(Danville, Va.) — Gas prices continue to spike in the Danville area and across the country in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. AAA Mid-Atlantic reported that prices in Virginia rose five cents a gallon between Wednesday and Thursday, after jumping nearly a dime earlier in the week. Prices in Danville are running from $2.14 to $2.29 a gallon.

Similar increases have been reported across the country as the largest oil refinery in the country is shuttered. The Port Arthur refinery closed Wednesday “in response to increasing local flood conditions” and the plant won’t open until flood waters recede.

The Colonial Pipeline, which carries huge amounts of gasoline and other fuel between Houston and the East Coast, also suspended operations Wednesday evening.

The pipeline has two main lines that together transport more than 100 million gallons of gasoline, heating oil and aviation fuel as far as the New York harbor each day.

The pipeline has its largest tank farm in Greensboro, N.C.,

Gasoline prices in Texas and across the country have increased by at least 10 cents since Harvey came ashore and caused record flooding in places. AAA Texas on Thursday reported the average price at the pump statewide was $2.26 per gallon. That’s 12 cents higher than a week ago, before Harvey made landfall, and 4 cents higher than on Wednesday.

The association survey says U.S. gasoline prices Thursday averaged $2.45 per gallon, which is 5 cents more than on Wednesday.
Experts say it could take weeks for gas prices to come down to earlier levels.