any price hikes likely won't be because of Nicole, according to AAA. That's because Nicole isn't expected to impact refineries in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
“While Nicole is not expected to be as severe as Hurricane Ian, it’s still important that you take the storm seriously and be prepared,” President of AAA's Florida-based insurance providers Jennifer Pintacuda said in a statement. “Use the remaining time to gather supplies, fortify your home and document your belongings. That way if you do suffer damage, it will be easier to file a claim and expedite the repair process."
Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for much of Florida most at risk of seeing impacts from Tropical Storm Nicole this week.
The emergency declaration, issued by executive order, is "out of an abundance of caution" to allow the state to better respond to storm response and recovery, the governor said in a statement.
