Gas prices near $3.50 at some stations in Stanislaus area. More holiday travel is expected
As gasoline prices drop to their lowest level in more than a year, more people have travel plans for Christmas and New Year’s festivities.
According to the American Automobile Association, about 15 million California residents are expected to travel for the last two holidays of the year. That amount of travel will be the third highest in more than 20 years, based on AAA data.
Nationwide, more than 100 million people are expected to drive to destinations for the year-end holidays. The travel forecast is predicting almost a 15% increase in airline travel.
Because Christmas and New Year’s Day are both falling on a Sunday this year, it should increase the amount of travel between Dec. 23 and Jan. 2, said Brian Ng, senior vice president of membership and Travel Marketing for AAA in Northern California.
The association said drivers may run into less traffic congestion if they can avoid the peak hours. Usually, freeways have less traffic before 2 p.m. and after 8 p.m. Friday should be a busy traffic day.
Cheaper gasoline prices
Falling gasoline prices are one gift to holiday travelers.
As of Wednesday, the average price for filling the tank was $4.02 per gallon in Stanislaus County, according to AAA. The GasBuddy site modestogasprices.com showed that fuel could be purchased for as low as $3.49 at Circle 7, 145 N. Santa Cruz Ave., $3.53 at Sinclair, at Ninth and O streets, and $3.55 at Diamond Gas, at Sixth and L streets.
The average price for regular in California was $4.36 per gallon, a 15-cent drop since a week ago. The average price at the pump was $3.12 per gallon nationwide. Hawaii had the steepest average price at $5.11 a gallon.
To explain the falling gasoline prices, a AAA analysis said costs for crude oil are down because of the weaker value of American dollars and concerns a recession in 2023 will push oil demand lower.
What about the weather?
The weather forecast is one reason for staying close to home for Christmas. Modesto’s forecast for Christmas Day is patchy fog but a mostly sunny sky, with an afternoon temperature in the low 60s. Modesto residents can also expect mostly sunny weather Christmas Eve, with overnight temperatures dipping into the 40s.
The National Weather Service has a midweek forecast of heavy snow in the Pacific Northwest and northern Rocky Mountains and a significant winter storm in the Midwest. Later in the week, the weather system is expected to shift into the eastern United States.
This story was originally published December 21, 2022 at 3:00 AM.
