Here is the direction that AAA is expecting gas prices to go

Like the rest of the Southeastern United States, gas prices in the Columbus area took a one-two punch with the arrival of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma in recent weeks, with the latter hitting particularly close to home here.

The bottom line: Prices haven’t been this high since the fall of 2014.

The good news for now: Barring another major hurricane or some other unexpected event that might rattle oil prices, the cost of filling up your car should reach their lowest levels of the year this fall, according to the auto club known as AAA.

“Gas prices are poised to plummet 30 cents,” AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said in a statement. “It will not happen overnight, as pump prices decline much slower than they rise. Plus, the threat of any new storms making landfall in the United States would compromise the collapse. However, motorists should see gas prices decline through the end of the month, and possibly reach the lowest point of the year in Q4,” which would be sometime from October to December.

The average price of regular gasoline reached $2.72 per gallon on Sunday, according to AAA, which is up from about $2.22 per gallon a month ago and $2.20 per gallon a year ago. Sunday’s national average was $2.63 a gallon.

In Columbus, the current price per gallon for regular is $2.62, up from $2.16 a month ago and $2.04 a year ago. The highest recorded price ever for gas in Columbus came on Sept. 18, 2008, according to AAA, with a single gallon of regular setting motorists back nearly $4.21.

This story was originally published September 18, 2017 at 12:54 PM with the headline "Here is the direction that AAA is expecting gas prices to go."