Tropical Storm Amanda Could Soak Your Weekend Plans and Spike Gas Prices Right When You Need a Break
First, the bad news: that tropical depression brewing in the Pacific is now Tropical Storm Amanda, and it’s expected to slam into the coast late Friday, dumping up to 10 inches of rain on major cities. What does that mean for your wallet? Expect flooded roads to slow down delivery trucks, which means fresh produce and other goods could cost a few extra dollars at the checkout counter by Monday morning. Even worse, if Amanda disrupts Gulf Coast shipping lanes (a common domino effect from Pacific storms), your local gas station could hike prices by 15 to 25 cents per gallon by the weekend, just in time for you to cancel that drive to the beach. Pro tip: fill up your tank today, grab non-perishables now, and pivot your weekend plans indoors—your savings account will thank you when you’re not paying a premium for soggy strawberries and last-minute hotel cancellations. Your wallet is on storm watch, so act fast.